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esophagus18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Incest, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, and Deadnaming
Minor: Pregnancy and Death of parent
itsmelaurenc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Incest, Racial slurs, Car accident, Child death, Infertility, Death of parent, Outing, Racism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, War, Death, Deportation, Alcohol, Classism, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, and Body shaming
_maia3_'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
2.0
If it's possible for you to only read the first half of the book and then return it to your local library once the main character gets born, that would be ideal.
Graphic: Incest, Genocide, Racism, Transphobia, Medical content, War, Body shaming, and Fire/Fire injury
belgaer'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
3.75
Graphic: Incest and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
thewordsdevourer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i didnt expect the book to be such a sweeping family saga, but the journey from a tiny greek village to industrial detroit - peppered w/ historical flair, adventurous excitement and bittersweet farewell - is an entertaining one both bc of the characters, the cultural roots they bring, and the larger political and social forces. the book's dry and oft self-depracating voice also elevates it, providing enough indight and intimacy while also seeming detached and distanced enough, never giving in to any overdramatic flair however tempting it must have been.
the story of cal's forebearers are so interesting (though at times too detailed and sometimes seems a tad unnecessary, hence my criticism of its length), however, that they render the novel's second half - more focused on cal w/ the typical childhood droll and introspective teenage mulling (necessary and expected, but still) - to pale in comparison. it's a lil ironic that the book's focus on cal doesnt include more of his other interesting aspects that must have come afterwards; i wouldve loved to read more - not necessarily in detail - of what transpires between the interim 26-ish yrs of cal's 15 yr-old rebirth and present day.
even so, this is an enjoyable read abt family and identity, and certainly a well-written one - so well-written and absorbing in its voice, in fact, that i could hardly believe a middle aged man wrote it. quite simply, it's a great story and i understand all the accolades it got.
Graphic: Car accident, War, Incest, Medical content, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Violence
queenantipodes's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Incest, War, Genocide, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide
bluejay21's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Medical content, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War, Xenophobia, and Dementia
Minor: Drug use, Islamophobia, and Rape
darkmattersoybean's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Car accident, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual content, Transphobia, War, and Violence