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choicepotatoes_old's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The narration of the audiobook is phenomenal.
The characters are deliciously complex.
Each story feels whole.
---
5 - I would absolutelyread listen to this again
The characters are deliciously complex.
Each story feels whole.
---
5 - I would absolutely
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent
grapie_deltaco's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
This collection is an interesting one.
We receive glimpses into the lives of various tenants in a single apartment building in New York. All struggling to make ends meet. All aimless trying to make things work. All deeply flawed and stuck.
I think the beauty of the writing in this book, though, comes from Fofana’s decision to write each story phonetically on top of the deeply and jarringly distinct voices that vary from story to story. The words flow so naturally it reads like a transcript of events rather than a fictional story.
And the story <i>lite feet</i> simply broke me.
There’s a deeply uncomfortable chapter featuring a tenant with disgusting treatment toward a Chinese man who owns a local restaurant that I’m split on. Although it’s a raw look into an ignorant mind, the story would function the exact same without the use of dated and offensive terminology.
CW: sexual harassment, brief reference to child molestation and murder, addiction and heavy implications/mentions of substance abuse, brief reference to stalking and pedophilia, racism (including dated & offensive terms referring to Chinese and Roma people), brief use of ableist slur, brief reference to domestic abuse, child death, death of loved ones, grief
We receive glimpses into the lives of various tenants in a single apartment building in New York. All struggling to make ends meet. All aimless trying to make things work. All deeply flawed and stuck.
I think the beauty of the writing in this book, though, comes from Fofana’s decision to write each story phonetically on top of the deeply and jarringly distinct voices that vary from story to story. The words flow so naturally it reads like a transcript of events rather than a fictional story.
And the story <i>lite feet</i> simply broke me.
There’s a deeply uncomfortable chapter featuring a tenant with disgusting treatment toward a Chinese man who owns a local restaurant that I’m split on. Although it’s a raw look into an ignorant mind, the story would function the exact same without the use of dated and offensive terminology.
CW: sexual harassment, brief reference to child molestation and murder, addiction and heavy implications/mentions of substance abuse, brief reference to stalking and pedophilia, racism (including dated & offensive terms referring to Chinese and Roma people), brief use of ableist slur, brief reference to domestic abuse, child death, death of loved ones, grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Grief, Child death, Sexual harassment, and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault, Addiction, Violence, and Murder
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Stories from the Tenants Downstairs is a really strong collection of interconnected short stories. It is set in Banneker Terrace, a low income apartment building in a gentrifying area of Harlem, where the new building owners are looking to evict tenants who are behind in their rent.
What really struck me was the way the author vividly brought each of his characters to life. His use of subtly different formats and styles in his writing, as well as the varying ways he used and blended AAVE and standard English meant that each character had a unique distinctive voice. To me these were real people and I was fully invested in their stories, wanting the best for them as they hustled to find the rent money, get ahead, or bring a little joy into their life.
It’s exploration of themes like race, class, gentrification, education, individual choice, and community is nuanced. It’s a book that highlights issues but doesn’t offer easy answers. Rather it prompts thought and reflection on the part of the reader.
I definitely enjoyed my time with this book and will be on the look out for future work by this author.
What really struck me was the way the author vividly brought each of his characters to life. His use of subtly different formats and styles in his writing, as well as the varying ways he used and blended AAVE and standard English meant that each character had a unique distinctive voice. To me these were real people and I was fully invested in their stories, wanting the best for them as they hustled to find the rent money, get ahead, or bring a little joy into their life.
It’s exploration of themes like race, class, gentrification, education, individual choice, and community is nuanced. It’s a book that highlights issues but doesn’t offer easy answers. Rather it prompts thought and reflection on the part of the reader.
I definitely enjoyed my time with this book and will be on the look out for future work by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Child death
Moderate: Fatphobia and Racism
katherine_kelley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Fatphobia
bookdragon217's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
"...because until then porches was like quicksand. The longer you was out on them, the more people saw you dyin."
Stories From the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana is my sleeper hit of 2022. I tried to take my time with this short story collection but after reading the intro I was hooked. The way these stories were neatly interconnected was perfection.
Stories set in NYC always warm my heart. This collection takes place in Harlem in Banneker Terrace, a low income building. Tenants are facing eviction due to rapid gentrification. The building is a community within itself and everyone knows each other. Each story gives you a glimpse into the lives of the people that make up this neighborhood and the ways they choose to thrive and survive. I loved that Fofana uses AAVE to give each character a unique and authentic Harlem voice. He introduces you to an unforgettable cast of Black characters with stories and experiences that oftentimes go unnoticed or ignored. Their full humanity is sprawled out on the pages.
This collection was powerful in the ways it showed the real people that are displaced when gentrification violently disrupts the lives of those already struggling to survive. There is a recurring theme of choices, the ones people choose or not choose to make, the unpopular and dangerous ones that are made and the ones that are almost forced upon some because of poverty and circumstance. He explores the ways that Black people construct their identities and what constitutes home. Fofana also shows how a failing, racist education system hurts Black kids. The book shows the ways you cling to family, community and hope when the world is violently trying to get rid of you and constantly telling you that you don't belong. "Lite Feet" was my favorite story tore my heart into pieces but honestly every single essay hit the mark for me.
This debut was stellar and I highly suggest you add this one to your personal libraries. I am immediately adding Fofana to my auto-buy list. He knocked this one out of the park.
Stories From the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana is my sleeper hit of 2022. I tried to take my time with this short story collection but after reading the intro I was hooked. The way these stories were neatly interconnected was perfection.
Stories set in NYC always warm my heart. This collection takes place in Harlem in Banneker Terrace, a low income building. Tenants are facing eviction due to rapid gentrification. The building is a community within itself and everyone knows each other. Each story gives you a glimpse into the lives of the people that make up this neighborhood and the ways they choose to thrive and survive. I loved that Fofana uses AAVE to give each character a unique and authentic Harlem voice. He introduces you to an unforgettable cast of Black characters with stories and experiences that oftentimes go unnoticed or ignored. Their full humanity is sprawled out on the pages.
This collection was powerful in the ways it showed the real people that are displaced when gentrification violently disrupts the lives of those already struggling to survive. There is a recurring theme of choices, the ones people choose or not choose to make, the unpopular and dangerous ones that are made and the ones that are almost forced upon some because of poverty and circumstance. He explores the ways that Black people construct their identities and what constitutes home. Fofana also shows how a failing, racist education system hurts Black kids. The book shows the ways you cling to family, community and hope when the world is violently trying to get rid of you and constantly telling you that you don't belong. "Lite Feet" was my favorite story tore my heart into pieces but honestly every single essay hit the mark for me.
This debut was stellar and I highly suggest you add this one to your personal libraries. I am immediately adding Fofana to my auto-buy list. He knocked this one out of the park.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Child death
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