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A review by cecereads__
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
3.5
What a surprising read. I don’t know what I was expecting really, but I kept going “oh, right” when sth happened that showed how it’s set in the present rather than a hundred plus years ago. I guess that’s what I expected from the premise surrounding the woods. Idk.
You as the reader go through a very interesting sort of journey with Vern, and I found that very valuable and it was one of those things where letting go of a book takes a little effort, if that makes sense.
I became more and more intrigued by this story, and I enjoyed the insertion of facts about reality woven into the narration (indirectly) to build the tension and highlight the layers to it.
There was cultish/religious behaviour and a “manhunt” and metamorphosis/magical realism as well as determination and friendships and deceit and love and betrayal. I guess I’d say it had historical weight in a modern setting. (And I hope that makes sense at least to those who’ve read it too).
I loved the learning to read part, the portrayal of Vern’s realistic self-reflections on motherhood, etc. Plus the layers to Vern and Gogo getting and growing together, and most of all Vern’s love of Lucy was a fave part to me
You as the reader go through a very interesting sort of journey with Vern, and I found that very valuable and it was one of those things where letting go of a book takes a little effort, if that makes sense.
I became more and more intrigued by this story, and I enjoyed the insertion of facts about reality woven into the narration (indirectly) to build the tension and highlight the layers to it.
There was cultish/religious behaviour and a “manhunt” and metamorphosis/magical realism as well as determination and friendships and deceit and love and betrayal. I guess I’d say it had historical weight in a modern setting. (And I hope that makes sense at least to those who’ve read it too).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Racism, Rape, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Abandonment