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katielong84's review against another edition
dark
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
4.75
bremenwhitlock's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
readingintheether's review
3.0
I was loving this book throughout the first half, but the switch in narration and the plot time-jump really lost me.
samanthabooks19's review
3.0
2.5*
Thanks to Bookish-First for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This review shows my own experience; keep in mind your preferences in books may be different.
This book is definitely unique, but it was also odd. What I got wasn’t what I went in expecting. Halfway through it took a turn from historical fiction to phycological weirdness. I was expecting a little more fighting for racial equality and not gang violence/turf wars. There was a bit of a business element to the story, but it didn’t add much.
When I’m thinking about it, I can’t think of a lot of strong points for this book. There wasn’t much depth in this novel. It was slow paced and there wasn’t an endgame in mind. You question the reason for reading it in the first place. It was kind of like just hearing about a person’s life without having a specific end to the story. I still don’t really get what the plot of this book was, and I read the whole thing. The ending was told to us and not shown; like the author gave up and quickly ended things. There wasn’t much emotion, plot growth, or lure. I wasn’t really able to connect to the characters or become involved with what was happening. It was a very passive reading experience.
Thanks to Bookish-First for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This review shows my own experience; keep in mind your preferences in books may be different.
This book is definitely unique, but it was also odd. What I got wasn’t what I went in expecting. Halfway through it took a turn from historical fiction to phycological weirdness. I was expecting a little more fighting for racial equality and not gang violence/turf wars. There was a bit of a business element to the story, but it didn’t add much.
When I’m thinking about it, I can’t think of a lot of strong points for this book. There wasn’t much depth in this novel. It was slow paced and there wasn’t an endgame in mind. You question the reason for reading it in the first place. It was kind of like just hearing about a person’s life without having a specific end to the story. I still don’t really get what the plot of this book was, and I read the whole thing. The ending was told to us and not shown; like the author gave up and quickly ended things. There wasn’t much emotion, plot growth, or lure. I wasn’t really able to connect to the characters or become involved with what was happening. It was a very passive reading experience.
emc425's review
3.0
I had high hopes for this book, and it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The story is told in two parts, the first focuses on August Sitwell, the groundskeeper for a rich white man. Sitwell had a unique ability to guess the components of foods based on smell, a talent that lands him as the face of a racist rib sauce brand.
The second part focuses on Jennie Williams, ten years later. She had been a maid for the same family Mr. Sitwell worked for and now finds herself trying to run a business and sell the healing salve she invented.
The writing was solid, and I will say I felt thoroughly drawn into the world of the early 1900s, Hubbard did a great job making the time period feel authentic. That being said, there was a bit of a disconnect for me between the blurb on the back of the book and what the book was actually about. While the first part dragged a bit, I throughly enjoyed the second part and the pacing, though the ending was very abrupt. I liked Jennie’s character significantly more than I liked Sitwell. While all of the characters were well written, I found myself favoring the woman characters over the men in almost every instance.
The Rib King, though set in the early 1900s, focuses on issues still relevant today such as race, and how settling things with violence can have bad repercussions. Overall, I liked the spirit behind this book and enjoyed reading it!
Thanks to Bookishfirst and Harper Collins for this ARC!
The story is told in two parts, the first focuses on August Sitwell, the groundskeeper for a rich white man. Sitwell had a unique ability to guess the components of foods based on smell, a talent that lands him as the face of a racist rib sauce brand.
The second part focuses on Jennie Williams, ten years later. She had been a maid for the same family Mr. Sitwell worked for and now finds herself trying to run a business and sell the healing salve she invented.
The writing was solid, and I will say I felt thoroughly drawn into the world of the early 1900s, Hubbard did a great job making the time period feel authentic. That being said, there was a bit of a disconnect for me between the blurb on the back of the book and what the book was actually about. While the first part dragged a bit, I throughly enjoyed the second part and the pacing, though the ending was very abrupt. I liked Jennie’s character significantly more than I liked Sitwell. While all of the characters were well written, I found myself favoring the woman characters over the men in almost every instance.
The Rib King, though set in the early 1900s, focuses on issues still relevant today such as race, and how settling things with violence can have bad repercussions. Overall, I liked the spirit behind this book and enjoyed reading it!
Thanks to Bookishfirst and Harper Collins for this ARC!
joeholmes's review
2.0
The first half of The Rib King was fascinating, but he second half almost felt as if it had been written by another writer: unfocused, too many characters and too many schemes.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5 stars for this ruthless examination of race, class, white privilege and the cultural appropriation of “Black genius” set in early 20th century Chicago. The story follows August Sitwell, a Black groundskeeper working for the Barclays, a down on their luck upper class white family. When Sitwell gets promoted to work in the main house with the other all-Black house servants things start to go awry. He makes friends with the cook Miss Mamie but their friendship is ruined after Mr Barclay forces Sitwell to help him steal her famous rib sauce recipe. Sitwell’s rage and resentment at his treatment (his image is also used on the label of the sauce without any compensation) builds to a tragic accident that has long-lasting fall-out for all the Black staff. The second half of the novel jumps forward and we get to see the lasting negative effects on the various servants later in their lives as a direct consequence of Sitwell’s and Barclay’s actions. Overall a very unique look into the life of African American domestic servants in a version of Upstairs, Downstairs that will have you feeling outrage for all the many ways Black culture has been appropriated over the years by privileged white people. Definitely worth a read and if you’re looking for other books about food empires try The lager queen of Minnesota or The chicken sisters.
bookdivaa54's review against another edition
2.0
One of oddest novels I’ve read. The subject for the book has the potential to be a great story, but the storyline was all over the place. No real plot or (or a few different plots) which hindered on it flowing smoothly.
mellabella's review
4.0
I won an ARC of this book from BookishFirst. This book is timely. Even though it's a historical novel set about a century ago? It comes at a time where racism, classism, and racial violence are still very prevalent. Black servant working for a wealthyish New Orleans family named the Barclays are facing horrible times. The money isn't flowing like it was. They aren't safe and neither are their jobs. But were they ever? Written in two parts, you'll feel every bit of rage as the story unfolds. You'll get to know the (fleshed out) characters. It's well written and you'll find that it could have been written in the present day. Which is sobering. In the end, it's not just about rib sauce. It's a study in trauma, betrayal, and resilience. You will definitely be engaged by the story. I read it right before a time where we give thanks for what we have. But what if what we have was obtained by ill gotten gains? Thank you BookishFirst for the chance to read this.
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review
5.0
You don't have to have read The Talented Ribkins to read The Rib King, but it does make me want to re-read the other book.