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bookedbyelizabeth 's review for:
The Removed
by Brandon Hobson
CW: gun violence, drug addiction, racism, grief, violence, death
The Removed is about a family who lost one of the sons, Ray-Ray, when he was shot by the police fifteen years ago. It's more so about the after effects of that loss and the ways the different family members are struggling than the event itself. The book takes place over less than a week leading up to the anniversary of Ray-Ray's death, which is when the family reunites to honor him.
I liked the merging/blurring of boundaries between past and present, dead and living, spirits and material. I also liked the focus on stories, storytelling, and healing as well as how the book incorporated parts of Cherokee culture and history. The importance of ancestry and the effects of generational trauma are apparent in the story. I struggled with how some of the book felt disjointed, like random snapshots of each family member. I wish it had gone deeper into their characters. But I liked how it wrapped up at the end. It's a unique book that may not work for everyone, but I'm glad I read it.
The Removed is about a family who lost one of the sons, Ray-Ray, when he was shot by the police fifteen years ago. It's more so about the after effects of that loss and the ways the different family members are struggling than the event itself. The book takes place over less than a week leading up to the anniversary of Ray-Ray's death, which is when the family reunites to honor him.
I liked the merging/blurring of boundaries between past and present, dead and living, spirits and material. I also liked the focus on stories, storytelling, and healing as well as how the book incorporated parts of Cherokee culture and history. The importance of ancestry and the effects of generational trauma are apparent in the story. I struggled with how some of the book felt disjointed, like random snapshots of each family member. I wish it had gone deeper into their characters. But I liked how it wrapped up at the end. It's a unique book that may not work for everyone, but I'm glad I read it.