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anansi_tales's review
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
oliii_24'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Hate crime, Sexism, Blood, and Car accident
missionreport's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I wish this book had focused a little more on the Nigerian Civil War, a event in history that was very new to me, but I also understand that this book told the story of the war from the lens of a girl who was growing up in the midst of its events. My only big complaint is that her mother
Otherwise, I found Chinelo Okparanta's writing style easy to follow, and the story was captivating enough to propel me through the book. For those looking to read this book, I will warn that there are several unsavory topics discussed within and I would check out the content warnings prior to reading!
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, and War
sarahrosea's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Minor: Child death
leweylibrary'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
5.0
Quotes
- "I'm looking for my mother," A small voice now came crying, distinct from all the rest, a girl's, 4 or 5 years old. Something Mama used to say: If you were looking for something, chances are you will find it in the last place you think to look. I wondered if the girl would find her mother in the graveyard. (15)
- And as for eggs, they were a thing like peace of mind, like calm, even like a smile. They were a thing we had begun to have only once in a while. (22)
- Why was it that these questions never came up at church? Why was it that people never asked any questions at church? Instead, everyone nodded, and cried "Amen" after everything father Godfrey said, and clapped, no one asking him to explain anything... I wondered what father God free would say if I can fronted him with these questions. Would he even know the answers? How much did pastors pretend to know? (81)
- Her grasp was tight, painfully even. Loosen up, I imagine saying to her, to her fingers. Loosen up. And I imagine the reply something like this: This is anger. It does as it pleases. (129)
- If you set off on a witch hunt, you will find a witch. When you find her, she will be dressed like any other person. But to you, her skin will glow and stripes of white and black. You will see her broom, and you will hear her witch cry, and you will feel the effects of her spells on you. No matter how unlike a which she is, there she will be, a witch, before your eyes. (196)
- "My point is that business is the reason for things like doctrines. Business is the reason for words like 'abomination.' bottom line is, take your abomination with a grain of salt. My sense of it is that some things are called abominations that really aren't." (232)
- I suppose it's the way we are, humans that we are. Always finding it easier to make ourselves the victim in someone else's tragedy. Though it is true, too, that sometimes it is hard to know to whom the tragedy really belongs. (320)
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pregnancy
narbine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing
Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
stellenelcielo'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? It's complicated
5.0
However, it was a difficult read.
Trigger warning for intense homophobia, religious trauma, and marital rape.
For those reasons, it was a hard to read, and at some points upsetting, especially if you (like me) are apart of the LGBTQ+ community.
Other than that, I could not recommend this enough, it is beautifully written, and it’s a valuable perception into queer life in places other than the West. It’s so easy to become engrossed in the way our own struggles and acceptances are here, that we don’t consider how they are elsewhere.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, and War
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and War
gm_vak'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and War
enbylibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death and Xenophobia