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aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Classism, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Abortion, Bullying, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Child abuse, Mass/school shootings, and Racism
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Abortion
tree_branch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Abortion
ghostboy1996's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion
claire_reardon's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rating is TBD 📚
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gun violence, Abortion, Bullying, and Classism
carriepond's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is not a plot-driven novel, so if that is something that is important to you, look elsewhere. I, however, love a good character-driven novel where the main thing that is happening is the internal monologue of the characters, and although this is my first time reading Brandon Taylor, I understand that this is a common thread in his works.
There are many things this novel does incredibly, the greatest of which is the depth of characters that Taylor creates. I loved sweet Fyodor and Bea, and ended up feeling very invested in Seamus, who I had immediately pegged as an asshole. And at the very end, Taylor gives us more about Daw, who just made my heart break a little more. And the writing was beautiful-- there are so many sentences and passages that I've underlined because they resonated with me or moved me. I will admit, though, that, despite the well-drawn characters and beautiful writing, something about this felt a little too disjointed, making it hard to completely lose myself in it.
Full of ruminations on class, race, sexuality, academia, art, passion, and love, Brandon Taylor's The Late Americans is arresting and beautiful despite feeling stretched thin at times. It makes me excited to check out his backlist, and I recommend that readers of character-driven literary fiction check this one out when it comes out on May 23.
*I received an advanced review copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Classism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Drug use
Minor: Abortion and Child death