ellaxiao's review
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
siobhanward'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: Miscarriage, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Moderate: Car accident, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Death of parent, Death, and Suicide attempt
blackwalnutbooks's review
- 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
Graphic: Rape, Death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Grief
niahhhh's review
- 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
Graphic: Death and Sexual assault
headinthepages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved the characters and the way their stories intertwined. I loved their complex relationships with each other and themselves, and the secondary characters were brilliant.
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Drug use, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Miscarriage, Vomit, Sexual content, and Suicide
wahitonyaga's review
- 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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Rape, Grief, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Sexual violence
m_storky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Cursing, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders
ecn'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Grief
themillennialjareads's review
- 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
Imagine being mothered by an ethereal being from another realm who chose to create roots on earth regardless of the consequences of a life she wasn't supposed to have. Kambirinachi's character pulled me in, tugging at vague memories of the Bhagavad Gita, the first time I remember asking questions of what is and what happens to the soul, spirit, body and mind. As someone who's fascinated by cultures and religions, of course those were the first places I went in my questioning.
This story reminded of the impermanence and fragility of humanity and how much we don't know. How much we can barely imagine but believe in.
Is any of *THIS* really determined by us? What comes after? Should we fear or welcome it?
I was fascinated by how Kambirinachi spoke of the body as a cage, with so many inhibitions and that's outside of the things (like size, expectations, shame, fear, crimes, desires...) that we as humans attach to and impose on bodies. Almost every religion has different ideas about what happens and what should happen to the body after life. Which parts of ourselves go with it and which parts survive? Which parts are our true essence? Is it our soul or our mind or our spirit? Or are they all one and the same?
"Death is not, in fact, a dreary, hooded, scythe-bearing bore. She is a doorway personified, vibrant and hilarious, quite whimsical, actually. But she takes her job very seriously, more diligently than the tides that pulls back the ocean's skirts."
I can see why this novel is loved. This author expresses herself so phenomenally, it's impossible not to pause while reading to better take in what's being said. I'm still not over it, I need to read more from her. It's definitely a favorite of the year, it's a perfect combination of some of my favourite things.
Many beings, melodies and voices guided this family across continents and to the very end. Taiye's adventures and pleasures were absolutely delicious and my heart broke for both her and Kehinde. What's the point of being a twin without the full experience? The parallel experiences gave me what I wanted, they were unstoppable, pushing through all the trauma and resistance. I found myself wanting to get to Kehinde's chapters faster, maybe it's the first person narrative that made it so alluring and seem so much more personal or maybe because she was the one with more vivid, somewhat reliable memories. Taiye struggled with suppressed and repressed memories and we see the fracture that aided in expanding. Even inherited traits and gifts moved through the family without each line knowing because of the disconnect and silence. But despite everything, the ending met us beautifully and there was nothing else but a feeling of peace for the characters. I almost forget they are not real.
I can't possibly fit everything I need to say here. If you're late to the party like me go read this book for the new year, it's a gift
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death, Pedophilia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Abandonment
thesapphiccelticbookworm'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
4.25
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism and Miscarriage
Minor: Colonisation