Scan barcode
A review by emma_michelle
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
I read this book purely because it won the booker prize - I've never been a fan of contemporary fiction and I find people trying to "break literary rules" often fall flat, feeling too heavy handed and intentional.
This book, once I got used to the style, was breathtaking. It is genuinely exquisite.
Now, fictional social commentary isn't my top genre either - I tend to stick to non-fiction social commentary, or political fiction. Once again, this book changed my perspective.
It follows a series of characters, exploring the lives of (usually) non-conforming British people, spanning race, gender, age, sexuality and also, refreshingly, various political viewpoints. One character is racist, and deals with her own racism in the final chapters, and another is abundant in her love for her great-grandchild, though continues to misgender them out of a lack of understanding of non-binary people.
Most of all, I loved how I was encouraged to feel sympathy for those I would normally disagree with (see: racism and mis-gendering above), alongside questioning the experiences of BAME British people, which, living in a very white area, doesn't always come to the forefront of my mind.
This book is well written, explores different political topics, and is a must read
This book, once I got used to the style, was breathtaking. It is genuinely exquisite.
Now, fictional social commentary isn't my top genre either - I tend to stick to non-fiction social commentary, or political fiction. Once again, this book changed my perspective.
It follows a series of characters, exploring the lives of (usually) non-conforming British people, spanning race, gender, age, sexuality and also, refreshingly, various political viewpoints. One character is racist, and deals with her own racism in the final chapters, and another is abundant in her love for her great-grandchild, though continues to misgender them out of a lack of understanding of non-binary people.
Most of all, I loved how I was encouraged to feel sympathy for those I would normally disagree with (see: racism and mis-gendering above), alongside questioning the experiences of BAME British people, which, living in a very white area, doesn't always come to the forefront of my mind.
This book is well written, explores different political topics, and is a must read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Rape, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse