Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

79 reviews

sarcasmpotato's review

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I would never have guessed how this novel would have turned out! The plot and energy of the characters were refreshing, which added to the weight of certain events. Some of the only parts that took me out of the writing were the pop culture metaphors that felt out of the blue.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lydslibros's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

feministy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Like most reviewers, I enjoyed the first portion of the author's debut. I think that partially was due to the content and also due to the narrator for the audiobook.  I was compelled and intrigued by how Darren was going to get through this random start-up. I also liked the listener/reader bits that were thrown in and when I got to the end, it made so much sense why they were included. I saw traces of Wolf of Wall Street, Get Out, bits of Other Black Girl and various other novels and movies that satirically poke at the office life. I knew the storyline was slightly going to go downhill when Darren's girlfriend made him promise that he wouldn't change. As it is with everyone movie and TV show, the main character will always change when that question is posed. The second half left me confused and stumbling to finish. I might need to re-read this again later on. The later chapters also vaguely reminded me of Monster by Walter Dean Meyers. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

reading_between_the_trees's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a sharp exploration of hiring discrimination and toxic workplace culture. The writing was fast with a quip at every turn, and the both the plot and characters drew me in. I really enjoyed the structure in that Buck gives the reader advice on being a good salesperson, and he does so retrospectively of the events in the book. That added a level of reflection as well as suspense. I also liked how the racist and toxic/abusive characters were developed in a conflicting and layered way, making it more likely for readers to see their flaws as things to interrogate in themselves. Overall a great read. I listened to it on audio and thought the narrator was great.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

meghopee's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

onkenzisshelf's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What I Liked:
  • Everything. Seriously, this book was incredible.
  • This was SUCH a good look into racism and ableism in the workforce, as well as a good picture of how greed and money can change someone.
  • This book made me uncomfortable and made me think, for all of the right reasons.
  • I HATED the characters I was supposed to hate, and loved the ones I was supposed to love. The author rounded his characters out beautifully.
  • The narrator of this one was FABULOUS. One of the best narrators I've listened to.

You Should Read If You Like:
  • If you're working towards antiracism, I highly suggest this one.
  • DEFINITELY look at the TWs before picking this one up. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

leah_alexandra's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was good. It got a bit heavy-handed at times, but it's satire, so not that unexpected. I thought the starting characters were really well-developed, but by the time we get introduced to new characters in the second half of the book, I never felt like we really got to know them as people. All-in-all, an interesting read that won't shift your perspectives too much if you already have a fully cynical outlook towards corporate America/start-up culture. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

balkeyeston's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

destdest's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny lighthearted tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

For this story, I think the humor would translate better on film, whether TV or movie. It comes off dry, awkward, and slightly offensive in writing. I get where the jokes are coming from; it’s like The Office meets Sorry to Bother You meets Boondocks vibes, but the execution is all over the place.

Darren/Buck was insufferable. It’s hard to root for him when he starts talking to everyone like dirt. Majority of the Sumwunner guys act like frat boys meets Wallstreet. Rhett was interesting, but I hated Clyde soooo much. Please stick a foot up his behind and push him down a stairway. If you read the story, you’ll want to kick his teeth in too. 

In addition,  the female characters outside of the mom and some aspects of Rose leave a lot to be desired. Sorry to be vulgar: But Soraya’s just there to be the voice of reason and hop on Darren’s dick. And Jason you hating ho, why are you here? I feel like he helped push Darren away. He was too defensive and hating so hard even before Darren lost his way.

The microaggressions get heavy and gaslighting abounds in this satire about Corporate America and startups. There are some clever digs at work culture and companies who pretend to care about diversity, but ultimately, this one wasn’t for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings