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laurenscholle's review against another edition
5.0
what a gorgeous book — not only do I love generational family sagas but I especially love ones that make you feel like you can see the family, predict their next moves, understand their logic. this book was so descriptive and lovely. HIGHLY recommend
fkshg8465's review against another edition
4.0
Families are complex. Mental illness is complex. Morality is complex. Life is complex. Racism is not complex. The trauma of a child is not complex, but both grow in complexity throughout a family's life and that of their community. Trauma doesn't end with the victim or the victim's life. It's insidious and propagates in evil ways, subtle and overt. But the human spirit can endure.
Graphic: Rape
lozzafod's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
nichughes's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book, it was hard to put down. I could read Tara Stringfellow’s writing all day - THIS type of novel is why I love to read. You can feel the despair and hurt in your bones and you process so many difficult traumas, yet each woman had such resilience and as a whole, the North women embodied a joy that speaks deeply to the reader. My favorite read in a long while.
And that fried green tomato recipe at the end - the tomato thickness ☠️☠️☠️
And that fried green tomato recipe at the end - the tomato thickness ☠️☠️☠️
lweezthereadrat's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Beautifully written prose that picks up generations of sorrow within the North family with a supreme tenderness that allows space for that horror alongside hope. I would flag that on page 8 there's an intimation of a very upsetting instance- whilst this isn't shown in the moment in detail, this instance is an inciting action for multiple plot points and it will be brought up multiple times. It makes for a painful read but the solidarity and sisterhood within this novel is also bolstering.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Police brutality, and Rape
natugh's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
momomama's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pmrichard1's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars probably almost 4! A generational family drama is always going to be enjoyable for me and this was great, I just wish it was longer, but really great writing for some very intense subject matter.
littlepepperguy's review against another edition
4.0
I had just finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet before starting this novel and they are very similar. I would say that this one is maybe more hopeful. But the layout of the narrative and the style are damn near the same.
Multigenerational story of two sisters and their children with one returning to their home town on the run from a bad marriage with abusive men. I think this novel spends more time on each characters story/viewpoint. but with the story being nonlinear it is pretty easy to forget what was happening in the last installment of a character.
I really enjoyed it tho.
Multigenerational story of two sisters and their children with one returning to their home town on the run from a bad marriage with abusive men. I think this novel spends more time on each characters story/viewpoint. but with the story being nonlinear it is pretty easy to forget what was happening in the last installment of a character.
I really enjoyed it tho.