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beansprout562'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Sexism
Moderate: Racism
miqnightrain's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Infidelity
walkie_check'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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Classism, Death, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Stalking, Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Child death, and Trafficking
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Medical content, Bullying, War, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Rape, and Confinement
brittburkard's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
jwells's review against another edition
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence and Animal cruelty
N-word used, when quoting racist white peoplemariaviola'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
4.5
after finishing the street, all i can say is that this was a heartbreaking read, and what made it so heartbreaking was all of its honesty. there is no sugarcoating here—here is the story of a poor black single mother living in the 1940s and the things she goes through in trying to build a better life for her and her son. it’s raw and painful and some characters you will just want to hug and others you will want to beat the sh*t out of. it’s not very fast-paced but it’s a must-read in my opinion.
→ my rating ♡ 4.5/5 stars ←
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, and Domestic abuse
literaryhedgehog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’m her depiction of 1940s Harlem, Petry creates a narrative that is viscerally human. Her masterful use of multiple perspectives allows her characters to come to life as fully realized and independent human beings, while also showing how they are objectified and dehumanized by one another. The depiction of race, class, and gender is frank, beautifully articulated, and still very relevant to life in the 21st century. I have never seen a better depiction of the daily life of a woman, including the joys and anxieties of motherhood.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a reflective/serious read.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
bjdarby's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism and Infidelity
ohlhauc'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
First off, it is gorgeously written. The melody and structure of the writing flows smooth until there are moments of tension or violence, whereby the writing shifts to reflect the terror and trauma. The dialogue also felt natural. I liked how the author did use first- and second-person when she was sharing the inner thoughts of the protagonist, showing how Lutie was thinking of herself in those moments.
And then the story itself is well-constructed and the build-up to the climax is a slow-burn. You can see characters and forces creeping closer to a collision, and that tension compels you to read forward. The specific moments and the underlying themes and ideas showing racism, sexism, and classism - their separate moments but also how they're an interconnected web that feeds each other into a never-ending cycle of oppression was haunting and head on. You could feel the weight on the protagonist's shoulders - as well as the other characters - and how their society, and the street they lived on, were moulding their destinies.
The ending was heartbreaking but also made the most sense even if it's probably not the one you would want.
If you care about reading great classics, you have to pick this up. I also highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in the Harlem Renaissance, stories about poverty and intersectional oppression (racism, sexism, classism), or even if you're into a story with lots of tension, twists, and brutal hard facts.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Grief
sherbertwells's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“[The wind] did everything it could to discourage the people walking along the street. It found all the dirt and dust and grime on the sidewalk and lifted it up so that the dirt got into their noses, making it difficult to breathe; the dust got into their eyes and blinded them; and the grit stung their skins” (2)
“You’d sell your old grandmother if you had one, he told himself. Yes. I’d sell anything I’ve got without stopping to think about it twice, because I don’t intend to learn how to crawl again. Not for anybody” (227).
In the grand scheme of things, these are minor gripes. If you choose to focus on The Street as a text rather than a book, you’ll have a good time. Or be completely horrified. In either case, Petry will have succeeded.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Sexism, Infidelity, Hate crime, and Animal cruelty