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rerudis's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ruthie_'s review
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
emilyready's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
woolardhe's review
4.0
I thought this was a very well written and powerful depiction of modern America/Virginia/Charlottesville. I just think this would’ve been a much better piece if it was a stand alone! The short stories in the beginning are great, but each could easily be their own book and the final story “my Monticello” holds up on its own stronger without the shorter stories in my opinion. Overall, fantastic book though!
raegold's review
2.0
I don’t think I can give this book a rating. It came with such high reviews, and I just struggled so much that it frustrated me. Maybe I read the book at the wrong time? I think I may have missed the bigger picture? I just felt thrown into these stories, lost from the get go.
kleonard's review
5.0
My Monticello is a truly harrowing and bleak look at the lives of Black Americans today, and in a dystopian time when a small group of people take refuge in Monticello, where they are surrounded by the reminders of their own ancestors' enslaved pasts. The stories in this collection are very hard-hitting, often leaving me with a sense of despair. But they are important stories that I think white people need to be reading in order to better understand what white supremacy has done, is doing, and will do.
probablyjenna's review
4.0
This is a fantastic collection of short stories, ending on more of a novella - the titular My Monticello. While most elements of the novella I found really incredible, I did feel it had chapters that felt less necessary and sort of brought down the pacing.
However, concept-wise all of these stories were really incredible. I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys short stories, esp ones that deal with systems of oppression.
suzablam's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Reading this while in Charlottesville was such a rewarding experience, I’ve read very few main characters like this (with so much depth & nuance & who felt so painfully real) and this book was doing so much even though it’s so short! Already want to read it again