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reading_beyond_the_book_cover's reviews
581 reviews
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
So... I'm still processing this. It was interesting. Southern Gothic, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction mashup. I haven't read anything like it before.
I was always curious about the cover art and if it alluded to anything in the book. Now I have my answer. The author did a good job tying in the past to the present and peppering in surprising moments. The twists were subtle and not too many and there was just enough shock factor for me to continue reading the story.
The way I interpreted the conjoining ofVarina and Rue's lives, seemingly through the doll gifted to Varina , represented how separate but also intertwined the lives are for Master and Slave in America. I saw that in the dolls, the religion, and of course the characters.
The secrets in the book had me gagged, especially when we find out what happened to Jonah and why Bean looks the way he does, Varina and her whereabouts, and why Ma Doe was writing letters. GAGGED!!
I loved how the African American Folktales were woven into the story.What first comes to mind is The People Could Fly (Airey growing wings) and Brer Rabbit (Rue tricking Varina). I'm looking forward to reading more from the research items that the author referred to in writing this book.
My only complaint is the ending. It was fast-paced, making me wonder if I missed something. Other than that, this is a solid book. Perfect for analysis and discussion. There are a lot of symbols (foxes) and themes (power as it relates to slavery) threaded into this story that'll keep the conversation going.
Overall, it's one of those books that needs to be read more than once to fully appreciate all the efforts put into its completion.
I was always curious about the cover art and if it alluded to anything in the book. Now I have my answer. The author did a good job tying in the past to the present and peppering in surprising moments. The twists were subtle and not too many and there was just enough shock factor for me to continue reading the story.
The way I interpreted the conjoining of
The secrets in the book had me gagged
I loved how the African American Folktales were woven into the story.
My only complaint is the ending. It was fast-paced, making me wonder if I missed something. Other than that, this is a solid book. Perfect for analysis and discussion. There are a lot of symbols (foxes) and themes (power as it relates to slavery) threaded into this story that'll keep the conversation going.
Overall, it's one of those books that needs to be read more than once to fully appreciate all the efforts put into its completion.
Lot 13 by Steve Niles, Glenn Fabry
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0