briannad4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Dementia, Drug use, Rape, Sexual content, Death, Ableism, Pedophilia, Abortion, Gun violence, Homophobia, Body shaming, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: War
melissa_b_67's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Classism, Mental illness, Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Sexual content, and Police brutality
Moderate: Animal cruelty
jonilouise3'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
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, Blood, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Violence
The overall takeaway from the book was positive, however the road to get to that conclusion was riddled with layers of traumatic events. Some moments were incredibly hard for me to read through. Had I known how explicit some descriptions would be I wouldn’t have chosen to read this book, as I am a highly sensitive person.uhh_sydney's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cursing, Outing, and Rape
e1oise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Drug use, Violence, Medical content, Abortion, Misogyny, Abandonment, Sexual content, Sexism, and Child abuse
homegrownbookpicks'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
The Nix was a book that kept me turning pages, nodding my head, and wondering what would happen next.
Taking place between Samuel’s childhood - and also his mother’s teen years in the late 1960s - and present day (2011), this is the story of family, loss, misunderstanding, grief, hope, and much more. It is a story that makes spot on observations about politics and society.
Add in a character - Pwange - who is addicted to gaming (and oddly this character really works in the story) - and I was amazed by how many moving parts Nathan Hill could have in a novel.
Fair warning - lots of triggers in this book (and cursing). Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and a lot of violence that surrounded the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. I felt, though, that all of this had its place in the book and time periods.
Overall, through the characters I got a deep look at society during two very troubling times in our history.
If you’re looking for a long (600+ pages) novel with interesting characters and many plot twists - plus a history lesson - pick this one up. I’m sad this is Nathan Hill’s only novel.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
beingsimba's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed the premise of the novel and found Hill's writing to be, at times, so incredibly engaging. There were some scenes that were so witty or poignant and it was so wonderfully easy to get wrapped up in the story.
In saying that, wow, was the novel ever long and drawn out. The subplots could have easily been removed and nothing would have been lost. And for all those times I didn't feel engaged, I found the novel and characters to be quite dull. About halfway through the novel I realized I didn't care what happened to them.
Again, I understand why my thoughts may not be in the majority because The Nix felt like it was on the cusp of something spectacular; it just didn't quite make it there for me.
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
Minor: Dementia
laurenwerlinger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Difficult topics are covered with both care and brutal honesty. Every nook and cranny of each character's pathetic, awful life is exposed, and I found myself not really liking them very much, but relating to them heavily.
The way the multigenerational narrative is told is effective. Hill portrays the cycle of trauma very well.
The Nix is sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, and always spot-on with its observations about human nature.
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Rape
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
hdyer2021's review against another edition
Spoiler
the part where he masturbates and pretends that bishop is Bethany is just sickeningSpoiler
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence