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lisa00's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Sexual assault, Colonisation, Mass/school shootings, Child death, Murder, War, and Gun violence
frogggirl2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book is a beautiful cultural artifact. While set in present day, because this culture is what we would call less advanced, there is near constant misogyny (things like saying a woman is useless if she can't have children, women can't work or remarry when widowed, etc.) throughout. Some demeaning discussions of gender presentation (when they visit the city they mockingly say they can't figure out what gender prople are because women wear pants and men have long hair, etc.) are sprinkled throughout. The culmination of all this sexism is the rape and forced impregnation of a woman who confesses rape is her worst fear, not by enemies but by her own community.
I thought this book was beautifully written with resonant themes and beautiful characterizations of relationships and community, but, on balance I cant say it was worth it to battle through this unending, disgusting, unquestioned misogyny and rape. Ultimately, the men in this community do to the women of this community what everyone else (government, corporations and colonizers) does to them (and so the women are doubly abused). I don't think this is what the book meant for me to take from it, but this is what I got out of it nonetheless.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Incest, Gun violence, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Murder, Child death, Death, Colonisation, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
kiandrareadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Grief, Death, Genocide, Murder, Colonisation, Police brutality, Classism, and Racism
tina94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Graphic: Police brutality, Death of parent, Death, Rape, Gun violence, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Murder, Colonisation, and Miscarriage
Minor: Slavery and Torture
nfoutty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Police brutality, Colonisation, Grief, Murder, Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, War, and Violence
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Infertility, Sexual content, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Incest, Torture, Trafficking, Death of parent, Classism, Kidnapping, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment
dominicangirl's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Police brutality, Child death, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Torture
Moderate: Colonisation and Confinement
qqjj's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Medical content, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Sexual assault, Genocide, Medical trauma, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Police brutality, and Terminal illness
booksonadventures's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This stunning novel introduces a chorus of voices in the fictional town of Kosawa, where big oil company Pexton has destroyed the land and lives of the local community. Frustrated by their inability to protect their families, the people decide to take drastic action, kidnapping some of Pexton's men to demand their health and safety be taken seriously.
Starting this book felt like a punch in the gut, but the writing drew me in completely. I'm not usually one to shy away from heavy books, and I tend to feel a sense of responsibility to bear witness to the harm and exploitation "Western" countries have caused, but I knew this story wouldn't be easy. The environmental racism described here is infuriating. Mbue uses a variety of first person perspectives, but perhaps the most heart-wrenching is the collective (we) voices of the village children.
And yet... How Beautiful We Were transcends trauma. Mbue deftly explores the balance of greed, guilt, and grief that surround capitalism and colonialism. And yes, this is heavy and slow-paced but there's power in the way Mbue gives a voice to the people and plants the seeds for a better future.
How Beautiful We Were is a reminder that although the world makes me so damn angry, there’s strength in solidarity and power in resistance even when it feels futile.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Child death, Police brutality, and Racism
waybeyondblue's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Homophobia
nikolas_fox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Colonisation, and Sexual assault