Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

35 reviews

snarkycrafter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

Absolutely devastating. Emotional, jarring, and beautifully written. 

This book was sad and dark. It explores the divide between the rich and poor as well as the situations you find yourself in when you feel helpless. All this with the backdrop of political corruption and intimidation in Nigeria. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

dvy's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Suicide

rchulin1's review against another edition

sad fast-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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

suzieel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

rhibeetle17's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Kidnapping

Minor: Murder

deedireads's review

dark sad tense slow-paced

• 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? No

4.0

All my reviews live at https://deedireads.com/.

A Spell of Good Things was longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize. After reading it, I can see why — it’s right up the Booker’s alley (at least as far as longlisters go). Unfortunately, I personally didn’t really jive with this book.

I definitely understand and respect what the book was doing, which was to show us how class and gender had/have a big impact on the experience of Nigerians and yet ultimately everyone is subject to the devastating impact of a culture of corruption and violence. It absolutely does what it sets out to do, and very effectively.

I just didn’t have a ton of fun getting there, lol. I spent the whole book waiting for something that didn’t happen until the very end, which made me feel frustrated and bored. So just know going in that you’re starting a slow-paced book where the action doesn’t pick up until right about the end. It’s also not an easy read at all (check trigger warnings!).

I’m glad I listened to the audiobook while I read along in print. I’m not sure my ear, untrained in the Yoruba language, would have been able to follow the audiobook alone (at least not anywhere near my usual listening speed), but I always appreciate the chance to hear languages and names and accents presented by a skilled narrator.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Murder

Minor: Suicide

ysabear's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

I read this for book club. It's not something I would have chosen for myself but the politics, filial hierarchy and socioeconomic commentary in this book felt so familiar to me as someone from a developing Southeast Asian country. This is almost a slice-of-life about a wealthy doctor and an impoverished boy whose lives sometimes intertwine because they interact with the same people. The quality of the writing is top-notch but be warned--this book is heartbreakingly sad.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Kidnapping

junglejelly's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a beautifully written book with such interesting characters.

While I did mostly enjoy the book, I did find the middle too slow in pace, and the parents' perspectives too jarring. The slow pace and different perspectives affected the flow of the book.

The ending is so haunting and left me

devestated with the family deaths and the unhopeful feeling it leaves you with

.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

oz2021's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

balladofreadingqueer's review against another edition

emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I liked this book a lot. It follows Eniola and Wurola- one poor boy whose family struggles after his dad loses his job, and one young doctor from a wealthy well-respected family. It reads like a slice of life-both covering family and education but one with more struggle. Both people have their own struggles with violent men and how it negatively impacts their lives and their family.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Minor: Kidnapping and Murder