Scan barcode
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
Important, well-written, believable, and unrelenting stories of people not usually the protagonists of novels. Ultimately sympathetic and offering very little hope.
brownlorna76's review against another edition
5.0
Must make the shortlist!!Best I've read in long time!
This is an amazing book which had me hooked from page 1. The characters are so engaging, and the deeper message so resounding.
This is an amazing book which had me hooked from page 1. The characters are so engaging, and the deeper message so resounding.
carly23r's review against another edition
3.0
Kushner writes really well, and Romy's observations are often excellent, but I didn't personally come to any unique moral conclusions, or encounter anything new that is not explored in something like OITNB already.
Knowing her dedication to researching the California prison system was admirable, but then her choice to only explore a few avenues (some which I feel we've seen before) in a fictional form diminishes that a bit.
I think it might have been a better choice for Kushner to focus either on less characters, or pick one phase of Romy's life to look at in more detail, because some stories just needed more. I just didn't get much insight into her life trajectory based on what was written about her mother, aside from the idea that neglect and poverty started a chain of events leading her to prison - but it seemed to emphasise the mother without delving too deep. I wanted to know more about her son, and I wanted to know more about her stalker! His chapter was depressing and vile and I wanted to experience more of that kind of man's interior monologue.
Knowing her dedication to researching the California prison system was admirable, but then her choice to only explore a few avenues (some which I feel we've seen before) in a fictional form diminishes that a bit.
I think it might have been a better choice for Kushner to focus either on less characters, or pick one phase of Romy's life to look at in more detail, because some stories just needed more. I just didn't get much insight into her life trajectory based on what was written about her mother, aside from the idea that neglect and poverty started a chain of events leading her to prison - but it seemed to emphasise the mother without delving too deep. I wanted to know more about her son, and I wanted to know more about her stalker! His chapter was depressing and vile and I wanted to experience more of that kind of man's interior monologue.
safiya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Transphobia
kassabitte's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
I think this is what I wanted notes on an execution to be. The dynamics between the prisoners was definitely the most compelling part of the book. There was nothing super novel here but it did what it set out to do well.
angelamichelle's review against another edition
3.0
Not my cuppa. Sorta the literary version of Orange Is the New Black. Lavish absurdity and violence and ghastliness in a blase veneer. Character arches to nowhere. I appreciate what the author is doing but...
rachocambo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25