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vdspreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.5
The insight into the period, different cultures/customs, and how people interacted is fascinating. I thought I was going to be taken by the relationship between Dodo and Chona. It was the glimmer of humanity that Dodo and Monkeypants found that kept me reading.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Racism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Classism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, and Death of parent
cassondradubois'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Murder, and Pedophilia
jade_reads'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
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Ableism, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Grief, and Medical trauma
jasper_a's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
this was a book club book.. if it weren't, i do believe i would have dropped it some 60 or so pages into the book.
objectively, the writing is very good; long-winded, winding, repetitive, sure but good.
there were many characters, many voices, many dialects and accents and languages (which is a hard sell imo, and were it not for the lovely narrator, Dominic Hoffman, i would have really struggled to get through it).
personally, i didn't enjoy how cyclical the vignettes were. events/incidents were referenced or recounted from multiple character's POVs, which to me were less insightful and more droning. i kept wanting the story to progress but the author wanted to hammer home how everyone felt about everything.
and honestly i would have given the book a passing grade if it weren't for the abrupt ending. i didn't hate how things were resolved but w/r/t the author's cadence, i feel that the ending was rushed out the door lest it miss its train.
it might be a short book club meeting tomorrow.
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Violence, Rape, and Physical abuse
Minor: Mental illness and Xenophobia
amandalachelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Grief, Classism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Excrement, Hate crime, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Racism, Murder, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry
abicaro17's review against another edition
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Grief, Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Bullying, Fatphobia, Violence, Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Blood, Racial slurs, Body horror, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
fkshg8465'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Torture, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Violence, Bullying, Death, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Confinement, and Sexual violence
lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
What sets this book apart is its patient, layered, non-linear approach to character development. McBride does a glorious job of weaving individual tales into a larger community story in a way that was deeply satisfying.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Classism, Confinement, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
heremireadz'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Racism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Alcoholism
omarickman'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
3.5
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Racial slurs
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Ableism, Blood, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Excrement, Classism, and Death
Minor: Vomit, Rape, Infertility, Murder, and Pedophilia