Reviews

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

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cass_meier's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective 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? No

4.0

lucazani11's review against another edition

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5.0

A moving, exhaustive, and perceptive compendium of, and an excursion through, the lives and experiences of people of varying backgrounds, historical contexts, and statuses, in 20th and 21st-Century Britain.

lowercase_a's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

4.25

Uma Antíntese À História Única

Nesse dinâmico romance escrito em versos, Bernadine Evaristo inova as fomas como mulheres negras são representadas na tradição literária de maneira plural e belíssima. Sua escrita acessível tirou o meu receio de ser um livro denso (por ter quase 500 páginas) e fiquei surpresa quando percebi o quão rápido me envolvi pela narrativa.

Essa obra reconta a vida diversas mulheres negras - em sua maioria - que cresceram na Englaterra em diversos períodos e localidades, cada uma com sua própria origem, tom de pele, criação, sexualidade, classe, fé, traumas, personalidade, vício, estilo, política diferentes. Impressionante como, em somente 40 páginas, a autora captura a vida inteira de uma das personagens com uma voz tão distinta para representar cada uma. Desde órfãs do séc XIX até a geração Z, entre imigrantes e ascendentes, Evaristo faz espaço para seus personagens falarem por si mesmos e respirarem seu protagonismo.

Além disso, a escritora não se prende ao termo "mulher negra" já que retrata também a história de Morgan (uma pessoa não binarie) e Penelope - que é, em todos os aspectos menos o genético, uma mulher branca. E, assim, estabelece uma abordagem muito interessante sobre os mecanismos socias exercidos sobre indivíuos ditos como "inferiores", e o subsequente processo de individualização tomado por cada um.

viper3ez's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

there's simply 1 word, intersectional it. nothing happens in isolation . it's a beautifully told story.

minrencan's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

lizautumn93's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

Great, great, great. This was so freaking beautiful. A book that easily could have been experienced as 12 short stories, but the characters tie together so beautifully. Sometimes with stronger relationships, other times merely as a passerby.

I'm amazed, and I'm so glad to have met the characters. They felt like actual people that exist somewhere on this earth.

The style took some getting used to, but after that I really appreciated it. It gave the other a lot of room for creativity, and allowed for build-up and emphasis.

The only reason I gave it 4.75 stars instead of 5 is the after party. Maybe I missed something, but I did not really care for it.

At 13%: Needed to adjust to the lack of interpunction. Now I have arrived at Yazz's chapter and damn she is funny. I have laughed out loud several times. Also impressed by the authors ability to work towards a very serious flaw in our society, while the build up is slower, when reality suddenly hits. I was in doubts as to whether I liked this book during Amma's chapter, but now I'm won over.

Yazz's voice is also so different. You immediately recognize that you read from the perspective of a an angry, selfish teenager. Totally recognizable.

At 50%: Have you ever nodded to a passerby, wished a shop servant a good day or listened to a conversation between strangers and wondered what their life was like? Thought how strange it is that they have their own lives they are in the centre of and that you know nothing about? This book answers those questions for you. Absolutely loving how all these characters are interweaved in a minor or major way.