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A review by thebakerbookworm
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A hard story with some achingly compelling characters, this book feels like poetry. The setting is vivid, and it portrays a sharp contrast between rich and poor, black and white, woman and man. The title comes from a legend that Lala's grandmother tells her at the beginning, a cautionary tale that underlies the entire book. The story also explores how violence effects different people's lives.
We get several perspectives, and each new perspective adds a new layer to the story, giving complexity to every character, even those that at first appear to be minor. Connections between characters slowly unfold, as the timeline jumps around from present to past. Lala is a strong lead; you feel for her and how she struggles to break out of the life she's trapped in. She's experienced so much tragedy yet is still determined and strong and loving, and I loved seeing her growth throughout the story.
This book was hard to read at times (a lot of tragic backstory), but these characters will grip you and refuse to let go. This is not a story to be forgotten.
I listened to the audio, and the narration was perfection.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for the ALC.
We get several perspectives, and each new perspective adds a new layer to the story, giving complexity to every character, even those that at first appear to be minor. Connections between characters slowly unfold, as the timeline jumps around from present to past. Lala is a strong lead; you feel for her and how she struggles to break out of the life she's trapped in. She's experienced so much tragedy yet is still determined and strong and loving, and I loved seeing her growth throughout the story.
This book was hard to read at times (a lot of tragic backstory), but these characters will grip you and refuse to let go. This is not a story to be forgotten.
I listened to the audio, and the narration was perfection.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for the ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death and Blood