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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Brother's real characters and their immigrant dream gone wrong made this book amazing. Chariandy's writing unfolds the storyline in a way that readers understand the feelings of each. I loved the Canadian touches to the book such as Tim Horton's and yet found a Canada that I didn't know existed. Chariandy opens a dark, authentic immigrant story.
I love Canada because you can take literally any random trip to the grocery store or whatever and there will end up being the most diverse group of people you’ve ever seen. But as this book shows, the country didn’t become that way so easily.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
My mom gave this to me for Christmas since the book is set not far from where I grew up. I recognized the description of many of the places described in the book. At the same time though, the world of a middle-class white girl is clearly worlds away from the experience of a young dark-skinned boy growing up in a poor neighbourhood with working-class parents. The story is relatively short, but beautifully crafted. I think it's interesting how the way the characters are viewed by society almost forces them into certain roles, even if they're not entirely willing to take them on, at least initially. Overall, a beautiful tribute to love for one's family.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Slavery, Blood, Medical content, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
dark
reflective
sad
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
En fint berättad historia. Lågmält och starkt. Familjeband. Relationer. Rasism. Jag började med att lyssna på den men det funkade inte alls för mig. Inläsaren fraserade på ett sätt som förstörde upplevelsen av texten. Så jag läste själv!
This power of this book slowly snuck up on me. Read in an afternoon I found myself shedding tears at the end. A life of moments described by a young man Michael, his bond with brother Francis , and their mother. The neighbourhood that formed their experience , the memories that haunt Michael.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
gutwrenchingly beautiful, and it would have been a 5 stars if only i was in the right headspace to read it