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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted so badly to love this book, and I certainly grew closer to loving it by the end, but something about it failed to catch me. These stories are impactful and important and compelling, so why couldn't the first half hold my attention? It certainly picks up in the back half, especially in the last 50 pages, but the slow burn to get there just didn't hit right for me.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I understand the story being told here is important but this was the wrong format to tell this story in. I think if this was an essay or short story collection There There would be much stronger.
For the first half of the book it is a different perspective each chapter (some in first person and some in third, some in the present and some in the past), and most of these characters are disconnected from each other with the promise of them all coming together at the end. This can be an interesting concept but it didn’t work here. Because there are so many character whose perspectives we’re following (again in different perspectives or points in time) it became very disjointed from each other. It felt as though 10 different stories were being told simultaneously.
I also found the text itself difficult to follow because of the writing style. It read like reading a transcription of spoken word with 0 edits. Sentences or thoughts would meander, there were a number of instances where there would be multiple pages of uninterrupted speeches, and awkward structure where another round of editing would have helped.
I truly think if this was structured as a collection of short stories instead of a single novel, the story being told would be much stronger.
For the first half of the book it is a different perspective each chapter (some in first person and some in third, some in the present and some in the past), and most of these characters are disconnected from each other with the promise of them all coming together at the end. This can be an interesting concept but it didn’t work here. Because there are so many character whose perspectives we’re following (again in different perspectives or points in time) it became very disjointed from each other. It felt as though 10 different stories were being told simultaneously.
I also found the text itself difficult to follow because of the writing style. It read like reading a transcription of spoken word with 0 edits. Sentences or thoughts would meander, there were a number of instances where there would be multiple pages of uninterrupted speeches, and awkward structure where another round of editing would have helped.
I truly think if this was structured as a collection of short stories instead of a single novel, the story being told would be much stronger.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It felt cut off, like I was waiting for more, and there were so many perspectives and so many characters it was hard to keep track of in such a short book. It was very emotionally impactful but it was hard to follow, especially during the Pow wow scene (which I assume would be the point but there should’ve been more clarity still).
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A must-read, especially for anyone living in the Bay Area who (like me) might not know much about the history and culture of the Native American community here.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence