Reviews

Hangman by Maya Binyam

natertot's review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

3.0

laura_corsi's review

2.0

The diffidence of the narrator in the face of his several difficulties reminded me a lot of the tone of Glory by Noviolet Bulawayo. Sort of just matter of fact despite the character's bafflement. I wasn't sure why I should care about the narrator's journey. I kept waiting for enlightenment but the little we are given comes in only small dribs and drabs that don't really add up to anything. The pay off at the end did not seem earned and was too pat. Really ambitious project just uneven.

funtimeseany's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is an interesting debut from an author with a unique narrative voice.

The first half is spent adjusting to that voice and finding your place in the story but then quickly, the story clicks and it becomes quite apparent what’s happening. While I enjoyed it a lot more from that point on, and upon reread would most likely appreciate this book a lot more, it’s a little too on the nose and expected to make as big an impact as it could. 

cakeandbooks1970's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

paulap's review against another edition

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

2.5

I can understand why this has raise attention, it is quite experimental in the prose, in the way that the characters don't have names and it is intentionally vague and mysterious. However, I found that vague way of writing exhausting. It did not hold my attention after a point and I found the reveal at the end underwhelming. I think this could have worked better if this was shorter, even though it is not such a long book.

emilyrose's review

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

kseniia_xenia's review

4.0

i started reading this book exclusively because of its cover, and strangely enough the cover depicts with perfect accuracy what the novel itself feels like. I did want to give this one a three at first, but really, i just fuck with this book so much i couldn't make myself

dreesreads's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

r_o_s_e's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

readingtheend's review

1.0

wow I really really REALLY did not enjoy this book. it was very much in that vein that Brandon Taylor talks about where nothing has any texture or detail, to the extent that characters were being referred to as "the good-looking man" and "the nothing-looking people" for pages and pages and pages. this is part of setting up a reveal that the protagonist has been dead all along, that he in fact had a heart attack in America when he's confronted by police (whereas the story has made it seem like he's reading a news story about a Black man who was accused of kidnapping a woman and had a heard attack when confronted by police). which felt maybe 10% clever and 90% exhausting. this book was so so SO not for me.