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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a sweeping, beautiful, heartbreaking treasure of a novel, full of sorrow and triumph. I found myself crying and cheering by turns at Dorothy's story, which was masterfully told. I knew nothing about the life of Dorothy Thomas before reading this book, but after I finished it I couldn't believe I'd never heard of her. It upended a lot of the things I had believed about the status of women of colour during the period of enslavement, and educated me about the many nuances of their place in society.
I absolutely loved Dorothy's character. She certainly wasn't a perfect person, but her complexities and mistakes - after freeing herself from enslavement, she too purchased enslaved people to help ruin her businesses - are masterfully described. Riley gives an unapologetic portrait of an incredibly complex woman whose trauma and past affected her every decision, and who was a survivor to her core. While I didn't agree with all of her decisions, Riley made them understandable to her reader. Beyond that, Dorothy's identity as a firm dreamer who went after her goals no matter what was deeply inspiring.
My main qualm with this book was that I wish it had focused a bit less on Dorothy's relationships with men, and I felt the character went back and forth on what she wanted from them a few too many times. I also thought the pacing could have been a bit slower - but I suppose when you're trying to capture a 90 year life in only 500 pages, you gotta do what you gotta do!
Overall I loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of Vanessa Riley's works.
I absolutely loved Dorothy's character. She certainly wasn't a perfect person, but her complexities and mistakes - after freeing herself from enslavement, she too purchased enslaved people to help ruin her businesses - are masterfully described. Riley gives an unapologetic portrait of an incredibly complex woman whose trauma and past affected her every decision, and who was a survivor to her core. While I didn't agree with all of her decisions, Riley made them understandable to her reader. Beyond that, Dorothy's identity as a firm dreamer who went after her goals no matter what was deeply inspiring.
My main qualm with this book was that I wish it had focused a bit less on Dorothy's relationships with men, and I felt the character went back and forth on what she wanted from them a few too many times. I also thought the pacing could have been a bit slower - but I suppose when you're trying to capture a 90 year life in only 500 pages, you gotta do what you gotta do!
Overall I loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of Vanessa Riley's works.
Interesting novel based on a real person, but the chapters jump across time and the central narrative doesn’t rise to a traditional climax.
adventurous
challenging
informative
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:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really looked forward to reading this book. Dorothy’s story deserved to be told - and is an incredible story of strength & endurance. The sweeping narrative that covers 60 years, multiple countries/islands, a huge cast of characters (39+) and such meaningful themes is ambitious and time well spent.
I really struggled while reading it though. I think the nature of all the detail that is conveyed made it hard for me to really digest. The timelines jump around, there’s a huge cast of characters - with not a ton of character development - and it felt long.
I am glad that I got to the end, I thought the ending was well done and the authors note with all the background really helped to clarify and build out a little more context.
I really struggled while reading it though. I think the nature of all the detail that is conveyed made it hard for me to really digest. The timelines jump around, there’s a huge cast of characters - with not a ton of character development - and it felt long.
I am glad that I got to the end, I thought the ending was well done and the authors note with all the background really helped to clarify and build out a little more context.
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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes