Scan barcode
greatestheights's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Death, Gun violence, Torture, and Violence
aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Murder, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Medical content, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I almost quit about a third of the way into the book. I found the book to be very violent. I am not the targeted audience. I continued reading because it was a book club book. I am glad I did.
The characters are very well developed. Even if you didn't agree with their choices, you found yourself caring for Ike and Buddy Lee. I cried at the end.
S.A. Crosby has a beautiful way with words. He is able to create vivid images to go with his words. The name of the book comes from a description of Ike's tears after his son's funeral.
The genius of this book is that it has a very specific, very important, message that is probably uncomfortable for the targeted audience. There are many guys just like Buddy Lee and Ike who are going to pick up this book for the vigilante justice and the war with a biker gang. They are going to read it and they are going to hear that message over and over, starting out subtly but getting more direct by the end.
I wasn't a fan of the almost omnipotent point of view that happened during fight scenes. Although there were multiple points of view throughout the book, they were separated by scenes. During the fight scenes I was overwhelmed by knowing what too many characters were thinking and feeling. (Could be that I'm not the targeted audience.)
I recommend this book to people who like to read about vigilante justice and biker gangs. Sons of Anarchy fans should pick this up.
My content warnings-
Violence
Murder
Kidnapping
Torture
Racial slurs
LGBTQ slurs
Dead naming
Graphic: Homophobia, Murder, Hate crime, Blood, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gore, Torture, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Transphobia, Violence, Classism, Grief, and Religious bigotry
fossilizedtreesaps's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, Kidnapping, Vomit, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Torture, and Racism
middleagedbookworm's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Cancer, Murder, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Violence, Death of parent, Racism, Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
sabsboutin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Blood, Death, Cancer, Car accident, Deadnaming, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Homophobia
bookdragon217's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby was writing perfection for me. Cosby's narrative style was propulsive and enthralling. I could not put this one down because once I started, I was simultaneously, vividly visualizing all the action. I felt this book on a visceral level & when it finished I was left deeply emotional from the roller coaster ride.
This was primarily a character study on humanity and the ways that people hurt the ones they love the most due to ignorance and unwillingness to understand and put themselves in the shoes of another person. It was a deep dive into male parenting and the ways that race, religion and masculinity poison relationships with children, especially sons. It was a study on how two men deeply rooted in homophobic beliefs used their pain, grief and regret to attempt to gain redemption and justice while examining themselves and their own motivations. The fact that Ike and Buddy Lee are different races added more layers to work through. It was a constant conversation between the two working through their differences that allowed breakthroughs and growth to happen despite the violent nature of the story.
But this story was also a reckoning. It was reckoning with racism, toxic masculinity, homophobia, religious oppression, male fascination with violence, hate and revenge and redemption that comes at the highest cost. This story reminds us that LGBTQIA people still don't have safe spaces to just exist and to love freely without threat of violence or death. For some, home is the place where they face the most rejection and hate. This story also reminds us that it's never too late to self examine & do the work to undo the indoctrination of the harmful beliefs that are taught to us. It's never too late to advocate for others or to ask for forgiveness. Ignorant & fear based actions have dire consequences but the unlearning should be an active process.
S.A. Cosby has easily become an auto-buy author. This book had my heart racing and left me bawling. Do yourself a favor & read it!
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Gun violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Outing
paulrichard'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
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
Moderate: Deadnaming and Religious bigotry
sarah984's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Gore, Racial slurs, Kidnapping, Violence, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Torture
Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Infidelity, Murder, Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Car accident, Excrement, Terminal illness, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Deadnaming
slxtty_academia'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
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Alcoholism