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bookishmillennial's review
I don’t know why Grandmoan who she is, but I ain’t got to understand her. Sometimes we don’t get to understand things. People. We just got to try to be better than the things that spit us out.
This is an incredibly heavy read about generational trauma about a Black family in the south (Texas & Arkansas). The matriarch of their family is dying, and her family confronts the trauma they have put each other through. It pretty much starts off with pain, and just does not stop. It spans times from the 50s to current day, and every single family member is quietly suffering from the wounds that have been inflicted on them by others. You know the phrase “hurt people hurt people”? This book exemplifies and delivers that tenfold. 💔
I will say that it ends on a hopeful, brave note for one of the characters and her kids, as she decides they must talk to each other, and they cannot keep secrets from each other like she did with her siblings and older generations. She recognizes what kept them from healing, and she vehemently wants to break that cycle, because she wants better for her kids. She even notes that she doesn’t believe making a bad choice or harming someone makes the person who hurt her a bad person, but she just knows he is bad for her and her kids right now. That’s so gracious and compassionate of her to recognize, and more forgiving than most folks would be. It’s admirable, it’s devastating, and it’s incredibly raw.
See content warnings below and take care while reading.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
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
lfran13's review
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abortion
brunonadamas's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
opalescenttreeshark's review
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
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
carodonahue'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
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Dementia, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, and Abortion