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lanamae's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Mental illness, Racism, and Police brutality
Moderate: Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, Suicide, Violence, and Death of parent
luckyonesoph's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
0.25
I realize that this book is a masterful portrayal of how violent the criminal justice system was towards Black men in America, but Baldwin's blatant misogyny completely ruined it for me. I have zero patience for a book that sympathizes with a rapist, or for an author that so deeply and so obviously sees women as subhuman. The part where Tish's mom travels to Puerto Rico to harass a woman who was a victim of both rape *and* the United States' immigration policy into returning to the US to recant her testimony is unfathomably cruel, and just one of many scenes where violence against women and rape are treated not as hate crimes or injustices, but as acceptable facts of life. Baldwin is a brilliant writer, but there is no redeeming this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Mental illness and Police brutality
Minor: Suicide