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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
maryhoch's review against another edition
4.0
To Fill a Yellow House surprised me. The two souls, Rupert and Kwasi, seemed destined to meet and change each other’s lives. And they did but not always for the better. Being two people of such different backgrounds and cultures, I wasn’t sure how their relationship would begin, develop and conclude.
ericarossetti's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. I found this book to be slow, and I was not really fond of any of the characters, as they dwelt on their challenges and didn’t seem to ever fully overcome them.
Kwasi is a young Black boy living with his mother and several “aunties” in a London suburb. Kwasi struggles with finding acceptance from his family and his schoolmates, with speaking up for himself, and with focusing on anything except for drawing.
Rupert is an older white man who owns a struggling curiosity shop of sorts called “The Chest”. He is still mourning his dead wife, struggling with some sort of alcoholism and/or drug addiction, unable to pay the bills, unwilling to accept help, and stubborn in his ways.
Kwasi is basically failing school and is therefore a failure in his family’s eyes. He is socially awkward and does not want to get mixed up in some of the illicit activities that his peers are into. The Chest becomes his safe space. When Kwasi and Rupert meet it is certainly an unlikely duo. They don’t really become friends or help each other in any way. Kwasi seeks refuge at The Chest because it is the one place his drawings are accepted, therefore he feels accepted. Rupert likes Kwasi because ??? he has good drawings ??? and perhaps reminds Rupert of what his shop could be ???
The book also touches on important topics like gentrification and racism but never really goes anywhere with them. They felt like they could’ve been a focal point but were mostly implied in passing.
Nothing really happens in this book. Kwasi and Rupert, both separately and together, lament on their pitiful situations and don’t really accept help from anyone, not even each other, not even in the end. I did appreciate the unique writing style. It’s rather brisk and whimsical and sometimes poignant, and it often leaves room for inference. Kwasi especially seems to have a brilliant, creative mind. I think I would’ve loved to have a whole book where he described things from his beautiful point of view.
Overall really not a bad book. There were nice notes of finding community and fighting for want you believe in, and traces of modern issues. It’s just not the suspenseful or action packed or deep story that I usually seek.
Kwasi is a young Black boy living with his mother and several “aunties” in a London suburb. Kwasi struggles with finding acceptance from his family and his schoolmates, with speaking up for himself, and with focusing on anything except for drawing.
Rupert is an older white man who owns a struggling curiosity shop of sorts called “The Chest”. He is still mourning his dead wife, struggling with some sort of alcoholism and/or drug addiction, unable to pay the bills, unwilling to accept help, and stubborn in his ways.
Kwasi is basically failing school and is therefore a failure in his family’s eyes. He is socially awkward and does not want to get mixed up in some of the illicit activities that his peers are into. The Chest becomes his safe space. When Kwasi and Rupert meet it is certainly an unlikely duo. They don’t really become friends or help each other in any way. Kwasi seeks refuge at The Chest because it is the one place his drawings are accepted, therefore he feels accepted. Rupert likes Kwasi because ??? he has good drawings ??? and perhaps reminds Rupert of what his shop could be ???
The book also touches on important topics like gentrification and racism but never really goes anywhere with them. They felt like they could’ve been a focal point but were mostly implied in passing.
Nothing really happens in this book. Kwasi and Rupert, both separately and together, lament on their pitiful situations and don’t really accept help from anyone, not even each other, not even in the end. I did appreciate the unique writing style. It’s rather brisk and whimsical and sometimes poignant, and it often leaves room for inference. Kwasi especially seems to have a brilliant, creative mind. I think I would’ve loved to have a whole book where he described things from his beautiful point of view.
Overall really not a bad book. There were nice notes of finding community and fighting for want you believe in, and traces of modern issues. It’s just not the suspenseful or action packed or deep story that I usually seek.
captainoblivious's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-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? Yes
3.5
samplans's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lolameepmeep's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent read. I liked it but did find it a bit slow at times.
joyfulrae's review against another edition
2.0
It was…okay. I almost didn’t finish but chose to push through. I did like the writing. The story would grab me and pull me in, then leave me floundering and pushing through.
irishcoda's review against another edition
3.0
I saw To Fill A Yellow House by Sussie Anie on a display table when I walked into the library to pick up a book I’d requested. I was intrigued by the cover, a young boy stretching up on tiptoe with a thin paintbrush. The rest of the cover was yellow with orange lettering. I read the reviews on the back cover and decided to check it out.
I enjoyed the book although there were some issues that remained unclear to me, and perhaps that was intentional.
Kwasi was the little boy on the cover. When he’s first introduced, he’s seven years old and living in a large house on the outskirts of London. He has a very busy household: parents, two aunts, and many “aunties” that come and go. That was the first puzzle to unravel. Who were all these “aunties?”
Kwasi, a sensitive child, loves to draw. One day on an outing, he sees a quaint little shop and is intrigued by it. He sketches it but is gathered up by his aunties before he can go into it. His parents and aunties are very protective of him and he’s almost never out of their sight. He’s not allowed out but one day sneaks out and goes back to the shop.
The door is open, but no one is there. The shop is filled with a variety of curious knick-knacks, lamps, fabrics, toys, and furniture. He sits down behind the till and makes a drawing of everything he sees, filling in the details. A noise scares him and he bolts for the door.
The shopkeeper comes up from the basement but isn’t able to catch Kwasi. The shopkeeper’s name is Rupert. He is still grieving the loss of his wife, Jada. This curiosity shop was their dream. Much of the money they make from the secondhand donations to the shop are made to a charity. The shopkeeper has an addiction to something that is “perfectly legal” and can be brewed into a tea or coffee. Another puzzle.
There is a larger than life presence in the neighborhood: Councilman Obi. He has a son Kwasi’s age, Jericho. Here is another puzzle: is King Obi a good guy or not? He seems to be, but he also seems to be feared by residents in the neighborhood because he’s pushing for progress.
After the introductory chapters, Kwasi ages to about 15. There have been many changes and a few answers to puzzles. His parents are Ghanian immigrants and all the extra “aunties” that come and go seem to be refugees from war-torn places. Kwasi’s father has moved semi-permanently back to Ghana, working on a years-long project.
Kwasi is still helicoptered by his mother and aunties. He is alternately bullied and invited to join Jericho and his gang of friends. They seem to be involved in some nefarious doings which Kwasi wants no part of.
Instead, Kwasi has been secretly visiting Rupert at his shop. Rupert found Kwasi’s drawing left behind, liked it and framed it. When he realizes that his new visitor is the artist, he befriends Kwasi and encourages him.
It’s a tale told sensitively of love, grief, self-acceptance, and friendship. There is more to the story than I’m sharing but I don’t want to give it all away. I liked it very much and would rate it higher except for some of the ambiguous puzzles I haven’t been able to work out completely.
I enjoyed the book although there were some issues that remained unclear to me, and perhaps that was intentional.
Kwasi was the little boy on the cover. When he’s first introduced, he’s seven years old and living in a large house on the outskirts of London. He has a very busy household: parents, two aunts, and many “aunties” that come and go. That was the first puzzle to unravel. Who were all these “aunties?”
Kwasi, a sensitive child, loves to draw. One day on an outing, he sees a quaint little shop and is intrigued by it. He sketches it but is gathered up by his aunties before he can go into it. His parents and aunties are very protective of him and he’s almost never out of their sight. He’s not allowed out but one day sneaks out and goes back to the shop.
The door is open, but no one is there. The shop is filled with a variety of curious knick-knacks, lamps, fabrics, toys, and furniture. He sits down behind the till and makes a drawing of everything he sees, filling in the details. A noise scares him and he bolts for the door.
The shopkeeper comes up from the basement but isn’t able to catch Kwasi. The shopkeeper’s name is Rupert. He is still grieving the loss of his wife, Jada. This curiosity shop was their dream. Much of the money they make from the secondhand donations to the shop are made to a charity. The shopkeeper has an addiction to something that is “perfectly legal” and can be brewed into a tea or coffee. Another puzzle.
There is a larger than life presence in the neighborhood: Councilman Obi. He has a son Kwasi’s age, Jericho. Here is another puzzle: is King Obi a good guy or not? He seems to be, but he also seems to be feared by residents in the neighborhood because he’s pushing for progress.
After the introductory chapters, Kwasi ages to about 15. There have been many changes and a few answers to puzzles. His parents are Ghanian immigrants and all the extra “aunties” that come and go seem to be refugees from war-torn places. Kwasi’s father has moved semi-permanently back to Ghana, working on a years-long project.
Kwasi is still helicoptered by his mother and aunties. He is alternately bullied and invited to join Jericho and his gang of friends. They seem to be involved in some nefarious doings which Kwasi wants no part of.
Instead, Kwasi has been secretly visiting Rupert at his shop. Rupert found Kwasi’s drawing left behind, liked it and framed it. When he realizes that his new visitor is the artist, he befriends Kwasi and encourages him.
It’s a tale told sensitively of love, grief, self-acceptance, and friendship. There is more to the story than I’m sharing but I don’t want to give it all away. I liked it very much and would rate it higher except for some of the ambiguous puzzles I haven’t been able to work out completely.
spaceonthebookcase's review against another edition
2.0
I finished reading To Fill A Yellow House a couple of weeks ago but I have struggled to sit down to write a review. My biggest issue is that, while engaging at times, I also felt lost the rest of the time.
Kwasi, which autocorrect will change to virtually anything else, moves to a bigger house with more family members than are even named. Seriously, they’re just referred to as “Aunties” the whole time. When he meets Rupert, a middle aged man mourning the loss of his wife and owner of a charity thrift shop, an u likely friendship is formed. Kwasi finds stability with Rupert and Rupert find…well, I’m not sure.
The story bounced around a lot and I never felt like I had a firm enough grasp on it. I am sure there is an audience for this book, it just want for me.
I appreciate NetGalley & Mariner Books for the ARC to read & provide feedback.
Kwasi, which autocorrect will change to virtually anything else, moves to a bigger house with more family members than are even named. Seriously, they’re just referred to as “Aunties” the whole time. When he meets Rupert, a middle aged man mourning the loss of his wife and owner of a charity thrift shop, an u likely friendship is formed. Kwasi finds stability with Rupert and Rupert find…well, I’m not sure.
The story bounced around a lot and I never felt like I had a firm enough grasp on it. I am sure there is an audience for this book, it just want for me.
I appreciate NetGalley & Mariner Books for the ARC to read & provide feedback.
taylorsambeech94's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0