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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
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:
Yes
This heartbreaking, but beautifully written story, is a must read. Set in Scarborough, Brother follows Michael, his brother Francis, and their mother, past and present. Michael and his mother struggle through their own grief, reconnecting with community along the way.
This heartbreaking, but beautifully written story, is a must read. Set in Scarborough, Brother follows Michael, his brother Francis, and their mother, past and present. Michael and his mother struggle through their own grief, reconnecting with community along the way.
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I started the 2023 Read the World challenge here on Storygraph, requiring me to read books set or written in 10 different areas of the world. One of the areas (Trinidad and Tobago) was a complete mystery to me, and I figured I'd end up reading a romance novel set in a beach resort just to "check it off" the list. Instead, skimming their list of suggested titles, Brother by David Chariandy caught my attention and I gave it a shot. If nothing else comes of this challenge, I am thankful this challenge brought me to this book!
From the first page the language of this book is captivating, quickly transitioning the experience from "just another book" to "a powerful work of literature." So many poignant moments of literary perfection.
From the first page the language of this book is captivating, quickly transitioning the experience from "just another book" to "a powerful work of literature." So many poignant moments of literary perfection.
"He taught me that, my older brother. Memory's got nothing to do with the old and grey and faraway gone. Memory's the muscle sting of now."
The story is a simple one on paper - ten years after the death of his older brother, Francis, main character Michael, invites a girl from his past, Aisha, to stay with him while she grieves her father's death. Aisha's presence pushes Michael both physically and emotionally to confront the loss of his brother.
There is so much more in this 200 pages, though -- this is a story of identity, of family, of courage, of grief, of brutality and recovery. It deals with crucial modern issues like the interaction of black men and the police and the view of gay men in the black community with a featherlight touch and brutal honesty. A plot structure that could be easily seen as an attempt to play on headlines is instead gut wrenchingly honest in its presentation of the unexpectedness, the unexplanable nature, and the unacceptableness of the actions included. Francis' character in absentia remains the most powerful force - his family and friends pulled to his gravity even years after his death. The highest compliment I can give a book is to say I want to write about it...and this one I do. I want to write and write and write...this book has so much to explore.
Honestly, though, I feel insignificant just trying to review this book - it's so beautiful and so powerful it should be the top of every reading list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, Grief
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
a solid read with a beautiful prose and powerful impact.
this author is great at making the characters feel real & authentic even if they’re not as fleshed out as i’d have wanted, as this book jumps between timelines and i feel i never really got to spend enough time in either by the end.
i listened to this on audio (amazing narrator btw) so that also may be why the time jumps often left me disoriented as they didn’t occur with any warning and i was left confused as to where we were in the timeline. but i’d still recommend this just maybe physically ?? even if i do like the audiobook narrator.
this author is great at making the characters feel real & authentic even if they’re not as fleshed out as i’d have wanted, as this book jumps between timelines and i feel i never really got to spend enough time in either by the end.
i listened to this on audio (amazing narrator btw) so that also may be why the time jumps often left me disoriented as they didn’t occur with any warning and i was left confused as to where we were in the timeline. but i’d still recommend this just maybe physically ?? even if i do like the audiobook narrator.
challenging
emotional
reflective
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