Scan barcode
A review by ribbenkast
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Published in 2023, The Reformatory will hopefully become an important historical classic in the future. Coming from a long line of civil rights activitis, Tananarive Due did her due dilligence with her research for this novel, which is an homage to her family and her real love relative Robert Stephens who died in a real live "Reformatory" in 1937.
This is horror how horror should be. The ghosts, or haints, are an excellent tool to show the real live horrors that went on. The supernatural world building was amazing, it was made so believable that it made me wonder why our world isn't filled with vengeful ghosts. The prose was very strong and the tension was so real and my heart whept for every character, dead or alive.
I'm going to be honest, the first 20 chapters are kind of slow. But they are necessary to paint the picture of the times. Many minor characters get extra attention because of this (for example the Jewish state worker, the NAACP lawyer). Showing what it was like to live in such times. The main point of the book is to show that there wasn't just one person being racist and horrific, it's that the whole system is rotten.
If you don't like slow paced books, maybe skip this one. The plot really kicks off after chapter 20 so if you've picked this up and you think of quitting, keep holding out!
The acknowledgements are also a must read. Due has put in the sources she used for her research and lists many non fiction books about this subject. I know I'll be picking some of these up to learn more.
This is horror how horror should be. The ghosts, or haints, are an excellent tool to show the real live horrors that went on. The supernatural world building was amazing, it was made so believable that it made me wonder why our world isn't filled with vengeful ghosts. The prose was very strong and the tension was so real and my heart whept for every character, dead or alive.
I'm going to be honest, the first 20 chapters are kind of slow. But they are necessary to paint the picture of the times. Many minor characters get extra attention because of this (for example the Jewish state worker, the NAACP lawyer). Showing what it was like to live in such times. The main point of the book is to show that there wasn't just one person being racist and horrific, it's that the whole system is rotten.
If you don't like slow paced books, maybe skip this one. The plot really kicks off after chapter 20 so if you've picked this up and you think of quitting, keep holding out!
The acknowledgements are also a must read. Due has put in the sources she used for her research and lists many non fiction books about this subject. I know I'll be picking some of these up to learn more.