Take a photo of a barcode or cover
edamamebean's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had no idea what to expect when I picked this one up, but I ended up loving it. It’s so elegantly written, even in its most grotesque moments. The MC is so likable even when he disappoints you. He struggles with alcohol and has violent tendencies towards women (there was one scene in particular that really shocked me, but I felt that this character flaw was necessary to the story and his overall character arc). He has a bad leg which was injured in the same accident that killed his brother, so he is constantly haunted by both the physical and emotional pain of that loss. He is alienated from his ancestry, his land, and even his own truth and experience. Something I found very interesting is that throughout the novel, others are constantly denying his own reality, contradicting what he knows to be true. It’s confusing but also wildly funny. I could’ve read this in one sitting, but instead I savored it and read it slowly. Absolutely will be reading more from James Welch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Colonisation
mdordine's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Violence