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Graphic: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
I liked the story even though I was often questioning some of the characters’ motives and their morality. The ending was more ambiguous than I would like, but I understand why. The writing was very impactful, as the word choice went a long way in creating realistic and gruesome imagery.
At first I didn’t know if I’d enjoy this book. How was I supposed to root for people committing crimes? But then I got to know Beauregard, his backstory, and why he made the choices he made. And I also got to the action of the book (which was nearly never-ending). I could not put the book down at that point. An incredible read and a great introduction for me into this genre of fiction.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence
Minor: Drug use
Graphic: Body horror, Gun violence, Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Blood
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Murder
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Torture, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
This is a story about inescapable poverty & racism. It's a story about family - about generational violence and struggling with identity and our MC's deep desire to be a good father. At its core, it's a story about one man yearning for freedom. Throw in a heist (where things rapidly funnel out of control) and a lot of action-packed getaway drives, and you've got me hooked.
We follow Beauregard ("Bug") as he attempts to create an honest life for himself and his family, leaving his exploits as a getaway driver in the past. But a lot of things go wrong all at once, and Bug is tempted by an old acquaintance to lean back into the Life he so desperately wanted to bury for one final heist. (Though is it ever one final heist?)
Bug is a deeply compelling protagonist - he makes some pretty nasty choices, but you still find yourself rooting for him. That's not easy to pull off.
The prose is overall strong, but at moments Cosby leans into the similes so much that it got a little distracting. There's also a lot of detailed car talk, but even as a reader with 0 expertise in this area I felt like I was able to follow along (it just took a little extra effort at times, and led to some descriptions that felt quite dry).
It's a gritty read with a lot of depth. It's intense. It's violent. It's heavy on the heart. But in my opinion? It's worth it.
CW: murder, violence, gore, body horror, gun violence, drug use, racial slurs, torture, fatphobia, cancer, sexual content, car accident, animal death, fire, vomit
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail