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hmw102's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Body horror, Child death, Excrement, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Rape, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Torture, Racial slurs, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Slavery, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, Police brutality, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
beanew's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
The motifs throughout the book were well explored and neatly wrapped up, and I wish I had could write an essay on the ways Gyasi chose to resolve certain elements (the stone necklaces!!!). I found so many of the characters deeply compelling and empathetic, so wildly different from each other. Gyasi never shies away from the brutality of the slave trade, it feels very painfully realistic in ways that Americans are never truly shown in history class.
My criticisms are that I felt the very final chapter was not as moving as I expected it to be simply because Marcus is the least fleshed-out character (in my opinion) of the whole book, so to end with him felt weak. I loved the character of Marjorie, but I found that the similarities to Gyasi’s own life experiences took me out of the story many times; instead of being immersed, I found myself wondering which pieces of that chapter were autobiographical or wish fulfillment of the author. Also a pattern of minor fat phobia happened frequently enough that it simply can’t be the character’s perspectives, it’s just Gyasi’s opinion. Beautiful people are “thick”, dumb/mean/loud/gluttonous people are “fat”. Felt weird, but didn’t majorly detract from the story!
Overall, the concept was so beautifully executed and the book was so moving and heartbreaking in equal measures. I would highly recommend it!
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Police brutality, Confinement, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Slavery
Moderate: Child death and Colonisation
Minor: Fatphobia
laurenmaria422'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Slavery, Police brutality, Infidelity, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Rape, Racism, Kidnapping, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
kissmelicia's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Slavery, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Rape
Moderate: Misogyny, Pregnancy, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Animal death, Violence, and Religious bigotry
madelinedalton's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Slavery, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Death and Addiction
taunusleserin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
...schon allein wegen der stilistischen Idee, das Leben von 14 Personen in zwei parallelen Erzählsträngen über 7 Generationen hinweg zu erzählen.
Das Buch besteht entsprechend aus 14 mehr oder minder abgeschlossenen Essays, die von Effia und Esi - zwei Halbschwestern, die sich nie kennengelernt haben - und ihren jeweiligen Nachkommen erzählen. Esi wird als Sklavin von Ghana in die USA verschleppt, Effia und ihre Nachkommen leben in Ghana.
Die ersten drei Kapitel hatte ich noch Mühe, reinzufinden, danach hat es mich gepackt und ich wollte unbedingt wissen, wie es weiter geht. Die Autorin befasst sich vor allem mit der Frage, ob sich Traumata in der DNA eines Menschen wiederfinden. Die Kapitel empfand ich teilweise eher zu kurz, da ich gerne mehr über die jeweilige Person erfahren hätte.
Wie man sich vorstellen kann, sind die Inhalte harte Kost, das Ende bildet dafür einen einigermaßen versöhnlichen Abschluss.
Definitiv ein Jahreshighlight für mich.
Graphic: Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, and Slavery
frankieclc's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Violence, Slavery, Drug use, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Torture, Drug abuse, and War
Moderate: Police brutality
isabelgb's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, War, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Classism, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, and Slavery
ddollenmayer's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Drug abuse, Trafficking, and Slavery
arayo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Excrement, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Rape, Trafficking, War, Confinement, Drug use, Genocide, Sexual assault, Slavery, Racism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Mental illness, Death of parent, Infertility, Pregnancy, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Chronic illness