Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Maame by Jessica George

65 reviews

jasminechocklettslee's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity and Racism

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicide

delz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad 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

5.0

Maddie is a 25 year old  Ghanian woman working full time as a personal assistant in publishing and also the full time caretaker for her father, suffering from Parkinson’s. She’s had little to no time for a personal life while her mother splits her time between England and Ghana and her older brother James gallivants around the world. Maddie suffers bouts of depression, navigates adult relationships and generally learns to live independently as an adult after her mother returns. The characters are fleshed out beautifully, even the unlikable ones. Even though the story covers heavy topics like mental health, and the challenges of working and dating while being a black woman, there is also humor giving the story depth. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Chronic illness

thirdeyeangel23's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

3.5

Maame is the story of our late bloomer Maddie. After years of being her father’s caretaker and sole provider for her family, Maddie is in desperate need of finding a live that is all her own. While I believe this story has some important messages about how our daughters are treated, especially within black families, there were definitely some issues for me. For a woman who is highly educated Maddie is often written in a way that completely undervalues her strength and quite frankly makes her look stupid. These constant Google searching throughout the book eventually felt over-done for comedic relief. There is also some unfortunate bi-phobia within Maddie’s story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Biphobia, Racism, and Gaslighting

bryanneashley's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness

cheaploaf's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.75

Best book I’ve read in a bit. I really enjoyed it. Didn’t want to put the book down. I guess my only critique would be the brief part where Maddie asks Shu why she likes girls and there’s no reference to the fact that people’s sexualities just are what they are and they can’t choose. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent

torturedreadersdept'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

courtneyer's review against another edition

funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Death of parent

mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

tina94's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Biphobia