Reviews

The Atlas of Reds and Blues by Devi S. Laskar

abiolajohnson's review against another edition

2.0

This was an odd book and not just because some of the structure - some chapters were short paragraphs but because of the narrative which h was at times unbelievable and at times disjointed. I understand that racism is real and I myself have been a victim of some micro-aggressions which have racial undertones. But a lot of what is described in the story appears rather far-fetched and exaggerated. I could be living in La-Lal land but I cannot imagine that people could be so openly cruel to someone who is of a different race. There was a scene at a dry cleaners which I thought was very contrived. I spent a great part of the book trying to figure out the set of circumstances that led to the protagonist getting killed in her own home. The author skirts around this and makes vague references to it would have served the story well if this had been better fleshed out - a story/character arc which resulted in an unexpected climax perhaps. I did enjoy the author’s inventive use of language and phrases like ‘trees swing like pendulums’ are what kept me reading the book even after I begun to find the story rather tedious.

chickflix's review

3.0

"Y’all best be getting back to where you came from, you hear?"

This book succeeded in getting me really angry about the current state of the U.S. The main character "Mother" is on the receiving end of a lot of cheery racist comments, and is treated terribly for being an "immigrant" even though she was born and raised in the states. As she lays dying after being shot by a police officer, her life flashes before her eyes, with a focus on her hardships. It's the kind of stuff we know is happening in the country right now.

The author's writing style didn't agree with me. She jumped around so much that I am still not 100% sure of how/why she was shot to begin with. This is literary fiction, so the writing is supposed to be pretty flowery. It wasn't really my taste. I do think this book has an important message and hope other people with pick it up and enjoy it.

curtisjc3's review

challenging emotional fast-paced

5.0

maritzasoto's review against another edition

4.0

I devoured this book in one sitting because it was so good - beautifully crafted and heartbreaking. The author switched from past to present so fluidly that the shifts didn’t feel jarring and time felt elastic.

bookishvanessa's review against another edition

4.0

The Atlas of Reds and Blues is about an unnamed narrator (referred to as Mother) who moves from Atlanta to the suburbs with her husband and three daughters. She is born to Bengali immigrant parents and lives her life in the American South, facing racism, both overt and covert, on a daily basis. One day, the police raid her home and shoot her on her own driveway. The story is told in sets of flashbacks of her life as she lies on the pavement, dying.

This book is lyrical, beautiful, and eye-opening. I loved Mother and her spirit. She constantly bites her tongue and suppresses her desire to speak out against the microaggressions she continually faces, until she one day does and the effects are devastating. This is a fast read but a powerful one. The format (lyrical prose) may not be for everyone, but this book is an important look at the world we live in and is based on the author’s own experience.

laurenw22's review

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Heartbreaking. This novel is entirely heartbreaking. It was a phenomenal read, in which a woman is shot on her doorstep in an act of police brutality, and sees her life flash before her as she searches for the answer to how she found herself in that situation. I simultaneously hated and loved reading this one, as it tackles some difficult issues, and confronts your own thoughts about race but it becomes even more poignant when you realise that the author is writing from an experience she went through herself. I highly recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Racism

francescamoroney's review against another edition

4.0

Like other reviewers, I am in love with the artwork. It’s gorgeous. I had the pleasure of hearing Laskar speak about her experiences that led to the writing of this novel. How she managed to endure such an invasion and remain committed to her work is nothing short of magnificent. I cannot wait to see what she does next!

piscesgirl's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

htumu's review against another edition

While I think the premise of this book is really good, I couldn’t get myself to like the writing style. I personally wasn’t a fan so I’m not leaving any rating.

katymm's review against another edition

Devi S. Laskar is an American poet, and this is her first novel. Written in short fragments, The Atlas of Red and Blues reads like poetry in many places, evocative and arresting. The main character is an American woman of Bengali descent who is only referred to as “Mother.” Her attempts to raise her children in safety in the American South are met with resistance and hostility. Like any nonwhite person from the South can relate to, she is always hit with the same refrain of “where are you really from?”

Throughout the novel, Mother fights to keep her emotions in check in spite of the blatant racism she and her children encounter, and finally during a police raid on her home, she can no longer remain silent. I didn’t know this when I was reading the book, but The Atlas of Reds and Blues is partially based on the author’s own experiences of having her home raided by the police. Her writing is vivid and her observations as unfortunately relevant as ever.