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ejanephillips'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
2.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Violence and Vomit
mywayorthehemingway's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Rape, Violence, Racism, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Vomit, Physical abuse, and Pedophilia
ktkate'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
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Vomit, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Eating disorder, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Misogyny
bitsandbobsdivination's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
On one side, I felt the writing itself was done really well and if their writing was winning awards on creating a visceral and ‘real life’ response from you, then it definitely done it’s job.
On the other hand, this story didn’t really go anywhere in that there was no resolution and just was kinda faltering from one subject to another. Not all stories have to have a resolution, but usually even then there is a bit of a development in the story or character growth in at least one of the characters. In this story, I felt no one grew, only explored more of their pain in an unhealthy way or lost themselves more to it.
To me, this story showed us some very important, difficult, and painful topics that deserve to be shared... This I don’t disagree with and again, was done very well in expressing them, and at the same time they were shown and felt by us the readers, but never explored to show any way of challenging these topics…
No way of showing the reader any hope, any growth, or to show the that the narrative of Wallace’s life could improve or deviate from the snowball event it has been and seems to continue to be. Also the side white characters never growing either which is not on Wallace to fix, but them (myself included) to learn and do better.
I suppose for some, ‘real life’ really can be and is that painful and this story shows that, and I respect that. We all live life with our own array of pain and trauma and heartache and suffering and it’s difficult to compare or ever really understand, and this story shows one voice in one ‘real life’.
I think for me it was pretty painful to see Wallace continue to suffer and never get any real help, resolve, or real support, only more to add to his already painful list, including the other character’s lists as well.
Overall, this story left me feeling like I learned from his perspective as well as the others, but also left me a bit at odds with my feelings towards it as my personal view of life is quite an optimistic or hopeful one! This although is coming from my own personal perspective with heartaches and challenges as someone who is a woman and lgbt+, but also a cis, white, and lower middle class Midwestern.
I want to hope that his life does improve with the right people and support around him in time beyond this one weekend, and that that can be ‘real life’ as well.
3.75 / 5 Stars
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence
karolinak'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
4.0
One problem I had with the book is gay characters who have experienced sexual abuse as children is a bit of a trope these days and not one I particularly like reading (happened to read A Little Life and Shuggie Bain relatively recently). So I wish that element of the book hadn't been there. To me, it didn't add a lot to the character development and his complicated feelings towards his family could have been due to hundreds of other reasons, like his father's abandonment.
The writing was beutiful, heart wrenching at times. This is exactly the kind of book that I love, one that focuses on relationships, characters and introspection.
I'd say don't read this if you like plot heavy books (there's really no plot here) or conflict resolutions.
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Vomit
nialiversuch'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
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, Cursing, Addiction, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Death of parent, Homophobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, and Rape
nigel_hakeem's review
- 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
Taylor changes tenses 3 times in the book and though this sounds like it would be confusing, it fits with the narrative really well and shows what a fantastic writer he is; and this is his debut!
I can't wait to read more from Brandon Taylor and this book is an instant classic. A must-read for anyone in grad school.
Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Classism, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
ericarobinson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Racism, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
sunandmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Vomit
nithya_natalya'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
4.25
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence