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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Lesbophobia, Abandonment
dark
Great read. Contemporary, funny, witty and a good story line. Highly recommend!
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Can I give this book six stars? Unbelievable.
The way the book is written, like poetic prose but literal enough to follow the thoughts and motivations of these women over space and time - brilliant. Evaristo gives us characters are so well crafted, I felt deeply for them, even ones I didn’t particularly like. The stories masterfully and naturally interconnect. I read most of this during consecutive evenings at home and I looked forward to meeting a different woman every night. Really fantastic. My favorite Booker Prize novel by far.
I was warned it has a slow start and this is true. Amma and Yazz’s stories are fine and a necessary introduction to the style. They are not the strongest, but they are critical for really appreciating the ending. However, starting with Dominique, I was HOOKED. Each story topped the last in its depth and richness.
I also loved how each chapter trio featured a mother and daughter and yet they were so much more than those roles. Evaristo impressively slides between first and third person so that I would experience heartbreak, humor and hope all on one page. Incredible. Literary fiction at its best.
Although due to style and content I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone, I absolutely loved it. I could have easily read another 400 pages. (Note: I’m in my 50’s and I might not have liked it so much 20 years ago.)
Both my mentor and a close friend recommended this book to me and I understand why. This book was the right medicine at the right time for me. And truly, a work of art.
The way the book is written, like poetic prose but literal enough to follow the thoughts and motivations of these women over space and time - brilliant. Evaristo gives us characters are so well crafted, I felt deeply for them, even ones I didn’t particularly like. The stories masterfully and naturally interconnect. I read most of this during consecutive evenings at home and I looked forward to meeting a different woman every night. Really fantastic. My favorite Booker Prize novel by far.
I was warned it has a slow start and this is true. Amma and Yazz’s stories are fine and a necessary introduction to the style. They are not the strongest, but they are critical for really appreciating the ending. However, starting with Dominique, I was HOOKED. Each story topped the last in its depth and richness.
I also loved how each chapter trio featured a mother and daughter and yet they were so much more than those roles. Evaristo impressively slides between first and third person so that I would experience heartbreak, humor and hope all on one page. Incredible. Literary fiction at its best.
Although due to style and content I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone, I absolutely loved it. I could have easily read another 400 pages. (Note: I’m in my 50’s and I might not have liked it so much 20 years ago.)
Both my mentor and a close friend recommended this book to me and I understand why. This book was the right medicine at the right time for me. And truly, a work of art.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
echt een kei goed boek, kaart veel belangrijke zaken aan zoals feminisme en hoe het veranderd door heen de tijd, maar ook intersectionaliteit. Ik vond het in het begin moeilijk om er in te komen omdat er weinig leestekens worden gebruikt, het is dus echt wennen aan de schrijfstijl. En er waren iets te veel personages waardoor er soms weinig diepgang was in hun levensverhaal, daarbij vergat ik soms wie wie was. Voor de rest wel echt super goed!
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to like this book. The prose style was original and nearly completely without punctuation which was surprising not annoying but fresh. But. There’s no story here. It just dragged and dragged for me and felt very overworked in places.
Also ultimately the plot is very thin and the whole thing is character development (some of it great, some of it not) but for what? I regret the time I spent slogging through this.
With a little more actual plot this could have been stunning.
Also ultimately the plot is very thin and the whole thing is character development (some of it great, some of it not) but for what? I regret the time I spent slogging through this.
With a little more actual plot this could have been stunning.
Wow. Breathtaking and all encompassing. Bold and energetic. Evaristo says so much with so few words.