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sargasso_c's Reviews (516)
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a book that can present an unreliable narrator in such a way that I question my own observations and dismissals. BAD MAN reminds me of HOUSE OF LEAVES in that a deteriorating mind is handled so gently and yet so harshly and presented so well. Though this book didn't quite "stick the landing" for me (they hardly ever do - how to bring a good thing to an end?) I enjoyed turning each of these 300 odd pages and didn't feel that the tension or suspense was dropped for a second. Walk with Ben through his slow, murky town and his slow, murky thoughts and you won't be disappointed - though you will be changed. I very much look forward to what else Auerbach has in store.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mexican Gothic is the first in what I hope will be a long line of vintage literature resurgence featuring characters of color. Because gothic novels are so slow-paced and the horror is revealed slowly, the characters need to be interesting and/or loveable enough to keep one reading. I believe that Mexican Gothic fell short in this respect. In addition, the little reveals throughout the book did not quite coalesce to into a lens through which the big reveal can be seen. I enjoyed this read, but it did take me quite a while to finish it, as I did not feel a pull to keep reading whenever I had to set the book down.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Colonisation
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll admit, I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would.Though it has some similarities to the hunger games - it is so much more than that. The beginning started a bit slow, but once the girls enter there grace year - there is no going back. It is what feminism was always meant to be - forgiveness and hope and striving to be better. <\spoiler>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility
While I felt that the writing in this book was a bit stilted, the message it gave was clear and needed. The book clearly addresses issues that black children, teenagers, and adults face everyday and I'd like to thank the author for presenting a clear right and wrong on many of the issues. However, that isn't to say that this book does not dabble in gray area. As the protagonist is close to people of many different races and positions. She is unable to unequivocally hate or blame any one group for the incident that kicks off the narrative. Overall, this was a hopeful, yet truthful read.
This book is not for the faint of heart, it's barely for the moral. This is a book that challenges you and what you know to be true, this is a book that points fingers.
To date, I've not read a better book. As my introduction to Greenwood, this book made me feel all the ugly and wonderful and terrible and beautiful and complicated things. Each time I describe this book to someone I do it in a different way. Do I focus on the story of a resilient child? The exploration of love and exactly when love turns harmful? How selfishness and compassion share a bed? I can't pick one, and I can't use mere words to say how perfect this book is; not because it is about a perfect subject, has a perfect ending, or perfectly tells its story, but because it is simply perfect all-together.
To date, I've not read a better book. As my introduction to Greenwood, this book made me feel all the ugly and wonderful and terrible and beautiful and complicated things. Each time I describe this book to someone I do it in a different way. Do I focus on the story of a resilient child? The exploration of love and exactly when love turns harmful? How selfishness and compassion share a bed? I can't pick one, and I can't use mere words to say how perfect this book is; not because it is about a perfect subject, has a perfect ending, or perfectly tells its story, but because it is simply perfect all-together.
