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bites_of_books's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
We follow Ijeoma, from her childhood, living through civil war in Nigeria, the aftermath, her coming of age, and learning that she's in love with another girl, all the way through to her adulthood. Her mother leans heavily into religion as she mourns her husband and that has a very strong impact in Ijeoma's life and is a heavy theme throughout the book. Another big theme is folktales. We get multiple short folktales told by various characters at different points in the story, those were my favorite parts.
I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book that portrays the history of how queer people are treated in Nigeria through the eyes of a lesbian girl who grows up in that culture. There's a lot of shaming, emotional abuse, homophobia, war, etc. so do read with care!
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Abandonment, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, Homophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
sapphicsolace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Miscarriage and Rape
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Child death, Child abuse, Gore, Suicide, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, War, Murder, Grief, Rape, Body horror, Hate crime, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Child death, Classism, and Infidelity
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, Excrement, and Vomit
laurareads87's review
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: War, Violence, Death, Grief, Rape, Death of parent, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Ableism and Miscarriage
Minor: Islamophobia
sarahrosea's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Outing, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual violence, Lesbophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Child death
bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Medical trauma, Grief, Homophobia, War, Death, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Lesbophobia, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Misogyny
caitlinattemptstoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The book reflects reality and maybe I’m rating it so low because I can’t stomach our reality anymore. We spend so much time looking at the past and allowing it to dictate our present. I’d rather continue to envision a better future than continue to draw on the grief and pain of the past.
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Islamophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Rape
cheesepuppy's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Hate crime, Blood, and Homophobia
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: War
leweylibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Quotes
- "I'm looking for my mother," A small voice now came crying, distinct from all the rest, a girl's, 4 or 5 years old. Something Mama used to say: If you were looking for something, chances are you will find it in the last place you think to look. I wondered if the girl would find her mother in the graveyard. (15)
- And as for eggs, they were a thing like peace of mind, like calm, even like a smile. They were a thing we had begun to have only once in a while. (22)
- Why was it that these questions never came up at church? Why was it that people never asked any questions at church? Instead, everyone nodded, and cried "Amen" after everything father Godfrey said, and clapped, no one asking him to explain anything... I wondered what father God free would say if I can fronted him with these questions. Would he even know the answers? How much did pastors pretend to know? (81)
- Her grasp was tight, painfully even. Loosen up, I imagine saying to her, to her fingers. Loosen up. And I imagine the reply something like this: This is anger. It does as it pleases. (129)
- If you set off on a witch hunt, you will find a witch. When you find her, she will be dressed like any other person. But to you, her skin will glow and stripes of white and black. You will see her broom, and you will hear her witch cry, and you will feel the effects of her spells on you. No matter how unlike a which she is, there she will be, a witch, before your eyes. (196)
- "My point is that business is the reason for things like doctrines. Business is the reason for words like 'abomination.' bottom line is, take your abomination with a grain of salt. My sense of it is that some things are called abominations that really aren't." (232)
- I suppose it's the way we are, humans that we are. Always finding it easier to make ourselves the victim in someone else's tragedy. Though it is true, too, that sometimes it is hard to know to whom the tragedy really belongs. (320)
Graphic: Miscarriage, Homophobia, Hate crime, Murder, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
rheah's review
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Misogyny, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, War, Grief, Lesbophobia, Miscarriage, and Rape