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fuguballoon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I finished this book, but I wouldn't recommend it.
It is technically a novel, but it's actually a thinly veiled memoir. (Family members of one of the "fictional" characters have spoken publicly about this.) The book's plot is bloated with unnecessary material that, I would imagine, felt essential to the author because it happened in real life. Unfortunately, it makes for both boring reading and a main character who is completely blind to his flaws (again, because he is the author). The prose does not redeem the book. There are passages so bad, especially the author's descriptions of women, that it's hard to believe an editor actually read them.
The biggest issue I had, beyond the bad writing in what really feels like a narcissistic ode to self, was the white savior-ness of it all. The author congratulates the main character over and over for living in a ~slum~ while simultaneously looking down on the people and way of life there, all while literally "saving" them as the local doctor. It makes for rough reading.
It is technically a novel, but it's actually a thinly veiled memoir. (Family members of one of the "fictional" characters have spoken publicly about this.) The book's plot is bloated with unnecessary material that, I would imagine, felt essential to the author because it happened in real life. Unfortunately, it makes for both boring reading and a main character who is completely blind to his flaws (again, because he is the author). The prose does not redeem the book. There are passages so bad, especially the author's descriptions of women, that it's hard to believe an editor actually read them.
The biggest issue I had, beyond the bad writing in what really feels like a narcissistic ode to self, was the white savior-ness of it all. The author congratulates the main character over and over for living in a ~slum~ while simultaneously looking down on the people and way of life there, all while literally "saving" them as the local doctor. It makes for rough reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism
kayfab's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
zormal815's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I just felt like the narrator was a bit on a high horse about being connected to everyone in this culture that wasn’t his own. I guess it felt a bit too white savior? The story was ok but representation in this book was just off.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Cultural appropriation