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neronoire's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
charlottekook's review against another edition
3.0
very sad. definitely tied to a specific place and i felt like that guided the narrative. it was very powerful and emotional, particularly in the last few parts with ruth and grange. also really liked the characterisation and relationship of those two by the novel's end.
so much sadness surrounding the female characters, particularly mem. i think this is why i struggled to like the book, i could appreciate it's brilliance but all the awful things which happened to the women made it hard to enjoy reading it. did find it very compelling though, and i liked the way it was separated into different parts and begin with brownfield's story, rather than grange's as the title makes you expect.
so much sadness surrounding the female characters, particularly mem. i think this is why i struggled to like the book, i could appreciate it's brilliance but all the awful things which happened to the women made it hard to enjoy reading it. did find it very compelling though, and i liked the way it was separated into different parts and begin with brownfield's story, rather than grange's as the title makes you expect.
laurie_bridges's review against another edition
5.0
Although this book is not as popular as her other work, in college I'd read all of her books (1995ish) and this was my favorite.
han_reads_13579's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The character depth in this novel is astounding. These are not characters whom we are comfortable getting close to but Walker is not interested in making us comfortable. The misogyny is raw and palpable. The reality of being poor and black in 1950s Georgia is unbearably bleak. It's horrifying to watch as so much hatred builds and builds....but I couldn't look away
squidsmash's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Death, Slavery, Racism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Violence, Racial slurs, and Infidelity
shyster's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
mountainsofbooks93's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Alice walker knows how to write. She has mastered the craft. Characters so fully realized in their complexity and authenticity- sense of place palpable here- Georgia, sharecropping days, and the internal tensions of how to be Black and love yourself and love others, your family… the ripple of effects of the trauma of slavery and the ravages of whiteness are all over this book.