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katewhite77'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
5.0
A novel about what can happen when two families of different class strata become dangerously emeshed.
Set in 1940’s Trinidad at the beginning of colonial rule. The Saroops are dirt poor and live communally in a shed known as a Barrak, with flimsy partitions separating each family.
A lot of the men from the Barrak work for the Changoors, the rich couple who live in a mansion up on the hill.
When Mrs Changoor's husband goes missing, she soon starts to manipulate the situation to her own advantage.
This was an interesting novel to read as it was set in a time and place a knew little about, and I learnt a lot. It explores class religion and power in a new, to me way. To say I enjoyed it would be the wrong word to use, as it is very dark, but I am very glad to have read it.
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Grief, Classism, Colonisation, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Cultural appropriation, Religious bigotry, Chronic illness, Death, Pregnancy, and Violence
arejaytay'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, and Vomit
whoa_is_me's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Colonisation, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Animal death, Child death, Classism, Death, Suicide, Violence, Sexual assault, and Blood
nylah_danae'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
2.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Death, Child abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
mmccombs's review against another edition
5.0
This was kind of unexpected because I read it on a whim without knowing anything about it, but I think this could become a favorite of all time.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Grief, Violence, Child death, Animal death, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity and Rape
melliedm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Cursing, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Excrement, Bullying, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Gore, Medical content, Misogyny, Abandonment, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Classism
patchworkculture's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Animal death, and Death
stephanieswilley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child death, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal death, Pregnancy, Rape, Abandonment, and Suicide attempt
lostcupofstars's review
2.5
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Death, Child death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, and Sexism