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huldasif's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a good book! It's challenging, medium-paced book, a bit dark and uncomfortable and made me very angry very often. I have to give you trigger warnings for domestic violence, child abuse (not sexual) and pregnancy loss. It's very much in your face. What bothered me a lot also was how the church wanted to "white wash" everything, down to the very names of the people and how Kambili ate it all up and hated his cultural heritage. It was so sad and frustrating. Also how he did everything he could to be opposite of his past because he was so ashamed of it and to make his children opposite too, trying to mold them into God's perfect creations, to the point where they didn't know how to smile anymore of how to interact with other children. I wanted someone to swoop them up and make them whole again but then no one around those children was what as good as I would have wanted them to be. It was so sad, but everybody tried their best and did what they thought was right, even their delusional father. Man, I'm so angry! The flaws were so real. It was not a fairytale. You should read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Torture
Moderate: Hate crime, Murder, Death, Death of parent, and War
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