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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I actually came into this expecting to read a mystery, but turns out this is completely different! Did not damper my enjoyment of it though. I don't really read Caribbean literature, so this was very interesting to dive into. While femicide is a global issue, I liked that this was focused in one place and see how the death of one woman can really spark a movement. Loved that we got to see some of the inner workings of organizing/occupation. To see women from all different backgrounds come together and protest their government was nothing short of inspiring. Ultimately, the author made sure to end this as realistically as possible, which meant that the ending was bleak. Change does not happen overnight, and it is difficult to topple structures that have in place for many years. But I would like to think that the women in this book did spark a movement that will continue for years to come.
While at times I felt the book to be a little repetitive, overall this was solid.
While at times I felt the book to be a little repetitive, overall this was solid.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
One morning, after the closure of the St Colibri's carnival. A young woman is found dead under a cannonball tree.
Initially going into this I believed it to be a mystery. But it also explores the way woman are treated and what they go through. Very difficult to read at times, a very moving subject that leaves you questioning many things.
I found out this story was based on the Japanese woman, Asami Nagakiya. And it really makes you question when and if women will get the respect we deserve.
I did really enjoy how the story was told, it's got multiple POVs. It is very direct with the misogyny, but I do believe it's a convocation and story that needs to be told. I really enjoyed the musical interludes while listening to the audiobook too.
Monique has such a way in her writing where you need to finish, very talented author. The narration was very well done too, I really appreciate there being more than one narrator.
Initially going into this I believed it to be a mystery. But it also explores the way woman are treated and what they go through. Very difficult to read at times, a very moving subject that leaves you questioning many things.
I found out this story was based on the Japanese woman, Asami Nagakiya. And it really makes you question when and if women will get the respect we deserve.
I did really enjoy how the story was told, it's got multiple POVs. It is very direct with the misogyny, but I do believe it's a convocation and story that needs to be told. I really enjoyed the musical interludes while listening to the audiobook too.
Monique has such a way in her writing where you need to finish, very talented author. The narration was very well done too, I really appreciate there being more than one narrator.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an inspiring book to read however I found the blurb to me misconceiving as I believed that this book was more of a mystery when really it explored women’s rights and the challenges that some women face when championing for their rights.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There are 81,000 women and girls killed per year, according to NGO Womankind worldwide. The UN says 45,000 of these die at the hands of an intimate partner or a family member. Femicide is a global problem.
"My sister.....'disappeared.' They found some of her clothes, a yellow skirt and a white blouse, blood on them. No body, ever. We had no body to bury. We never speak about it. No one does. Like she never even existed. Nothing we could say could bring her back, so nothing was ever said."
This book was one hell of a ride. The story is a re-imagining of true events that occurred in the Trinidad & Tobago 2016 carnival season. It is a multi pov story that tells the story of a society where violence against women has permeated its fabric so deeply that it has become commonplace. The murder of a foreigner has now sparked outcry from the local women as they seek to force men in this misogynistic society to see the humanity of womanhood and do something meaningful to protect them. As the saying goes, 'it is never all men, but it is always a man'. As to be expected, the women's movement is initially not supported by the men folk or even many women, but thankfully, the sisterhood eventually unites for the betterment of !!!.
"I mean, I don't wish to upset anyone, but, while this is a horrible crime, and while it is entirely regrettable, and while we must find the killer, I do have to add that ...it is up to women to avoid being molested while carnival is happening."
"I mean,...did she try to fight her attacker off? No. It could easily be that she drank too much, and so she behaved in a certain way. I mean, so many women at carnival time behave and dress in such a lewd and vulgar way, is like a hazard. They askin for this kind of thing to happen."
I know some criticized this book as being a little too on the nose, a little too heavy and direct with the misogyny. But I urge you to re-read the two above quotes and then research the real like speech of the mayor of the city where this even occurred, and tell me if you were to spot a difference. Misogyny and femicide are often handed out overtly and in very obviously harmful ways, so I appreciate the author being so very blatant about it. Let us reserve our delicate sensibilities for other areas.
"My sister.....'disappeared.' They found some of her clothes, a yellow skirt and a white blouse, blood on them. No body, ever. We had no body to bury. We never speak about it. No one does. Like she never even existed. Nothing we could say could bring her back, so nothing was ever said."
This book was one hell of a ride. The story is a re-imagining of true events that occurred in the Trinidad & Tobago 2016 carnival season. It is a multi pov story that tells the story of a society where violence against women has permeated its fabric so deeply that it has become commonplace. The murder of a foreigner has now sparked outcry from the local women as they seek to force men in this misogynistic society to see the humanity of womanhood and do something meaningful to protect them. As the saying goes, 'it is never all men, but it is always a man'. As to be expected, the women's movement is initially not supported by the men folk or even many women, but thankfully, the sisterhood eventually unites for the betterment of !!!.
"I mean, I don't wish to upset anyone, but, while this is a horrible crime, and while it is entirely regrettable, and while we must find the killer, I do have to add that ...it is up to women to avoid being molested while carnival is happening."
"I mean,...did she try to fight her attacker off? No. It could easily be that she drank too much, and so she behaved in a certain way. I mean, so many women at carnival time behave and dress in such a lewd and vulgar way, is like a hazard. They askin for this kind of thing to happen."
I know some criticized this book as being a little too on the nose, a little too heavy and direct with the misogyny. But I urge you to re-read the two above quotes and then research the real like speech of the mayor of the city where this even occurred, and tell me if you were to spot a difference. Misogyny and femicide are often handed out overtly and in very obviously harmful ways, so I appreciate the author being so very blatant about it. Let us reserve our delicate sensibilities for other areas.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
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:
No