Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Memphis

A Beautifully written multi-generational novel set in Memphis highlighting the strength of women and a tight knit community.

The Novel follows three generations of women from the same family that converge at the end. The Book covers some hard hitting events including, sexual assault of a child, gang violence, racism, domestic abuse, death of loved ones, murder and a lynching. A Heartbreaking read that rather focusing on the trauma focus on the strength of women, the importance of family and community, truly unconditional love, and the power of forgiveness.

The characters were well written and felt real. Each character had their own motives, strengths, and weakness. The tight knit community in and of it self felt rich and almost as if its a character in and of its self.

Because of the events in the novel I had to stop listening to the book multiple times because at times it was gut wrenching that being said I left the book feeling hopeful, inspired, and in awe of the beauty despite several tragic events. This is a must read if you can handle the events in the novel if they might be triggering consider giving this a pass.

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review

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challenging emotional reflective 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

4.0

Memphis is a multigenerational family saga centred on a Black southern family, especially on sisters Miriam and August, their mother Hazel, and Miriam’s daughter Joan. It features a non-linear timeline and multiple points of view but is never confusing. I think it beautifully highlighted the strength, power and resilience of Black women as well as Black sisterhood, both literally and more broadly. This is a book that features a lot of pain, trauma and loss - plenty of trigger warnings especially for child sexual abuse, domestic abuse and racial violence- but there is also joy, laughter, love, support, understanding and hope.

“The framed record covers on the walls shook with laughter. Laughter that was, in and of itself, Black. Laughter that could break glass. Laughter that could uplift a family. A cacophony of Black female joy in a language private to them.”

Content Warnings

katieb_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

msennflinn's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

midnightverde's review

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emotional 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? No

5.0

A multigenerational masterpiece that spans decades. The trauma revealed early on nearly broke me, it was very difficult to read, but I continued, knowing all too well that horrific abuse happens to so many. I loved the perseverance of each and every North woman and all the supporting characters who were loving members of the Memphis community. And as a person raised in the south, reading the colloquial terms “all y’all” and “your daddy and ‘em” brought me back.

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