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jmiles758's review
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage
morsecode's review
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
The main characters (the four parents) are shown in all their unvarnished glory, as is America both the lead up to and the immediate aftermath of the collapse.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Suicide
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
rachelkreadsbookz'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity and Drug abuse
Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, 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
blueraspberry26's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Violence and Drug abuse
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Addiction, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Vomit, Pregnancy, Deportation, Medical content, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault, Car accident, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Cultural appropriation, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual content
calamitywindpetal'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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Racism