Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Fire Rush

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Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks

10 reviews

sakisreads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful slow-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

4.0

Anything that has testimonials from Bernadine Evaristo AND Caleb Azumah Nelson has to be read 👏🏼

So glad I picked this one up at the library 📚 It took me a while to get through

and Moose’s death had me GRIEVING 😫

but every time I picked it up I kept going and loving it 🥹

I am SO glad we escaped Monassa AND THEN fucked him up too 🫠 I was initially excited because he seemed charming, but as Yamaye got bamboozled by him I realised that was my anxious attachment style saying ‘But he’s a nice man’ 🙊 Never again. Fuck him!

Yamaye was such a fantastic narrator and I felt like I could visualise everything that was going on throughout the years. I felt many of the excitements and nerves she felt!

4 out of 5 stars, thank you so much ✨

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filuipa's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

i feel like it was privilege to read this book and get a glimpse of the black community and dub world of London in late 70s, which has led to some youtube trips to listen to the music genres mentioned to understand the picture better, especially how heavily the plot involves music. The last 20 pages were not my favourite ending at all, I could think of so many satisfying, some less pleasant, endings but considering how close this is to the author's experience it's not my story to change.

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beriboo's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

"Fire Rush" by Jacqueline Crooks is an exquisite tapestry of storytelling that immerses readers in the vibrant world of Jamaican culture and the diaspora in 1970s England, pulsating with life, love, and the fire within. Crooks weaves a narrative that dances between history, culture, and the deeply personal, creating a mesmerising literary experience.

One of the book's standout strengths is Crooks' mastery in the art of character description. Each character in "Fire Rush" is vividly brought to life, with a level of detail that makes them feel like old friends or terrifying threats. The nuances of their personalities, desires, and struggles are so meticulously portrayed that you can almost hear their voices and feel their presence. Even for those characters that are the "villains" in the story, Crooks' ability to write such depth to these characters results in an understanding towards their behaviour, even though you hold a strong feeling of dislike.

At the heart of the story is the remarkable main character, Yamaye. Crooks not only crafts a protagonist but a living, breathing soul. The love for Yamaye is palpable throughout the narrative, as the author skillfully delves into her innermost thoughts and emotions. You don't just read about Yamaye; you feel her joys, sorrows, and triumphs as if they were your own. The connection with her is so profound that you can't help but root for her at every twist and turn.

One of the most captivating aspects of "Fire Rush" is the use of patois in the prose. Crooks seamlessly incorporates the Jamaican patois into the dialogue and narration, adding an authentic and rhythmic layer to the narrative. This linguistic choice not only enhances the cultural richness of the story but also immerses the reader more deeply into the characters' lives. The patois becomes a vibrant and expressive tool, capturing the cadence of everyday life and enriching the narrative with the true essence of Jamaican culture.

The prose in "Fire Rush" is nothing short of poetic. Crooks employs a lyrical and rhythmic style that elevates the narrative to a sensory experience. The words flow with an almost musical quality, enhancing the reader's immersion into the rich tapestry of Jamaican culture and history. The beauty of the prose lies not only in what is said but in how it is said, evoking emotions that linger long after the final page is turned.

However, the story falls just shy of a perfect 5-star rating due to the inclusion of some instances of sexual violence halfway through the book. While not pervasive, these scenes were personally unsettling, and they affected my overall enjoyment of an otherwise beautifully crafted narrative. This is, of course, a subjective response, but it is worth noting for readers who may share similar sensitivities.

In conclusion, "Fire Rush" is a triumph in storytelling. Jacqueline Crooks has crafted a narrative that not only paints a vivid picture of Jamaica but also captures the essence of the human spirit. With characters that leap off the page, a protagonist who becomes a cherished companion, and prose that dances with grace, "Fire Rush" is a literary gem that will leave readers yearning for more.

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ukponge's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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deedireads's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-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? No

4.0

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

TL;DR REVIEW:

Fire Rush is an impressive debut, with an undeniably electric voice and propulsive energy that really makes it stand out. I thought the pacing was a bit uneven, but I still liked it and I’m glad I read it.

For you if: You like books that highlight underrepresented perspectives from recent history.

FULL REVIEW:

I may never have read Fire Rush if not for the fact that it was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize. And though it wasn’t my favorite from the list, it’s impossible to deny the electric voice and propulsive energy Crooks has created.

The main character is a young woman named Yamaye, a second-generation member of the Jamaican diaspora living in West London in the late 1970s (the early days of Margaret Thatcher). She’s a regular of the local underground dub scene (literally, they go to a place called The Crypt and it’s in a crypt) alongside others for whom music is survival, and losing yourself is the only way to feel alive. But soon tragedy, injustice, and an increasingly hostile carceral state uproot her life, taking her to Bristol and eventually Jamaica.

I can absolutely see why this book is being praised; it has a strong, strong voice, and it crackles with rage and grief and life. This was particularly true in the audiobook experience; Yamaye’s narrator was the perfect fit and the producers included just the right (light) touch of effect to bring her music/club scene to life. Crooks makes it possible for us to take a hard look at the Black British experience of those years; them vs “Babylon.”

I think, for me, what kept this book from going on the “love” pile was some uneven pacing. It felt like it took the actual story a really long time to start, even though the narration had plenty of energy. Then as the plot picked up and I became invested in the story, some of that initial crackling energy waned.

But still, an extremely impressive debut. Glad I read it!

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qqjj's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-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? Yes

4.0

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katarinabee's review

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense 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

4.25

This was fantastic to read as an audiobook - I loved hearing patois spoken aloud by Leonie Elliot, and the excerpts of music that sometimes played in the background created so much atmosphere and context. I loved how embodied and powerful music was in this book - almost to the point that Yamaye's descriptions of music at times felt like magic realism. I also really liked the concept of how history isn't in the past - it's always embedded in the present, and continuing to reverberate alongside our lives. Occasionally the plot lost a bit of steam and felt a little disjointed - but overall I thought this book was great, and can't wait to see what Jacqueline Crooks writes next.

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