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willowbiblio's reviews
440 reviews
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"But nothing is ever equal with humans, really- we give and we take, the scales ever tipping. That's just the way of it. I am what he has, and he is what I have- there's no point in keeping score."
--------------------
I truly could not put this book down, I read it in less than 24 hours. This was exactly the kind of book I needed to read right now. It had such a strong open with the introduction of mysticism and the knowledge that Liska carries shame and is an outsider in her village. It immediately raised questions and intrigue. There was such excellent imagery throughout this book as well; the stag rotting, creatures transforming, and woods themselves. I loved the enrichment of the story and immersion in Polish culture/folklore through foods, names, and more.
Jaga was the best! I thought the relationship between the main characters was so wholesome and audience appropriate. I really appreciated how tasteful the intimacy was because the audience here is YA, not adults. I also loved how at the end we got the Leszy's POV of the moments that were special to the characters and reader.
The use of magic as butterflies, giving additional meaning to the phrase "butterflies in my stomach" was inspired. I also appreciated the nod to feminism. Men said women would go mad if they used power because they were stronger, and Kazimiera was proof of that lie.
In general, this was such a lovely and immersive tale of a young woman learning to love every aspect of herself, stand up against bigotry, and face really hard problems by not doing it alone. Really beautiful messaging. I look forward to reading Poranek's future work. So glad this was gifted!
--------------------
I truly could not put this book down, I read it in less than 24 hours. This was exactly the kind of book I needed to read right now. It had such a strong open with the introduction of mysticism and the knowledge that Liska carries shame and is an outsider in her village. It immediately raised questions and intrigue. There was such excellent imagery throughout this book as well; the stag rotting, creatures transforming, and woods themselves. I loved the enrichment of the story and immersion in Polish culture/folklore through foods, names, and more.
Jaga was the best! I thought the relationship between the main characters was so wholesome and audience appropriate. I really appreciated how tasteful the intimacy was because the audience here is YA, not adults. I also loved how at the end we got the Leszy's POV of the moments that were special to the characters and reader.
The use of magic as butterflies, giving additional meaning to the phrase "butterflies in my stomach" was inspired. I also appreciated the nod to feminism. Men said women would go mad if they used power because they were stronger, and Kazimiera was proof of that lie.
In general, this was such a lovely and immersive tale of a young woman learning to love every aspect of herself, stand up against bigotry, and face really hard problems by not doing it alone. Really beautiful messaging. I look forward to reading Poranek's future work. So glad this was gifted!
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
"Too often white feminism lies to itself. It lies about intent and impact; it invests more in protecting whiteness than in protecting women. It's not a harmless lie either; it does direct harm to marginalized communities. Being harmful is a source of power some white feminists have embraced in lieu of actually doing any real work."
----------------
I believe very firmly that any white woman who believes she's a feminist *must* read this book with an open heart and in the spirit of listening and learning. This book was incredible. Kendall addressed such a broad scope of issues that aren't recognized by mainstream feminism as feminist issues, but very much are. Some topics were poverty, hunger, transphobia, economic inequality, and more. She voiced this very real and fair mistrust of white feminists, because of how often marginalized women have been failed by them.
"We" are absolutely fighting different fights, and we shouldn't be. To her point, what does it matter who is in the board room when some women literally do not have enough to eat on a regular basis. Kendall also addressed something I'd never really thought of until now. The women who are interested in elected office or public-facing who are working to dismantle feminism and increase the oppression of marginalized groups are benefitting and able to do that ***because of feminism***.
She also made the (very accurate) point that mainstream feminism often only cares once they are impacted, and don't intervene earlier when it's only marginalized women being harmed An excellent book, I learned so much.
----------------
I believe very firmly that any white woman who believes she's a feminist *must* read this book with an open heart and in the spirit of listening and learning. This book was incredible. Kendall addressed such a broad scope of issues that aren't recognized by mainstream feminism as feminist issues, but very much are. Some topics were poverty, hunger, transphobia, economic inequality, and more. She voiced this very real and fair mistrust of white feminists, because of how often marginalized women have been failed by them.
"We" are absolutely fighting different fights, and we shouldn't be. To her point, what does it matter who is in the board room when some women literally do not have enough to eat on a regular basis. Kendall also addressed something I'd never really thought of until now. The women who are interested in elected office or public-facing who are working to dismantle feminism and increase the oppression of marginalized groups are benefitting and able to do that ***because of feminism***.
She also made the (very accurate) point that mainstream feminism often only cares once they are impacted, and don't intervene earlier when it's only marginalized women being harmed An excellent book, I learned so much.
In Parenthesis by David Jones
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
"For such breakings away and dissolving of comradeship and token of division are cause of great anguish when men sense how they stand so perilous and transitory in this world."
-----------
I will preface this review with the clear acknowledgment and disclaimer that I've really never been a poetry person. I think I just haven't found my niche. When you add in a fairly baffling mix of prose and poetry, hyper specific contextual references, lengthy endnotes, and a general unknowable quality this becomes almost impossible for me to read. Honestly, almost all of this went over my head and I ended up skimming a significant portion of the text.
I generally really appreciate the realist WWI novels, but I just couldn't get into the style or flow of this and I really did try. I would love to try different, less obtuse poetry to figure out if it's the genre or author. This was one of these 1001 list inclusions that were meh for me. And maybe I just missed the point of this entirely, which is very possible.
-----------
I will preface this review with the clear acknowledgment and disclaimer that I've really never been a poetry person. I think I just haven't found my niche. When you add in a fairly baffling mix of prose and poetry, hyper specific contextual references, lengthy endnotes, and a general unknowable quality this becomes almost impossible for me to read. Honestly, almost all of this went over my head and I ended up skimming a significant portion of the text.
I generally really appreciate the realist WWI novels, but I just couldn't get into the style or flow of this and I really did try. I would love to try different, less obtuse poetry to figure out if it's the genre or author. This was one of these 1001 list inclusions that were meh for me. And maybe I just missed the point of this entirely, which is very possible.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"'Cause when the white man lays down his lying laws, he dines on the lie part of that fat meat while you and I get turned this way and that munching on the truth part. Howsoever that meal ends, when the table is cleared, one or more of us will likely leave hungry."
----------
Once again this was an excellent Reading is Subjective Book Club experience. Really nuanced and thoughtful discussions.
I loved the way McBride contrasted the boisterous joy of the lined up Jews alongside the way the African Americans had to sneak in to the theater. It let us know very early on in the text that while both groups were oppressed, this was enacted differently. I loved the characters of Chona, Addie, and Dodo and their essential goodness. I also really liked McBride's descriptions of Nate's character, and how Nate and Isaac were of a pair.
I think at times the scope of the characters made this slow down too much for me. I also couldn't stand the way women's bodies were described, especially their breasts and once again the phrase "perky boobs". It felt so lazy for such a clearly talented and thoughtful writer. I get the time in setting was different, but in the 2020's we can convey misogyny without being misogynistic.
The friendship between Monkey Pants and Dodo made me tear up. To find such pure spirits in a place of such horror was beautiful. The ending was nice, but a tiny bit too neat for me. I also felt like the (seemingly) random switch into a commentary on modern society during a pivotal plot point in the middle of the book was so odd and shoved me right out of the narrative. Overall though, I enjoyed this.
----------
Once again this was an excellent Reading is Subjective Book Club experience. Really nuanced and thoughtful discussions.
I loved the way McBride contrasted the boisterous joy of the lined up Jews alongside the way the African Americans had to sneak in to the theater. It let us know very early on in the text that while both groups were oppressed, this was enacted differently. I loved the characters of Chona, Addie, and Dodo and their essential goodness. I also really liked McBride's descriptions of Nate's character, and how Nate and Isaac were of a pair.
I think at times the scope of the characters made this slow down too much for me. I also couldn't stand the way women's bodies were described, especially their breasts and once again the phrase "perky boobs". It felt so lazy for such a clearly talented and thoughtful writer. I get the time in setting was different, but in the 2020's we can convey misogyny without being misogynistic.
The friendship between Monkey Pants and Dodo made me tear up. To find such pure spirits in a place of such horror was beautiful. The ending was nice, but a tiny bit too neat for me. I also felt like the (seemingly) random switch into a commentary on modern society during a pivotal plot point in the middle of the book was so odd and shoved me right out of the narrative. Overall though, I enjoyed this.
The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose by Alice Munro
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"But wasn't the real fault hers? Her conviction that anyone who could fall in love with her must be hopelessly lacking, must finally be revealed as a fool?
--------------
This book was a set of interconnected short stories presented as a novel. Rose grows up in extreme poverty and, as a child and teen, is in constant battle/discord with Flo, her stepmother. Her desire to shed the history and gain a sense of security and belonging leads her to seek safety in men. Rose overlays a personality and savior fantasy onto them that is entirely divorced from reality, and in this Munro captures that longing for others to fix or make us somehow good enough or less ourselves.
Rose consistently adapts to who the people around her want most, and so never develops a strong sense of self or direction. Munro is phenomenal at writing female characters who are aware of the dilemma of being smart and capable, but female. She also addressed the privilege that comes with whiteness and financial stability well.
I found the Franny story to be extremely uncomfortable to read, as well as Rose's assault on the train. It was interesting how Munro made Patrick and and Clifford foils of one another. Neither saw Rose for herself, both hurt her, and she used them to hurt herself as well. Rose was constantly seeking the right man to fill the void in herself, and intentionally drove healthy ones away because of her need to continue the narrative of undeserving (captured by the quote I chose above).
I liked that we circled back to Flo's later years to see how their relationship matured and became about Rose returning some of the care Flo had shown her, albeit each in her own convoluted way.
--------------
This book was a set of interconnected short stories presented as a novel. Rose grows up in extreme poverty and, as a child and teen, is in constant battle/discord with Flo, her stepmother. Her desire to shed the history and gain a sense of security and belonging leads her to seek safety in men. Rose overlays a personality and savior fantasy onto them that is entirely divorced from reality, and in this Munro captures that longing for others to fix or make us somehow good enough or less ourselves.
Rose consistently adapts to who the people around her want most, and so never develops a strong sense of self or direction. Munro is phenomenal at writing female characters who are aware of the dilemma of being smart and capable, but female. She also addressed the privilege that comes with whiteness and financial stability well.
I found the Franny story to be extremely uncomfortable to read, as well as Rose's assault on the train. It was interesting how Munro made Patrick and and Clifford foils of one another. Neither saw Rose for herself, both hurt her, and she used them to hurt herself as well. Rose was constantly seeking the right man to fill the void in herself, and intentionally drove healthy ones away because of her need to continue the narrative of undeserving (captured by the quote I chose above).
I liked that we circled back to Flo's later years to see how their relationship matured and became about Rose returning some of the care Flo had shown her, albeit each in her own convoluted way.
Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"This life of outward splendour, gnawed inwardly by all the worms of anguish, was what he had chosen to adopt, rolling in it, making his bed, like the absent-minded men in La Bruyere, in the mire of the ditch."
---------------
This was such a strong critique of the pursuit of class/societal acceptance and Parisian society. Goriot's daughters no longer cared about family and used up their father until there was nothing left. Rastignac felt able to judge and condemn the daughters, when he too was stampeding over and using anyone in pursuit of his class goals. Balzac showed how family and real connections were less important than the appearance of wealth and success.
He provided a strong contrast to Rastignac in the form of his friend, the student doctor. He was content to live a good enough life, and tried to help save Goriot at the end. We also got a constant contrast of the near-poverty of Rastignac and Pere Goriot's circumstances against the lavish life the daughters and other upperclass people lived in.
The family structure breakdown extended to marriages- which were treated as mere formalities and business unions. I thought the whole added intrigue around the convict was interesting and reminded me a bit of Les Miserables.
At times this was a tad slow and fairly predictable, and the descriptive paragraphs got quite lengthy, but that is also just a feature of this era of writing.
---------------
This was such a strong critique of the pursuit of class/societal acceptance and Parisian society. Goriot's daughters no longer cared about family and used up their father until there was nothing left. Rastignac felt able to judge and condemn the daughters, when he too was stampeding over and using anyone in pursuit of his class goals. Balzac showed how family and real connections were less important than the appearance of wealth and success.
He provided a strong contrast to Rastignac in the form of his friend, the student doctor. He was content to live a good enough life, and tried to help save Goriot at the end. We also got a constant contrast of the near-poverty of Rastignac and Pere Goriot's circumstances against the lavish life the daughters and other upperclass people lived in.
The family structure breakdown extended to marriages- which were treated as mere formalities and business unions. I thought the whole added intrigue around the convict was interesting and reminded me a bit of Les Miserables.
At times this was a tad slow and fairly predictable, and the descriptive paragraphs got quite lengthy, but that is also just a feature of this era of writing.
Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta by James Hannaham
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"It's really just laziness, ain't it, like the less rights you think a motherfucker got, the less you think you gotta recanize that that person be a real person with a brain an feelings an children an parents, an that they lives and they struggles be real an not just some mumbo jumbo crapped out a bird's ass on your windshield. The less you think you gotta care about another person, the less you *do* care."
-------------
I expected this book to be excellent, and it was something even greater. Carlotta Mercedes had so much capacity for joy and a wonder for this "new" world that was infectious. I loved the constant shift from third to first person- a narration of Carlotta's actions/circumstance and an immediate switch to her inner dialogue.
She was so funny and so aware of her why. Her bravery to share her story of abuse to Doodle and her awareness during the disclosure of how alien the world she was describing is was devastating. I was so sad for her at towards the end, because of how the system was just designed for her to fail and not remotely to support her reentry. But I loved that we were able to reconnect with her at the end and see that her hope for herself is still there.
Hannaham pulled no punches in his commentary on gentrification, the prison system, transphobia, racism, and the loneliness of the modern age. There were moments when Carlotta's soliloquies felt like Hannaham philosophizing, but I actually enjoyed it.
I loved how immersive this book was- the dialect especially. And mostly, I loved Carlotta's resilience in a world that had transformed, and her determination to believe in better things.
-------------
I expected this book to be excellent, and it was something even greater. Carlotta Mercedes had so much capacity for joy and a wonder for this "new" world that was infectious. I loved the constant shift from third to first person- a narration of Carlotta's actions/circumstance and an immediate switch to her inner dialogue.
She was so funny and so aware of her why. Her bravery to share her story of abuse to Doodle and her awareness during the disclosure of how alien the world she was describing is was devastating. I was so sad for her at towards the end, because of how the system was just designed for her to fail and not remotely to support her reentry. But I loved that we were able to reconnect with her at the end and see that her hope for herself is still there.
Hannaham pulled no punches in his commentary on gentrification, the prison system, transphobia, racism, and the loneliness of the modern age. There were moments when Carlotta's soliloquies felt like Hannaham philosophizing, but I actually enjoyed it.
I loved how immersive this book was- the dialect especially. And mostly, I loved Carlotta's resilience in a world that had transformed, and her determination to believe in better things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Rape
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"I suppose one of the reasons we're all able to continue to exist for our allotted span in this green and blue vale of tears is that there is always, however remote it might seem, the possibility of change."
----------------
This book kind of felt like two distinct halves. The beginning felt almost unreal because of Eleanor's complete lack of awareness of the impact of her words and actions on others. It was also confusing because it sort of felt like the author was ascribing these challenges exclusively to childhood trauma.
The second half felt so strong, and gave me the sense that the author has been intimately familiar with substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. The way that she wrote about loneliness was so apt, like it's this thing we are ashamed of in this age of ultimate connectedness. Yet so many of us really are alone and isolated.
I think I was also confused by the interactions with Eleanor's coworkers and the way they bullied her. This added to the unreal quality of the first half, but I may also just be lucky to have never been in a work environment with that kind of overt bullying.
I loved the friendship with Roy and how, bit by bit, Eleanor learned to trust and care for someone else. The way that so many women gave her unconditional acceptance, assistance, and support was truly beautiful. I also loved how Eleanor was so devoted to her cat, because I've had those moments of feeling responsible to care for myself so I can care for my cats. I was definitely surprised a bit by the plot twist with Mummy at the end!
----------------
This book kind of felt like two distinct halves. The beginning felt almost unreal because of Eleanor's complete lack of awareness of the impact of her words and actions on others. It was also confusing because it sort of felt like the author was ascribing these challenges exclusively to childhood trauma.
The second half felt so strong, and gave me the sense that the author has been intimately familiar with substance abuse, PTSD, and depression. The way that she wrote about loneliness was so apt, like it's this thing we are ashamed of in this age of ultimate connectedness. Yet so many of us really are alone and isolated.
I think I was also confused by the interactions with Eleanor's coworkers and the way they bullied her. This added to the unreal quality of the first half, but I may also just be lucky to have never been in a work environment with that kind of overt bullying.
I loved the friendship with Roy and how, bit by bit, Eleanor learned to trust and care for someone else. The way that so many women gave her unconditional acceptance, assistance, and support was truly beautiful. I also loved how Eleanor was so devoted to her cat, because I've had those moments of feeling responsible to care for myself so I can care for my cats. I was definitely surprised a bit by the plot twist with Mummy at the end!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Game, my ass. Some game. If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it's a game all right - I'll admit that. But if you got on the *other* side, where there aren't any hot-shots, then what's a game about it? Nothing. No game."
-------------------
Holden Caulfield is an extremely sensitive and empathetic teenage boy. He's living through a sense of profound isolation and unresolved grief from the loss of a brother he idolized. He lives apart from his sister, Phoebe, one of the only people he truly likes. I found his character to be sympathetic because of how out of place he was. It brought to mind the idea from "Hello Beautiful"- it's sane to be insane in this world. Holden's rage and compassion commingled within him to result in help for others and harm to himself.
Despite this very strong character this book was really hard for me to get into. I think the tone was hard for me to place, and I didn't like the repetition of Holden/Salinger's phrases. At times it felt difficult to separate the author's identity from the character.
I didn't love how some really traumatic/difficult experiences felt like they were thrown at the reader, then vanished into the wind (the suicide of James, Allie's death, the attempted assault by Holden's ex-teacher, mention of other assaults). It felt really unresolved to me.
I think that was my biggest challenge, that so many scenes and the book itself felt more like an unfinished thought than a supposed masterpiece. It's possible that was the intention, or that it was due to the original serialized nature of this text prior to being in novel form. That all may have gone over my head.
I can see how this would be meaningful in adolescence; as a survivor of CSA and someone who struggled with similar things I would have related to this deeply had I read it as a teen. Maybe I've just grown up/healed a bit too much for this to click well for me today.
-------------------
Holden Caulfield is an extremely sensitive and empathetic teenage boy. He's living through a sense of profound isolation and unresolved grief from the loss of a brother he idolized. He lives apart from his sister, Phoebe, one of the only people he truly likes. I found his character to be sympathetic because of how out of place he was. It brought to mind the idea from "Hello Beautiful"- it's sane to be insane in this world. Holden's rage and compassion commingled within him to result in help for others and harm to himself.
Despite this very strong character this book was really hard for me to get into. I think the tone was hard for me to place, and I didn't like the repetition of Holden/Salinger's phrases. At times it felt difficult to separate the author's identity from the character.
I didn't love how some really traumatic/difficult experiences felt like they were thrown at the reader, then vanished into the wind
I think that was my biggest challenge, that so many scenes and the book itself felt more like an unfinished thought than a supposed masterpiece. It's possible that was the intention, or that it was due to the original serialized nature of this text prior to being in novel form. That all may have gone over my head.
I can see how this would be meaningful in adolescence; as a survivor of CSA and someone who struggled with similar things I would have related to this deeply had I read it as a teen. Maybe I've just grown up/healed a bit too much for this to click well for me today.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"Here, she found, everything had nuance; everything had an unrevealed side or unexplained depths. Everything was worth looking at more closely."
-----------------
This was an incredible book. Even the first line communicated so much about the story that would lead the reader back to that moment. Everyone knows everyone, gossip is central, and there is a proper/expected way to behave in Shaker Heights. The community prioritizes appearances above all, choosing to hide/ignore "blemishes".
This was also occurring within the Richardson home, so Pearl and Mia were natural disruptors of that. I deeply disliked Elena's entitlement and self-justification, but Ng helped us to see how multifaceted her character was. You could disagree with her, but understand how she saw the world. Elena's insistence on centering herself in every tragedy was infuriating but so real for her. She couldn't fathom that Mia's support of Bebe was anything other than an attack on *her* friend.
There was this ongoing theme of motherhood and the connection between mothers and daughters, which was beautiful.That everyone but Elena was reunited with their biological daughters felt like an interesting form of poetic justice- she would now suffer the same loss she had tried to inflict on others (maliciously or not).
I loved Izzy's character. She was so sensitive and had such a strong moral compass in a world that demanded ignorance and compliance. Moody was promising at first, but turned out to be just the same as his mother, and in that he let himself and Pearl down. He used his own pain and sense of entitlement to justify actions that weren't aligned with his professed love and friendship for Pearl.
I liked that every point had a counterpoint. Nobody was all good or bad, every action had a justification based on that character's standpoint. Ng made it clear how she felt about this suburban landscape, but left the reader to decide where they landed and what they felt was right, or fair, or true.
Inherent in the Shaker Heights community, the Richardsons, and Elena is their privilege to levy judgment. They were never running the same race as Mia, Pearl, Bebe, and others, and always had inherent advantage. Elena's thought of "I would never let that happen to me" ignores that she would never have been in that position because of her privilege and access to resources. It wasn't a moral failing from others, but she is incapable of seeing that lives are different to her own. Even the Richardson children were continually surprised by the fact that other kinds of lives existed.
This book was such a powerful way to explore these topics, and I especially loved the continual theme of sparks and fire. Not overdone, but reminding you of the ultimate outcome- a burned out shell of a house in the interest of renewal.
-----------------
This was an incredible book. Even the first line communicated so much about the story that would lead the reader back to that moment. Everyone knows everyone, gossip is central, and there is a proper/expected way to behave in Shaker Heights. The community prioritizes appearances above all, choosing to hide/ignore "blemishes".
This was also occurring within the Richardson home, so Pearl and Mia were natural disruptors of that. I deeply disliked Elena's entitlement and self-justification, but Ng helped us to see how multifaceted her character was. You could disagree with her, but understand how she saw the world. Elena's insistence on centering herself in every tragedy was infuriating but so real for her. She couldn't fathom that Mia's support of Bebe was anything other than an attack on *her* friend.
There was this ongoing theme of motherhood and the connection between mothers and daughters, which was beautiful.
I loved Izzy's character. She was so sensitive and had such a strong moral compass in a world that demanded ignorance and compliance. Moody was promising at first, but turned out to be just the same as his mother, and in that he let himself and Pearl down. He used his own pain and sense of entitlement to justify actions that weren't aligned with his professed love and friendship for Pearl.
I liked that every point had a counterpoint. Nobody was all good or bad, every action had a justification based on that character's standpoint. Ng made it clear how she felt about this suburban landscape, but left the reader to decide where they landed and what they felt was right, or fair, or true.
Inherent in the Shaker Heights community, the Richardsons, and Elena is their privilege to levy judgment. They were never running the same race as Mia, Pearl, Bebe, and others, and always had inherent advantage. Elena's thought of "I would never let that happen to me" ignores that she would never have been in that position because of her privilege and access to resources. It wasn't a moral failing from others, but she is incapable of seeing that lives are different to her own. Even the Richardson children were continually surprised by the fact that other kinds of lives existed.
This book was such a powerful way to explore these topics, and I especially loved the continual theme of sparks and fire. Not overdone, but reminding you of the ultimate outcome- a burned out shell of a house in the interest of renewal.