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jackieom4's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
remigves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
musingsbynitika's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
Possibly my favourite book of 2022! This is a powerful story with inspiring characters that will stay with me for a long time. Lola Jaye has beautifully written an important historical fiction/ mystery novel about the Black British identity that will break your heart and then lift you back up. A resounding ☆☆☆☆☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Child abuse, Racism, Colonisation, Trafficking, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Child death, Genocide, Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Abandonment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcoholism, Bullying, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
carmenvillaman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Racism, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
poeticsinglemama's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Read. This. Book.
There were times I didn't want to keep reading it because I didn't want to be sad, but I also needed to keep reading it because I needed to know how their stories ended.
It will take me a moment to digest this book because I just finished it, but I haven't had a book make me feel this many feelings in a long time!
There were times I didn't want to keep reading it because I didn't want to be sad, but I also needed to keep reading it because I needed to know how their stories ended.
It will take me a moment to digest this book because I just finished it, but I haven't had a book make me feel this many feelings in a long time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Racism and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault and War
veronicats's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Classism, Grief, Racial slurs, Violence, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Trafficking, Genocide, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts
tnociti's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Confinement, Trafficking, Racial slurs, Slavery, Racism, and Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Attic Child would be more accurately titled The Attic Children since the two main characters, Dikembe and Lowra, both spent lengthy periods of their childhood locked in the attic of the same house - him in the early 1900s, her in the 1970s. As an adult Lowra is promoted to investigate further and their two separate storylines come together in some unexpected ways. Given this synopsis trigger warnings for child abuse are to be expected.
What stood out for me in this story was it’s exploration of colonialism from an unexpected angle. Dikembe lived in the Congo until he was brought to England almost as a souvenir by Sir Richard Babbington, a famous explorer. Babbington insisted on changing Dikembe’s name, treated him as something of a party trick, and used him for his own ends, something Dikembe realised and silently railed about. Upon Babbington’s death Dikembe’s life worsened considerably. Taking a risk and using his own initiative he was later able to right some of the wrongs done to him and build a good life for himself in England, although it was inevitably marked by racism.
We are accustomed to looking at the impact of colonialism on the countries that were colonised, on the people who lived there. And this book does outline some of the horrific actions of Belgians in the Congo, actions that Dikembe was fortunate in missing. However, I don’t think I’ve read about colonisation through the lens of an individual removed to the country of the coloniser. And, as the author’s note makes clear, the character of Dikembe, was inspired by a real person. While Lowra’s childhood experiences are also tragic, they are much more familiar, and so didn’t carry the same impact for me. Dikembe’s story also highlighted the early history of Blacks in Britain, before the arrival of the relatively well-known Windrush generation.
From the depiction of Babbington (pompous and entitled), to the issues raised about how museums obtain, display and treat many artefacts and whose needs they are serving, the author’s barely suppressed rage at colonialism was always bubbling just below the surface. I loved that passion.
What stood out for me in this story was it’s exploration of colonialism from an unexpected angle. Dikembe lived in the Congo until he was brought to England almost as a souvenir by Sir Richard Babbington, a famous explorer. Babbington insisted on changing Dikembe’s name, treated him as something of a party trick, and used him for his own ends, something Dikembe realised and silently railed about. Upon Babbington’s death Dikembe’s life worsened considerably. Taking a risk and using his own initiative he was later able to right some of the wrongs done to him and build a good life for himself in England, although it was inevitably marked by racism.
We are accustomed to looking at the impact of colonialism on the countries that were colonised, on the people who lived there. And this book does outline some of the horrific actions of Belgians in the Congo, actions that Dikembe was fortunate in missing. However, I don’t think I’ve read about colonisation through the lens of an individual removed to the country of the coloniser. And, as the author’s note makes clear, the character of Dikembe, was inspired by a real person. While Lowra’s childhood experiences are also tragic, they are much more familiar, and so didn’t carry the same impact for me. Dikembe’s story also highlighted the early history of Blacks in Britain, before the arrival of the relatively well-known Windrush generation.
From the depiction of Babbington (pompous and entitled), to the issues raised about how museums obtain, display and treat many artefacts and whose needs they are serving, the author’s barely suppressed rage at colonialism was always bubbling just below the surface. I loved that passion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Colonisation, Child abuse, and Racism
elementarymydear's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Sometimes you get to the end of a book and you’re so overwhelmed by the depth, the emotion and the brilliance of it that you are physically incapable of doing anything until you have recovered.
This was one of those books.
The story follows two timelines; that of Dikembe, a young boy from the Congo who is bought as a ‘companion’ to a rich Englishman at the beginning of the 20th Century; and of Lowra, a young woman in the 1990s who stumbles across his story and is determined to learn more. Their lives intersect more than Lowra could ever have imagined, and it becomes her mission to make sure Dikembe’s story is heard.
Just as Lowra slowly uncovers Dikembe’s story, it is revealed to us alongside her. There are times that you hope desperately for what you think is true not to be true and there are times that we’re a few steps ahead of her, but from the early chapters you can’t help but be desperate to know his story. This kind of story, where little nuggets are slowly revealed to the reader, is extremely hard to do so well, and Lola Jaye has mastered it.
One of the strongest themes of the book is the importance of telling people’s stories, and of making sure that history doesn’t just remember the victors. Both Lowra and the historian she enlists to help her, Monty, have their own reasons for finding out what happened to Dikembe, but ultimately it is for Dikembe’s own sake that they make sure his story is heard. While Dikembe is a fictional character, Jaye uses his story to shed light on a little-known period of Black British history, and explores the way in which Black history is perceived in Britain.
This is a truly brilliant book, excellently crafted, and one that stays with the reader long after you reach the final page.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault