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jayisreading's review
3.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism and Slavery
greenan26's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Racism, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Violence
oddreads_nicolestins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
-Indians Can't Fly
-7678B Chris Hani Road
-Jesus Owes Me Money
-The Caretaker
This book definitely made me want to read more #ownstories about the effects of Apartheid and how it affected South African communities as well as how it is still affecting them today.
Overall I feel like this collection of stories is an advanced character study of society during Apartheid in Soweto and South Africa. I describe it as "advanced" because having never read anything on this topic before, there was so much of the language and phraseology that I had a hard time understanding. This doesn't mean it couldn't be understood, of course, but as an entry to the topic and conversation around Apartheid I felt like this was inaccessible for me (this is very much a "me" problem). I need to keep up! 📚
Recommendations for the best reading experience:
- Listen to this book (as an audiobook)! I think that's what I missed out on the most, inflection and tone. If I had been able to hear many of the words/phrases spoken in the original language, I'd at least be able to infer what they were saying and the emotions behind it.
- Read other #ownstories about Apartheid and it's effects before this one. Now if you feel comfortable with the language or history this doesn't apply! But if you're like me and this would be your first foray into the topic/history, do a bit of prep/research beforehand.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Rape, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail