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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I tore through the admittedly brief novel and I enjoyed it a lot. Based in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, it had the comforting familiarity of place for this Canadian locationally, but also in terms of the decade i grew up in, as a child raised by a single mom, and, most importantly, as a Black woman growing up in this place. The book is a reflection on the life and death of the older brother of the protagonist, as he and his mother reconnect with people who were close to him and them at the time of his death ten years ago. It’s a small book, but it packs a powerful punch, exploring themes of racism, queerness, poverty, immigration, ghettoization, police brutality, grief, the myth of Canadian equality, and so so much more. It was so good, and you’ve gotta read it.
I hear Nina Simone's voice, "Ne me quitte pas, Il faut oublier. Tout peut s'oublier. Ne me quitte pas ... Ne me quitte pas ..."
Volume!
Then the song comes to an end, and all that's left is the friction of the needle on the record player.
Brother explores masculinity, family, race, and identity with such lyricism, and honesty.
Volume!
Then the song comes to an end, and all that's left is the friction of the needle on the record player.
Brother explores masculinity, family, race, and identity with such lyricism, and honesty.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
Maybe 3.5? The language is exceptional and beautiful but I felt that it was so short that the impact of the story did not materialize.
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book explores a lot of very powerful themes which are very important to discuss but it's very spoon feed-y. I read this for a class, hence my low score regarding the ability to analyze anything. It's short and didactic and I would recommend it to someone who knows nothing about diasporic or Black literature, but it's not amazing.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this took me a quite a long time to read, especially considering how short it is. It's not the book's fault but mine because I started reading it while I started Uni and was therefore quite busy.
This is really, really short. I thought it was a beautiful portrait but in my opinion it should have been longer. The characters start to feel real and important to you only be the end and I think it had the potential to make you sob on a floor if we'd gotten to spend more time with the brothers, Aisha and mother.
This is really, really short. I thought it was a beautiful portrait but in my opinion it should have been longer. The characters start to feel real and important to you only be the end and I think it had the potential to make you sob on a floor if we'd gotten to spend more time with the brothers, Aisha and mother.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Brother tells a powerful story with powerful moments of characters attempting to process the harshness of living in the most unflinching and cruel parts of Toronto. The blend of stories from the past and stories of recovery from loss makes for a very interesting structure for a book.
That being said, the briefness of this book leads to a lot of moments that feel rushed and an ending that made me feel like...oh it's over I guess. For such a short book though, it's also odd that some moments felt like filler. I was either hooked by a story that went by too quickly or uninterested and hoping the next one was better. I also found Michael to be a very bland main character especially when compared to the other main and side characters.
What I will always remember from this book though is its portrayal of the police. A brutal and authoritative force that allows no opposition to their rule and imposes their will on those who just want to be themselves. I appreciate how this book demonstrates the negative impact that our country's institutions such as the police as well as the news cycle makes it so that poor people of color get profiled, judged, excluded and harassed in a constant cycle of pain with only each other to help themselves through this despair.
That being said, the briefness of this book leads to a lot of moments that feel rushed and an ending that made me feel like...oh it's over I guess. For such a short book though, it's also odd that some moments felt like filler. I was either hooked by a story that went by too quickly or uninterested and hoping the next one was better. I also found Michael to be a very bland main character especially when compared to the other main and side characters.
What I will always remember from this book though is its portrayal of the police. A brutal and authoritative force that allows no opposition to their rule and imposes their will on those who just want to be themselves. I appreciate how this book demonstrates the negative impact that our country's institutions such as the police as well as the news cycle makes it so that poor people of color get profiled, judged, excluded and harassed in a constant cycle of pain with only each other to help themselves through this despair.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes