Scan barcode
finnft4'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
Onto the actual novel. Randy Ribay is a master of imagery and characterizations. Everything feels so alive, from the characters to their problems to the world they live in. Even though I've never been to the Philippines, it almost felt like I visited while I read. I was able to find recognition and relate to the long parties, the food, and the confusing mess of not knowing Tagalog. There was not a single character that felt fake or two-sided, representing a simple figure to love or hate. Even ones who the main character dislikes are not simply villains. There are shades of gray. I really love how complex the characters are and how Ribay humanizes all of them.
Oh and, like Jay, I had absolutely no idea about the drug war that only recently died down in the Philippines. I was completely oblivious to anything going on, including having no idea who President Duterte was. Like the American I am, I don't know much about the affairs outside of what is immediately around me. This novel has encouraged me to work on that.
GOD it's devastating. I was reading the end of this in my Spanish class and had to tilt my head up to stop crying. The memorial and eulogies absolutely destroyed me. Seeing how the grief affected everyone was unbelievably powerful. Writing true, realistic grief is so difficult to accomplish without the product being trite. This is one of the most successful examples I've seen.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a beautifully multi-faceted story that I highly recommend.
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Animal death, Death, Addiction, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, and Racism
ghoulomatic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Drug abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
gellyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Colonisation, Drug use, Murder, Police brutality, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Trafficking
narbine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Police brutality, Xenophobia, Death, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Grief, Addiction, Animal death, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Body shaming, Homophobia, Racism, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Violence, and War
jesthemess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Racism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
bookishbaddie'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Violence, War, Murder, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual violence, Trafficking, Rape, and Sexual assault
mandkips's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Drug use
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Trafficking, and Sexual violence
azyef's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Classism, Drug use, Death, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
dlrosebyh'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Trafficking
ica's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence