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ncrozier's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed and appreciated this book. It was told in snippets, where you kind of ducked in and out of the character's lives and saw them at different times and situations. This is often the kind of book I dislike, but this one really worked for me, and the characters being still vivid and connectable.
krisr's review against another edition
hopeful
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
5.0
rebecca_labrador's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Racism
Minor: War
eekennel's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sankitch87's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
belwooga's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
justabean_reads's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
First book I've read off the 2024 Canada Reads long list, and it's a bit of a let down. I think most speculation I've seen includes this as a pick for the short list, and I just don't think the quality is there.
It follows a group of women in a Black neighbourhood in Vancouver, B.C., in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily a young aspiring artist and her alcoholic single mother. It's meant as a love letter to a neighbourhood the city destroyed, and to Black solidarity, but themes really work better if they're not repeatedly stated in the text. The writing generally felt pretty shallow, with a lot of telling us what the characters felt, and explicitly drawing conclusions that felt obvious to me. I also found the language quite modern in a way I couldn't entirely put my finger on, and didn't think it had a very strong sense of time and place because of it.
All of the chapters were a few pages long, and each divided into a past tense regular narrative followed by a present tense (and sometimes first person) impressionistic/emotional response. The latter where they focused on the main character's painterly view of the world were probably the strongest part writing, and I wish the whole book had been more like that.
It follows a group of women in a Black neighbourhood in Vancouver, B.C., in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily a young aspiring artist and her alcoholic single mother. It's meant as a love letter to a neighbourhood the city destroyed, and to Black solidarity, but themes really work better if they're not repeatedly stated in the text. The writing generally felt pretty shallow, with a lot of telling us what the characters felt, and explicitly drawing conclusions that felt obvious to me. I also found the language quite modern in a way I couldn't entirely put my finger on, and didn't think it had a very strong sense of time and place because of it.
All of the chapters were a few pages long, and each divided into a past tense regular narrative followed by a present tense (and sometimes first person) impressionistic/emotional response. The latter where they focused on the main character's painterly view of the world were probably the strongest part writing, and I wish the whole book had been more like that.
thejeneral's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? Yes
4.0