Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

72 reviews

lifesarosch's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I haven't read any Lovecraft so there were definitely chunks that went over my head, but I'm glad I read this. I think it makes an interesting conversation with Underground Railroad. Also, interesting thought piece on how white authors can tell poc stories in a well done way.

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songwind's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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cryptofauna's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

i just. didn’t get it?
this just seems like the kind of book that just feels weird / wrong with a white author?? it’s obviously historically accurate but the amount of slurs and insanely racist language is a little overwhelming. i know that’s the point, and like yes racism is uncomfortable but it just felt off to me. 
the plot was vaguely interesting but it felt extremely disjointed and there were so many characters that i was consistently lost on who was who. 
worldbuilding and magic system was interesting but it still felt like because the main characters didn’t understand it that it wasn’t able to be completely explained / fleshed out
ALSO this is NOT lovecraftian (as we generally think of it now, it’s possible more of his actual stuff was like this??) but there’s no big spooky monsters or anything like that it’s just racism


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miayukino's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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rvoeller's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • 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? No

5.0

I had added Lovecraft Country to my reading list after having watched the HBO show. I found the juxtaposition of the horrors of racism with supernatural horrors fascinating and thought provoking. The book did seem to not lean as heavily into some of the horror/supernatural elements as originally anticipated, but that did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. 

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fergiegl's review

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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kirayt's review

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adventurous dark funny informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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catsy2022's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 Rating: B+

Lovecraft Country is a novel following the different members of a black family in America in the 1950s as they interact with philosopher (read: sorceror) Caleb Braithwhite and become part of his plans to take over the chapters of philosophers across the USA.

I really liked the protagonists in the book, across the stories they were all so interesting and went through different and frightening things. I think Hippolyta's story was probably my favourite. I wished there was more connection between chapters especially when they ended ambiguously.

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pianoman543's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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ninjamuse's review

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adventurous dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75


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