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averyarden's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual content
mladd28's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
booksnooksandcooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beautifully written and the magical realism is both transformative and also bone-chilling. I struggled a bit with the characters and development, but Ward presents the family in such a heart breaking way that the reader weeps alongside them.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to read magical realism.
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Abandonment, and Alcohol
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Abortion, and Abandonment
mallowdrama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Slavery
caleighrosebud's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, and Vomit
Moderate: Addiction, Slavery, and Police brutality
katreads2022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Slavery
taratearex's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Reread 2024: Wow, it's taken me a while to reread this, in the meantime I've read all of her other books. I remembered very little once I actually started reading this again. I also did the audiobook along with my physical copy. The audiobook was really good, loved the voice actors- I looked them up and I don't think they've done other books or I'd seek out more from them. I will say that even though the audiobook was really well read, I think I personally enjoyed reading the physical book more just based on the prose, I think it just works better for me to sink into the writing that way. A beautiful, haunting, and heartbreaking story, don't pick up a Jesmyn Ward book unless you are ready for it to break you apart, but it's so worth it. Her characters always feel so painfully real that I think about them long after closing the book. Also, note the content warnings, this book is very graphic, particularly with the deaths that occur.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
ekmook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent
robinbobbin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder