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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i actually have no words for this book. ending left me starting at the wall for a good ten minutes, absolutely incredible.
Whitehead does it again! Illuminating issues of race and hatred wrapped in historical fiction. A powerful read that can't help but effect. Prepare to be enraged.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In The Nickel Boys, Whitehead’s characterisation of institutional racist violence and the psychological and societal scars it leaves behind stays with you as a reader.
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Steeped in important cultural context, this was a great read. Whitehead has a canniness for capturing human spirit—rendering tenacity and hope, while still entrenching the grief in what is snatched and destroyed within past and present systems of racism.
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Steeped in important cultural context, this was a great read. Whitehead has a canniness for capturing human spirit—rendering tenacity and hope, while still entrenching the grief in what is snatched and destroyed within past and present systems of racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-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
I was inspired to read this by the execution of a man in Florida who had been at the school depicted in the book. The rating represents my inattention rather than the book itself.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve been putting off writing a review for this book because I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. I’ll keep it brief: I thought the writing was exactly what it needed to be, the historical setting was intriguing, and the story was devastating. I did feel myself losing interest a few times, particularly throughout the scenes set in the future, but I think overall it felt like a book that was necessary to read. I had no idea the lengths these reform schools went to back in the day, and it’s terrifying that “back in the day” actually wasn’t that long ago.
It was a great conversation at book club, and I’d like to read more of Colton Whitehead’s works!
It was a great conversation at book club, and I’d like to read more of Colton Whitehead’s works!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No