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fiesty_sympathy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bonnieg's review against another edition
2.0
Absolutely average women's lit for the most part though buoyed by much better than average writing. The last quarter of the book was so filled with inexplicable choices it lost points. Also an issue - perhaps a bigger one - is the clear anti-choice messaging. A man is lionized for wanting to force a woman to bear a child and a woman is haunted for the rest of her life by her choice to have an abortion. These things were very problematic. (I acknowledge that some people are traumatized by their choice to terminate a pregnancy just as some people are traumatized by having a child, but the author was clearly trying to make a more universal statement, not just look at one woman's problems.) Overall a big "eh" for me.
yinkaseun's review against another edition
3.0
This book got me thinking about motherhood and how we perform the role differently. Nadia is the main character in the book. Her mother had just taken her own life. She tried to unravel the reasons why she decided to leave her role as a mother even though she seemed happy to her and she thought they had a very good relationship. While also being a teenager, Nadia starts off a romantic relationship with her Pastor’s son Luke, who wants the relationship kept a secret. This relationship leads to an unplanned pregnancy. Nadia and Luke are caught between keeping the pregnancy or having an abortion.
Nadia becomes friends with a new girl in their church called Audrey, who has an absent mother. Audrey and Nadia’s friendship developed to some sort of sisterhood. Nadia goes off to college away from home. While Audrey starts off a romantic relationship with Luke which leads to their marriage. Audrey has been in the dark about the pregnancy her best friend Nadia had for Luke her husband.
Comparing both books from the same author. I enjoyed THE VANISHING HALF better than this book.
Themes- Suicide, motherhood, abortion, betrayal , family and friendship.
Nadia becomes friends with a new girl in their church called Audrey, who has an absent mother. Audrey and Nadia’s friendship developed to some sort of sisterhood. Nadia goes off to college away from home. While Audrey starts off a romantic relationship with Luke which leads to their marriage. Audrey has been in the dark about the pregnancy her best friend Nadia had for Luke her husband.
Comparing both books from the same author. I enjoyed THE VANISHING HALF better than this book.
Themes- Suicide, motherhood, abortion, betrayal , family and friendship.
racheeeios's review against another edition
2.0
The ending felt so underbaked. Or maybe I just wanted a greater payoff?? Idk.
kerridv's review against another edition
5.0
Haunting, poignant, masterfully written. A little depressing, but in a good way.
treynolds's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mollyisfullybooked's review against another edition
5.0
this was a great book, incredibly well written. I can't wait to see more of Brit Bennett in the future
kpud's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this quote: "Time will pass anyway, why not spend it chasing after something [you] want?" - Page 139
I'm not sure if there's a hero or a villain in this book, just a lot of sad people. It's slow and thoughtful and well worth the read.
I'm not sure if there's a hero or a villain in this book, just a lot of sad people. It's slow and thoughtful and well worth the read.
mbobs100's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. A beautiful coming of age story that focuses on girls and women of color. I loved the voices of The Mothers, reminding me almost of The Fates or a greek chorus narrating throughout the story. Well written and incredibly relatable characters. Definitely teared up several times.
lebrunlk's review against another edition
5.0
There’s a lot of intersectionality here and honestly, I think it was more well-done than the vanishing half. It is integrated in a way that did not feel forced, lines that made me question and ponder yet another life experience that I will not know.
I didn’t love the “character” of the mothers but I understand why it was done. The symbolism of it is deep, mothers mothering those without, yet mothering appearing more as passing judgement while girls, then women, contemplate loss. It is a deep web to navigate.
I don’t think I would revisit this book again, but it is 3:38 am and I stayed up to finish it, so that definitely was reason for me bumping it up to a five star versus a four star.
I didn’t love the “character” of the mothers but I understand why it was done. The symbolism of it is deep, mothers mothering those without, yet mothering appearing more as passing judgement while girls, then women, contemplate loss. It is a deep web to navigate.
I don’t think I would revisit this book again, but it is 3:38 am and I stayed up to finish it, so that definitely was reason for me bumping it up to a five star versus a four star.