_anzilakhan's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
The only reason why I bought this book was because it was my set book for school and the only reason why I never dnf it was because of school so yeah…
The only reason why I bought this book was because it was my set book for school and the only reason why I never dnf it was because of school so yeah…
cray0312's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
2.75
jzapattack's review against another edition
This was difficult to read, for multiple reasons. An impactful novel, but not an enjoyable one.
rldbny's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
3.75
bookerbride's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting concept, important topic, sad premise, didn't enjoy the tone of the book (victim-blaming).
A glossary would have been helpful.
A glossary would have been helpful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Murder, Violence, and Racism
sinem015's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
jupthisisjules's review against another edition
3.0
We had to read this for school and at first I was really excited because it sounded like an interesting story. But the book is so hard to concentrate on. It‘s full with metaphors and unnecessary descriptions of things that don‘t help the plot. The storyline itself was fascinating but the style was definitely not my cup of tea (or the one of any of my classmates).
embug's review against another edition
4.0
Okay. Here we go.
I adore the idea of this book. The justification of a murder by the mother, explaining what Apartheid has done to her son? Sign me up.
The adaptation is a solid 2 stars, if that.
First of all, this book was not about the son. That was absolutely falsely advertised. I probably would have liked it more had the back said something like, 'The mother of a murderer explains what Apartheid has done to the people around her through her own story' or something, but she didn't do any justifying. Her son was barely in this book. Which is fine, but then don't tell me it's about him.
Second of all, holy crap, had I not had to read this book for a class I'm taking, I would have DNF'd it. It was:
-slow-paced
-massively overwritten
and
-crying for an editor.
Why were there so many characters? Why was one side-plot eighteen pages long and another was mentioned on the side? Why, why, why?
I'm sorry, but if someone uses a whole paragraph to describe one's knees, I'm done.
Something that makes me sad is that for many in my class, this will the only connection with Apartheid that they make in their life, and the memory of it is boring. (That is not an assumption, I've had several people complain about it to me.)
Why the four-star rating? Because it had a good message, and I like the concept as well as the ending. I don't really know, it's probably closer to three stars if I think about it.
I adore the idea of this book. The justification of a murder by the mother, explaining what Apartheid has done to her son? Sign me up.
The adaptation is a solid 2 stars, if that.
First of all, this book was not about the son. That was absolutely falsely advertised. I probably would have liked it more had the back said something like, 'The mother of a murderer explains what Apartheid has done to the people around her through her own story' or something, but she didn't do any justifying. Her son was barely in this book. Which is fine, but then don't tell me it's about him.
Second of all, holy crap, had I not had to read this book for a class I'm taking, I would have DNF'd it. It was:
-slow-paced
-massively overwritten
and
-crying for an editor.
Why were there so many characters? Why was one side-plot eighteen pages long and another was mentioned on the side? Why, why, why?
I'm sorry, but if someone uses a whole paragraph to describe one's knees, I'm done.
Something that makes me sad is that for many in my class, this will the only connection with Apartheid that they make in their life, and the memory of it is boring. (That is not an assumption, I've had several people complain about it to me.)
Why the four-star rating? Because it had a good message, and I like the concept as well as the ending. I don't really know, it's probably closer to three stars if I think about it.