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kibird's review against another edition
5.0
Stunning.
A page turner and a total heartbreaker. Kushner’s characters are beautifully written portraits of broken people, even more broken by our criminal justice system. Definitely presents a strong case against mass incarceration and should make us wonder what we’re doing with our prison system. And also just so beautifully written. Ouch.
A page turner and a total heartbreaker. Kushner’s characters are beautifully written portraits of broken people, even more broken by our criminal justice system. Definitely presents a strong case against mass incarceration and should make us wonder what we’re doing with our prison system. And also just so beautifully written. Ouch.
midnight_toker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Mars Room tells the story of a young woman sentence to a life sentence and the people affected by America’s prison system. It explains how flawed justice system allows for victims to be punished. Parts of the book dragged and the different POV’s made it hard to follow at some points but overall I enjoyed the story and felt the ending was tragic
ciara25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Eye opening on what life is like in prison and how the system is always stacked against POC and the working class. However a couple of characters seemed irrelevant
shimmery's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
Romy Hall is serving two consecutive life sentences in a Californian prison. Her crime was murdering a stalker who followed her when she tried to start a new life away from the strip club she worked in. In jail, with no visitors, she has no idea what has happened to her five year old son.
This is an insightful look at incarceration in America — Romy and many of the other characters she meets in jail are extremely vulnerable women, many of whom were not properly cared for as children, were abused, and didn’t get a good start in life.
I found myself really rooting for Romy, and yet for me the structure of this book was just a bit all over the place. One of my pet hates is when books have some sections in third person and some in first. This has sections from several different characters’ points of view which does add insight to different aspects of prison life but also makes it feel a little fragmented.
Overall a good book though, very readable and well written.
Romy Hall is serving two consecutive life sentences in a Californian prison. Her crime was murdering a stalker who followed her when she tried to start a new life away from the strip club she worked in. In jail, with no visitors, she has no idea what has happened to her five year old son.
This is an insightful look at incarceration in America — Romy and many of the other characters she meets in jail are extremely vulnerable women, many of whom were not properly cared for as children, were abused, and didn’t get a good start in life.
I found myself really rooting for Romy, and yet for me the structure of this book was just a bit all over the place. One of my pet hates is when books have some sections in third person and some in first. This has sections from several different characters’ points of view which does add insight to different aspects of prison life but also makes it feel a little fragmented.
Overall a good book though, very readable and well written.
lildickies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
vanessa10readsbooks's review against another edition
Couldn’t do a prison story at the moment.
bexlrose's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner. Finally a good book on the Booker longlist! Really enjoyed it. Mostly it's a book about prison life, told in a few voices. It reminded me a bit of The Girls by Emma Cline. It's not one where I was like 'wow, Booker winner', but considering the company it keeps, it's got a good chance. 4 stars.
guperez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75