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elviraqc's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death and Police brutality
sakisreads's review
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 đđŒ
So glad I picked this one up at the library đ It took me a while to get through and Mooseâs death had me GRIEVING đ« but every time I picked it up I kept going and loving it đ„č
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 âš
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
amberinpieces's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Slavery, Vomit, and Gaslighting
flashandoutbreak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
filuipa's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
- 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? It's complicated
3.25
There is absolutely a person out there who this work was made for, who it will resonate. I feel that deep in my bones. Sadly, I am not that person. I appreciate this story for its parts, for what it's trying to do. If consumed in its individual segments there is a lot to love. There is a high reliability to Yamaye's passion for dub as a tool for avoiding, of getting lost. I appreciate her lyricism. However, the gap between our experiences and time frames was a bit too distant for me to cling onto her emotionally as I really needed to and was not compensated by the overall writing.
I am fortunate to say I have not had to deal with the traumas experienced in the early life of Yamaye or that which happens in the course of this novel. As a white rural American woman I will never feel her experience of the world or her fears. Unfortunately, the mental blockades people who have had to live in worlds and around people that our lead character has creates this wall between me as a reader that I couldn't quite climb.
Personally I think the biggest issue hampering me from digging into this novel was the pacing. I feel the most successful parts of the novel were in her discovery of self with Moose, of her time in Jamaica. However her entire involvement with the underworld seemed to both fly by and drag on. I never quite felt what I needed to as she was drawn in. It was more of a crash than a spiral to her disillusionment. I was craving more suspense. A slow drowning. it also didn't help that I felt disconnected with how she got there in the first place circumstantially. I was never sure if it was random paranoia of the general conditions of the time, or if she really had a direct threat , and exactly how she was targeted for the events that occurred as up to that time she had herself been rather 'clean'.
I don't require tidy endings. I don't need full conclusions. But the story lines that actually made me feel invested gave way to what was the weaker side plot and invested the remainder of the book in a crash of a finale for that particular chapter of her life.
For all my disconnect, I do absolutely recognize the importance. I appreciate the pieces of history and the snapshot of a culture. I wanted more of Yamaye discovering herself creatively. i wanted her to crack open her feelings and find her absolution in her music, forge her path that way. There are hints of that. And much of her progression does happen through these moments she steals. But I can't help but feel she also lost just as much of herself to them as well.
I am fortunate to say I have not had to deal with the traumas experienced in the early life of Yamaye or that which happens in the course of this novel. As a white rural American woman I will never feel her experience of the world or her fears. Unfortunately, the mental blockades people who have had to live in worlds and around people that our lead character has creates this wall between me as a reader that I couldn't quite climb.
Personally I think the biggest issue hampering me from digging into this novel was the pacing. I feel the most successful parts of the novel were in her discovery of self with Moose, of her time in Jamaica. However her entire involvement with the underworld seemed to both fly by and drag on. I never quite felt what I needed to as she was drawn in. It was more of a crash than a spiral to her disillusionment. I was craving more suspense. A slow drowning. it also didn't help that I felt disconnected with how she got there in the first place circumstantially. I was never sure if it was random paranoia of the general conditions of the time, or if she really had a direct threat , and exactly how she was targeted for the events that occurred as up to that time she had herself been rather 'clean'.
I don't require tidy endings. I don't need full conclusions. But the story lines that actually made me feel invested gave way to what was the weaker side plot and invested the remainder of the book in a crash of a finale for that particular chapter of her life.
For all my disconnect, I do absolutely recognize the importance. I appreciate the pieces of history and the snapshot of a culture. I wanted more of Yamaye discovering herself creatively. i wanted her to crack open her feelings and find her absolution in her music, forge her path that way. There are hints of that. And much of her progression does happen through these moments she steals. But I can't help but feel she also lost just as much of herself to them as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Sexual harassment
lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I want to like this more. The first third was looking good but it started to dwindle pretty quickly after that, even given the subject matter being tackled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Death
cuppa_t's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
3.5
After someone close to Yamaye is murdered in police custody, she finds herself under scrutiny and in need of escape. She travels, constantly running from people and past while chasing sounds and dub rhythms.
Fire Rush is a beautifully written book filled with poetic gems of prose. If youâre looking for a character-led story, youâll find Fire Rush absolutely phenomenal. Crooks' descriptions of personalities, relationships and emotions are second to none. Yamayeâs relationship with music is hypnotic. Every time the story shifts location, you are there with her.
However, as it is entirely character-led, I felt like at least four main plots were only taken halfway; the book ended because the character arc had been completed, rather than the plot coming full circle. I understand that this may be because it is semi-autobiographical, but a few loose ends were left too loose for me, particularly the plotline regarding her mother; I would love to read a version of this book where that was resolved.
Overall, it was a beautiful read but not as compelling as I had hoped.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Police brutality
Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism, Violence, and Murder
hadsbaker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Police brutality, and Grief
deedireads's review against another edition
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 Iâm 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 Womenâs Prize. And though it wasnât my favorite from the list, itâs 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). Sheâs a regular of the local underground dub scene (literally, they go to a place called The Crypt and itâs 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; Yamayeâs 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 âBabylon.â
I think, for me, what kept this book from going on the âloveâ 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!
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 Iâm 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 Womenâs Prize. And though it wasnât my favorite from the list, itâs 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). Sheâs a regular of the local underground dub scene (literally, they go to a place called The Crypt and itâs 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; Yamayeâs 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 âBabylon.â
I think, for me, what kept this book from going on the âloveâ 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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent