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celtic67's review against another edition
5.0
A series of short stories about women of all shapes, colours and sexuality and what connects them. Seemingly nothing at first but the more you read on the more you find out. I was initially put off by the way it is written, only one capital at the start of each chapter and no full stops. But as you read the more you find the rhythm of the language and you find it reflects the way people talk. Over, under and around each other. We don't talk in full stops. We interrupt and harangue each other. My favourite character was Hattie and 90+ woman who is stuck in her ways. She has wicked sense of humour and cannot understand all the lesbian and trans noise around her. Her answer is be what you want to be; just don't talk to me about it. My second read by Bernadine, the other being Mr Loverman. I will read more of her books in the future, Highly recommended.
elizad0324's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
lminique's review against another edition
5.0
This book is poetically written, storylines are on point, and characters are well developed. This book captures the essence of women. I would classify this as a timeless read.
maya_reads_books_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Racism
dnietoperafan's review against another edition
5.0
What a way to start 2022. This novel will stay in the cannon as an intersectional feminist classic, I’m calling it. What an experience it was to read it. I can only express my gratitude to Bernardine Evaristo for writing such an inspiring and heartfelt novel. I didn’t want it to end.
Every single story, every single way the characters entangled with each other… it was magical. I would’ve loved for this novel to have 1000 more pages. I would’ve read them all. I don’t know if I’m exaggerating… I just felt so complete after finishing this book. I will definitely pick up more Evaristo books along the way.
This novel is officially my favourite book. It was splendid, magical, perfect and imperfect in every single way. I absolutely loved it.
Every single story, every single way the characters entangled with each other… it was magical. I would’ve loved for this novel to have 1000 more pages. I would’ve read them all. I don’t know if I’m exaggerating… I just felt so complete after finishing this book. I will definitely pick up more Evaristo books along the way.
This novel is officially my favourite book. It was splendid, magical, perfect and imperfect in every single way. I absolutely loved it.
mxunsmiley's review against another edition
4.0
Have a lot of mixed feelings about this one, despite the 4 star rating. This is mainly due to how extremely strong the first half of it is--I love all the characters, they really shine, each feels so unique and fully alive.
Then we get to the very clumsy and, yes, cis portrayal of trans people. I am very confused about the author's view on trans women. I'm hesitant to lump her in with the typical "women and trans women" types, because she does seem to extend support to trans women, but sections of the book, particularly when Morgan observes that Bibi, a trans woman, is "mansplaining" make me very wary. There's also this notion that nonbinary people like Morgan are less accepted and understood than trans women, which is blatantly untrue.
The largely unchallenged radical feminist ideas are also very concerning. They are framed as ridiculous in some ways, but we don't get a true "Hey, this is bonkers and not true to reality at all" anywhere in the book, only an off-hand "Maybe we should listen to the youth" from Amma to Dominique, a clear radical feminist.
Then we have Morgan explaining themself to be pansexual, going on to say "male-female-trans spectrum" as if transgender people are a third category on their own and only pansexual people can be attracted to them. It's a small detail but extremely damaging nonetheless, especially in what I see is a popular book.
Also, to go from Megan to Morgan is another typical understanding of nonbinary people's social transitioning, as if we all take names that are similar to our dead names. Some of us do as much out of convenience as fear, but please. Be more creative.
Another small detail, but she also suggests that race is "genetically disposed" while in the same breath, acknowledges that sexuality is not biologically based. Yes, it's insignificant, but again, in a widely praised book, it's hard to ignore. There's also the entire epilogue dedicated to Ancestry.com results which unintentionally endorses DNA testing in my view.
I did really enjoy it overall, the second half less so. I thought it was cool how Evaristo tied all the characters together in some way. I think the economic analysis was a bit lacking, too, I felt like she was going to explore it with Carole entering the prestigious banking world as a Black woman and her observations on her position as she was riding the elevator but it never went anywhere. The whole "marginalized people taking positions of power and exploiting others in turn" was what I wanted to read more about but I didn't get it.
Then we get to the very clumsy and, yes, cis portrayal of trans people. I am very confused about the author's view on trans women. I'm hesitant to lump her in with the typical "women and trans women" types, because she does seem to extend support to trans women, but sections of the book, particularly when Morgan observes that Bibi, a trans woman, is "mansplaining" make me very wary. There's also this notion that nonbinary people like Morgan are less accepted and understood than trans women, which is blatantly untrue.
The largely unchallenged radical feminist ideas are also very concerning. They are framed as ridiculous in some ways, but we don't get a true "Hey, this is bonkers and not true to reality at all" anywhere in the book, only an off-hand "Maybe we should listen to the youth" from Amma to Dominique, a clear radical feminist.
Then we have Morgan explaining themself to be pansexual, going on to say "male-female-trans spectrum" as if transgender people are a third category on their own and only pansexual people can be attracted to them. It's a small detail but extremely damaging nonetheless, especially in what I see is a popular book.
Also, to go from Megan to Morgan is another typical understanding of nonbinary people's social transitioning, as if we all take names that are similar to our dead names. Some of us do as much out of convenience as fear, but please. Be more creative.
Another small detail, but she also suggests that race is "genetically disposed" while in the same breath, acknowledges that sexuality is not biologically based. Yes, it's insignificant, but again, in a widely praised book, it's hard to ignore. There's also the entire epilogue dedicated to Ancestry.com results which unintentionally endorses DNA testing in my view.
I did really enjoy it overall, the second half less so. I thought it was cool how Evaristo tied all the characters together in some way. I think the economic analysis was a bit lacking, too, I felt like she was going to explore it with Carole entering the prestigious banking world as a Black woman and her observations on her position as she was riding the elevator but it never went anywhere. The whole "marginalized people taking positions of power and exploiting others in turn" was what I wanted to read more about but I didn't get it.
sandysmith's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I'm gradually adding books I've read in 2021 to give a true reflection of the books I've read since keeping records. This was the first book I read in 2021, and is what kick-started my reading journey having put reading on the back burner whilst bringing up the children, previously being an avid reader. A story of 11 women and 1 non binary character interwoven together. Their lives linking together Amma, Jazz, Dominique, Carole, Bummi, Latisha, Shirley, Winsome, Penelope Megan/Morgan, Hattie and Grace. Difficult to read as there were no full stops or punctuation, hard to overlook but you do get used to the wriing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Transphobia
belanaborealis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
did not expect to live this book as much as i did with no real main character but the interconnected storylines were very interesting and emotional