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vickymcckey'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Death, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Incest, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Medical content, Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Vomit
needlebrook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The beginning of the book is intriguing but can get to be a bit of a slog after the first handful of chapters(was considering abandoning this book during the dreamlike narration from Trueblood. Very glad I decided against it.)
But, after the narrator arrives in Harlem and starts to adapt to his surroundings, the book quickly picks up the pace and seemingly goes at break-neck pace for the rest of it.
All in all, I won't be forgetting this book very easily.
Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Murder, and Police brutality
Moderate: Hate crime and Slavery
Minor: Classism and Racial slurs
nunchikoi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Through this, Ellison constructs a compelling portrait that his contemporaries otherwise neglected: he demonstrates how Black characters in a novel can be complex and nuanced, with fully-realised moral, philosophical, and intellectual capacities.
Graphic: Incest and Violence
Moderate: Classism and Racism
lindseyas'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
4.5
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Blood, Police brutality, and Rape
lonicera_fragrantissima'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
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Classism, Racism, and Violence
matthewosborne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Something that resonated with me was how much of this book is still relevant 70 years after it was first published. Which is sad and disheartening.
As the book progressed I found there to be a number of themes that resonated with some of my own experiences.
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Classism, and Racism
lyd4ever'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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Hate crime, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny and Mental illness
ashley_1206's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
guys i actually liked this book but it was so damn long. but the symbolism, message, and everything from a literary standpoint was good. it’s definitely my favorite summer reading book for ap lit! but please classics STOP HAVING LONG CHAPTERS.
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Racism, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, and Cursing