Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - House of Cotton

I really enjoyed the prose, but I thought the pacing left something to be desired -- it felt like there was too much going on, while simultaneously repeating essentially the same couple of scenes again and again. I think I would have loved it as a novella.

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starsnotshadows's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Um. I don't know what to say about this book really. I enjoyed the prose, but the plot/characters left something to be desired. I just felt like certain mechanics within the novel didn't make sense or were inconsistent. and the escalation of the plot happened in illogical steps in my opinion.

I would read from this author again, I just might have different expectations going into it now.

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kylehepp4267's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Best book I’ve read so far this year. It has that Isabel Allende-esque surrealism turned Southern Gothic, with a main character who contains multitudes and brings you into her world so completely she makes you believe her ghosts are real. This book was the continual heart break of a life in poverty but the struggle was not the story, it was the background that informed Magnolia and her choices, or a secondary character, there waiting in the wings to pounce.

Anyway, phenomenal writing. One of those books that blows my mind because I can’t believe something this creative and beautiful lived inside somebody’s head!

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