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quackthump's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
dogoodwithbooks's review
challenging
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
4.0
A Council of Dolls is an eye-opening read of three generations of Native American women and their connection to their dolls. With a POV split between the three women, each POV tells a haunting story of the abuse Native Americans have been subjected to for years and how they turn to their dolls for comfort and guidance. Adding touches of magical realism, Power’s historical fiction novel captures the generational trauma passed down from each woman and how to ultimately heal from it. If you’re a fan of the multi-generational sagas found in books like Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow, you might like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Colonisation, Murder, and Child abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, and Police brutality
Minor: War, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
year23's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.0
ampersandie's review
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.75
ericaereads's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
sarah_lovesbooks's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
brb_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
vanvicki's review
emotional
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
5.0
karlibs93's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
5.0
This book was not easy to read. The depictions of life in Indian Boarding Schools were gut-wrenching and painful. But the exploration of generational trauma and healing is beautiful. The counsel (which I hope is an intentional homophone choice in the title) provided by the dolls to their respective girls is also powerful, whether you want to interpret that as projection or maybe something a little more magical. There is also a deeply resounding message in the divine femine of following a maternal line through this story. The quartet of women standing beneath the moon is such strong imagery of female divinity and power, and it was striking as a moment of closure for all of their pains. This book was hard on my heart to read, but well worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Child death