Scan barcode
reading_rainbow_with_chris's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Incest, Racism, Gun Violence, Allusions to Drug Use
The family matriarch of a Black Texan family is dying. Her descendents gather at her bedside, each coming for the purpose of undoing a particular knot in the family tree, untying the intergenerational trauma that goes back to the matriarchal root.
I cannot say that this novel was for me. This is a tale of intergenerational trauma, and it does reflect the compound nature of traumatic family histories. However, the novel spun from tragedy to tragedy, and the writing about the trauma was not interesting or presented in nuanced ways. Watkins elected for a direct, blunt description of the traumatic events throughout the novel, which made it hard to keep listening. Without some kind of mediating writing choice in a novel of this nature, I think it’s very easy for audiences to shut it out and not hear the important, challenging compound issues that many families, especially Black families, face.
There is an audience for this book. And these are stories that are worth being told, worth being heard. However, I think how we tell them is important and for me, “Perish” did not succeed in striking a balance between presenting trauma and triggering readers who may share these experiences.
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Rape, and Abortion
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Dementia
nicoleisalwaysreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn’t feel that it resolved itself narratively and the shock ending felt ridiculous. It’s just hard because the story of trauma and potential healing/breaking free of generational patterns is important, but this story left me feeling hopeless
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
every. single. content. warning.arguhlincozzi's review
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Amazing but extremely painful book, even though it's all handled with care by the author. Important book.voodoolobster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Grief, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
cleches'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
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Suicide
lifewithjoce'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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy
d0505's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Bullying and Child abuse
chrisiant's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Abortion
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Terminal illness
campbelle177's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide
kaitsteak's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death and Drug abuse
Minor: Addiction and Animal cruelty