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beatricks's review against another edition
3.0
Like a lot of Goodreads reviewers, it seems, I heard about this book from Fresh Air. I remember listening to the interview back in my old Pittsburgh apartment, and making a mental note; a year and a half later, some whim led me to buy the audiobook, which then sat in my digital library unlistened to for another two and a half years. Maybe I bought it because I saw it had been read by the great Bahni Turpin, and maybe I didn't listen to it because I never heard of it again outside of Fresh Air and didn't actually know if it'd be any good. Not sure of the reasoning behind any decisions here other than that I have an embarrassing backlog of audible purchases by now, so this week seemed as good a time as any to finally give Disgruntled a go.
This is a very culturally specific book, and it's not a culture or place I have any personal background with, but Solomon writes invitingly to provide a clear window into this world. The characters feel real, the humor and politics feel lived-in, and I was drawn in from the get-go. I was jarred, however, by the quick transition from one (long and meandering) chapter to the next, and disappointed by the conclusion-less ending, which at best seems like it could be a dare to the reader's critical imagination, but at worst can easily be read as an admission of defeat. Disgruntled: an interesting and charming journey to nowhere in particular. Or... is it? Analysts, stand by. I still don't know.
This is a very culturally specific book, and it's not a culture or place I have any personal background with, but Solomon writes invitingly to provide a clear window into this world. The characters feel real, the humor and politics feel lived-in, and I was drawn in from the get-go. I was jarred, however, by the quick transition from one (long and meandering) chapter to the next, and disappointed by the conclusion-less ending, which at best seems like it could be a dare to the reader's critical imagination, but at worst can easily be read as an admission of defeat. Disgruntled: an interesting and charming journey to nowhere in particular. Or... is it? Analysts, stand by. I still don't know.
helenmcclory's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains emotional truths and is somewhat tough going because of them. No shying away from any flaws here. A portrait of a girl in the verge of her life, and all the whirlwind that surrounds her.
ioduok's review against another edition
3.0
It took a while for me to get into this novel. The plot is overtaken with the historical aspect, at least in the beginning, so that I found it educational but not particularly gripping. As Kenya grows up, the story picks up its pace. Kenya's parents, who seemed flat in the beginning, really developed into full characters in the second part.
ranaelizabeth's review against another edition
2.0
Read this more for the Philly references than anything else. The story was so-so, seemed very surface which might have been the YA factor.
purlewe's review against another edition
4.0
I heard about this from NPR, but then my wife met the author when she came to read the book at Lea (one of the schools Kenya attends in the book in West Philly). I really enjoyed this book and really loved so much of it. The writing. The location. The struggle to find yourself when you are always in a place where you don't feel like you belong. And while I loved so much of this book I will admit the ending left me.. disgruntled. I didn't need so much resolution as I felt like the story dropped you suddenly in a place you weren't expecting to be, then left you with a blank page after. I hope there is a follow up to this. And I would gladly read more of Ms. Solomon's work. I just felt like there was more to the story, and wish there had been more after that last blank page.
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