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maybreads'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
4.0
Behold the Dreamers works very well in utilizing the dramatic irony that the setting of working on Wallstreet (adjacent) in 2007/8 just before a historic irl event creates. It takes these gigantic surroundings and focuses on the life of an immigrant couple whose place is the USA is not secure. They have a narrative foil in the Wallstreet couple which they work for.
I think Imbolo Mbue does a fantastic job of portraying the American dream, assimilation, money struggles and immigration. The novel also comments a lot on corruption and in my opinion gender roles. My heart broke with the character's whenever they experienced a setback.
I think the most interesting aspect of the novel was its portrayal of respectability. Who's a respectable man, what is honorable behavior. Who do the characters not respect and why. Who do they claim to respect but their behavior shows differently. Needless to say that as a reader you will not automatically align yourself with the characters here.
Behold the Dreamers is not a book that you won't be able to put down. Nevertheless it's an enjoyable read that touches on important topics and creates emotional investment in the story. I would even argue that it has a happy ending.
Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
mysterymom40's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Grief, Classism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Rape, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
bessadams'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Child death, Classism, and Death of parent
jessiesnoww's review
- 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
Graphic: Infertility, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Grief, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Drug use, Classism, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage
Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Racism
befrazzledenby's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
There were moments where the book felt as though it was moving too slow; other times, too fast. The pacing was just off for me, though that definitely added to the overall mood of the book and certainly is part of why it was a rollercoaster.
There’s so many things to talk about in this tiny review, but I will leave it at this: this was the most raw, human book I have read in a long while.
Graphic: Deportation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Death, and Miscarriage
bootsmom3'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
4.0
Graphic: Deportation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Grief, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
eggfriend's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Suicide, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Classism, and Drug abuse
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug abuse, Death, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
remie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Misogyny, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Classism, Colonisation, Eating disorder, Grief, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, and Toxic relationship