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stablebiscuit's review against another edition
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
catieanason's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Misogyny, and Self harm
izzy_v's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, and Murder
aseriesofmegan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide
lcl_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.
This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.
Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.
I think it is important to remember that no book can be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Suicide
inirac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
lauragracel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
stephhamp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a black woman, I knew immediately that this book was written by a white woman. The thoughts and choices that Ruth made were beyond confusing. Infuriating at times. Even during the trial, Ruth's insistence to testify, seemed so out of character for any intelligent black woman to make. Why shoot yourself in the foot and admit to a lie of omission? Throughout the book, Ruth is playing a version of identity politics within herself. The belief that if she could just explain herself, she could just go home scot-free. I know Ruth is lighter skinned and the inclusion of colorism was a good touch, but she's an educated woman who went to Yale. Have you never seen a Law & Order show? You're a nurse in a hospital for 20 years, have you no idea how racial bias works and truly think you're the exception? That made no sense to me.
I did not like the fact that Picoult tried to find common ground with Turk's character. It's conflicting because while I don't think a white supremacist character should be written as sympathetic, I know in this world many people like Turk have been rehabilitated and changed, and that's a good thing. It won't erase their actions, but many people like Turk are trying to do good. It feels like by including Turk's backstory and the passages about his pain at losing his son, the reader was meant to feel sympathy. Why should I be sympathetic to him? I also did not like the big "twist" at the end when it was revealed Brit was half-black. It was meant to be this huge hypocrisy. "Oh you hate black people, but you are black." Unfortunately, many POC hats their race, and that comes out in a myriad of ways.
I think Picoult was trying to do something I hate. Trying to make a statement that we can all get along and change despite our politics. That is not true.
Kennedy was a realistic character, and I think the character probably most like the author. A grown woman who never really looked at race until she had to. Despite being a public defender. I don't think Jodi Picoult is a bad person, or a bac writer, quite the contrary. When I say I could not put this book down, I meant it. And I find this with all of her books that I've read so far. I plan to read more. I think her intentions and hopes were pure and good. But as a black intersectional feminist, the blind spots were very glaring.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Self harm
cielo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
cheaploaf's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Self harm, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Miscarriage, Slavery, and Suicide