Scan barcode
2treads's reviews
361 reviews
Love, Anger, Madness: A Haitian Trilogy by Marie Vieux-Chauvet
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In this triptych we are shown through different families and individuals some of the ways in which we can love: secretly, longingly, covetously, desperately, and futilely; how anger can shape and drive our actions in reckless and ambitious ways in an attempt to maintain status and control of one's life and fate; the many ways in which madness can skew our very interactions with reality and the phantasms of our minds. But what is clear is that the socio-political upheaval and violence is at the heart of the struggles and response of these characters.
I was completely immersed in how Vieux-Chauvet used dialogue, conversations, descriptive scenes, and a play-like conversant structure to build each story within her triptych. It had me questioning the veracity of every character and their motives. I love any novel that makes me wary of main characters, while keeping me enamored of the story they tell.
Vieux-Chauvet explores the nature of identity here against the backdrop of a nation in political and social upheaval where strongmen rise to power and fear and violence become rhe rule of law. Where corruption and betrayal become commonplace and cause the rifts between the social classes and families.
The pen of Haitian authors has always been used to show the beauty and desperation of their people, the richness of their rituals and culture, the changing landscape forged by covetous leaders and entitled occupiers. Their literature speaks to resilience in the face of deforestation and resource plunder, natural and man-made disasters that increase the people's vulnerability, while still communicating a core fortitude.
I was completely immersed in how Vieux-Chauvet used dialogue, conversations, descriptive scenes, and a play-like conversant structure to build each story within her triptych. It had me questioning the veracity of every character and their motives. I love any novel that makes me wary of main characters, while keeping me enamored of the story they tell.
Vieux-Chauvet explores the nature of identity here against the backdrop of a nation in political and social upheaval where strongmen rise to power and fear and violence become rhe rule of law. Where corruption and betrayal become commonplace and cause the rifts between the social classes and families.
The pen of Haitian authors has always been used to show the beauty and desperation of their people, the richness of their rituals and culture, the changing landscape forged by covetous leaders and entitled occupiers. Their literature speaks to resilience in the face of deforestation and resource plunder, natural and man-made disasters that increase the people's vulnerability, while still communicating a core fortitude.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, Gun violence, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Classism, Death, Confinement, Murder, and Alcohol
What the Dead Know by Nghi Vo
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Vo has a way of deftly giving us these novellas/novelettes that are just so good and this one is no different. A fake medium and her handler find a bit more in this town as they tackle the disappearance of a daughter. During the summoning, it is found that the villain is closer than you think.
Vo injects enough danger that gets her reader on the edge of their seat just to see what will be the end game and who will come out on the other side.
Vo injects enough danger that gets her reader on the edge of their seat just to see what will be the end game and who will come out on the other side.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
She Who Sleeps with Bones by Tanya Shirley
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
In this collection, Shirley has crafted poems that explore love, loss, and memory. I tend to gravitate to poetry that deals with themes such as these and they hit harder when they come from a poet of my country.
These poems move from how we interact with memory be it individual or communal; sexual and sensual relationships where we grapple with our desires and how we think to satisfy them to how we cope with loss of loved ones, and a realization of our fear and how violence can touch and shape us.
These poems move from how we interact with memory be it individual or communal; sexual and sensual relationships where we grapple with our desires and how we think to satisfy them to how we cope with loss of loved ones, and a realization of our fear and how violence can touch and shape us.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer, Death, and Animal death
Moonbath by Yanick Lahens
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Lahens took me on a roller coaster ride. With prose that is at times poetic, she illustrates a vivid picture of the people of Ayiti who are kept at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Their work and lands are taken to keep the rich rich and to increase their power. The men are used for their labour and never seen as having anything to contribute to the betterment of their home or society. We see how the rich and powerful move unscathed through the different villages and cities no matter their actions or the wrongs they perpetrate on the villagers.
I love the way Haitian authors are able to show both the light and dark parts of their country. The ways in which ritual and family play a major role in being the foundation and cement of communities; their commiseration and discussions as they become more aware of the ways in which they are continuously disadvantaged.
Moonbath is told in multiple voices of the villagers and in the voice of Cetoute, who seems to have been grievously harmed. The deeper we go into the novel, the more is revealed as the landscape is changed by storms, foreign occupation, political ambition, deforestation, and violence. I like this type of narration as it only makes the story richer as we get to see how each individual views and responds to the changes they witness and are a part of.
I love the way Haitian authors are able to show both the light and dark parts of their country. The ways in which ritual and family play a major role in being the foundation and cement of communities; their commiseration and discussions as they become more aware of the ways in which they are continuously disadvantaged.
Moonbath is told in multiple voices of the villagers and in the voice of Cetoute, who seems to have been grievously harmed. The deeper we go into the novel, the more is revealed as the landscape is changed by storms, foreign occupation, political ambition, deforestation, and violence. I like this type of narration as it only makes the story richer as we get to see how each individual views and responds to the changes they witness and are a part of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Violence, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Infidelity
The Blind King's Wrath by Ashok K. Banker
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I enjoyed this last installment in the Burnt Empire Saga. Banker tied off the plotlines from the first and second book. But there were missteps in this one as well: there were too many instances of telling instead of showing, having bloated exposition that really dragged the story for me, having decisions and thought patterns that made no sense, and again focusing too much on his male characters(I can't stand that).
It is a good series, there is just so much that could have been cut and condensed.
It is a good series, there is just so much that could have been cut and condensed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, War, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Child death, Grief, Animal death, Body horror, and Kidnapping
Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is how you end a series. Roanhorse remained committed to developing her main characters and giving them unfolding and necessary arcs. What a wonderful job she did. This series will go down as one of my top favourites.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Torture, Blood, Gore, Death, Violence, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Confinement
Oye by Melissa Mogollon
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I enjoyed this novel a lot. I love epistolary novels, so having this experience with a story being told from phone calls between sisters was great. Luciana is caught between a health conscious mother, a father who barely seems around, and a sister away at college when Irma approaches and her grandmother falls ill.
Through her calls to Mari, we get the whole picture of what Luciana is dealing with and what she is reaching out to her sister for support. We never hear from Mari, but enough is seen from Luciana's perspective that we are totally in the loop as the family drama unfolds. The way Mogollon writes these calls is so realistic that you can't help but get swept away in the story.
Through her calls to Mari, we get the whole picture of what Luciana is dealing with and what she is reaching out to her sister for support. We never hear from Mari, but enough is seen from Luciana's perspective that we are totally in the loop as the family drama unfolds. The way Mogollon writes these calls is so realistic that you can't help but get swept away in the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cancer, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Incest and Sexual harassment
Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you've ever read an Andrea Hairston novel, then you know and understand her style. Her prose won't be fluid or poetic or dense. It will be quick, have a syncopated rhythm to it almost as if at a play. I like that she plays outside the realm of structured prose writing. Her characters are always interesting and ther situations equally so.
Here she is tackling a future where we have been impacted by climate change in a major way. There are co-ops and insulated luxury living for the rich. Corporations have become even more greedy and evil, parsing says to use the vulnerable. Cinnamon has formed herself a community where she fosters imagination and a strong support mantra. There is coding, hoodoo conjuring, and social dynamics all while honoring her ancestors and their rituals and memories.
I loved seeing a mature Cinnamon and what she has carved out for herself in this future.
Here she is tackling a future where we have been impacted by climate change in a major way. There are co-ops and insulated luxury living for the rich. Corporations have become even more greedy and evil, parsing says to use the vulnerable. Cinnamon has formed herself a community where she fosters imagination and a strong support mantra. There is coding, hoodoo conjuring, and social dynamics all while honoring her ancestors and their rituals and memories.
I loved seeing a mature Cinnamon and what she has carved out for herself in this future.
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I tried very hard to find something redeemable about any of these characters. They were all selfish and their mode of communication so one dimensional as to be non-existent. Wife to husband; husband to wife; best friend to wife and vice versa; husband to best friend and vice versa. All very passive-aggressive, achieving nothing close to progress in figuring out their wants and needs.
Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The ways in which Spires tackles the issues of race, class and preferences here aren't new but there is a certain spin that she has brought to each character and their story which makes them fresh and lends a certain resonance as the reader interacts with and responds to each person and their individuality within their environment. She is allowing her characters to be themselves in all their beauty, with all their flaws, either reckoning with or accepting themselves as they are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Grief, Body shaming, Bullying, Self harm, Stalking, and Police brutality