thegel's review
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
beverleefernandez's review
4.0
Angst.
Melancholy.
Yearning.
Cleanse.
If I was to limit my impression of Soul Kiss to 4 words, this would be it. Shay Youngblood does an excellent job capturing the many emotions that Mariah experiences in a snapshot of her life from age 7-18. This isn't the typical coming of age story where a character moves from innocence to some sort of temptation, a brief moment of being on top of the world to a precipitous downfall, perhaps an awakening of sorts followed by redemption and restoration of good feelings. In Soul Kiss, Youngblood first presents Mariah and Coral as an unorthodox mother-daughter duo. They share a love of words and a deep bond. There's a crack in their seemingly solid wall that serves as a protection against the world and it is blown apart with a single act. Coral's decision to move Mariah with her great aunts is devastating to Mariah but it's an act of love that is realized in the end.
My only real criticism of Soul Kiss is some of the characters seem less developed, though they are central to the story. It's not really explained what happened between Coral and Gert and I think knowing why may explain a little better why Coral behaves the way she is portrayed. Based on how she was in the beginning compared to the end, her behavior is beyond erratic. I wish Aunt Merleen and Aunt Faith were a little bit more prominent in the story line because they are important to Mariah, but there's no details given about Aunt Merleen, a woman who drank scotch, drove a car, and had some degree of wealth in the 1960s South. This is not unheard of or unbelievable, I just think she could have had an amazing backstory.
My favorite thing about Soul Kiss is the writing. Youngblood, like Mariah, has a way with words that is a gift to any reader. Youngblood also inserts commentary on several issues such as respectability politics/classism, feminism, drug abuse, sexual assault, and lesbianism. Some important lines-
"there was a swing in our backyard where Mama spent several hours pushing me into the sky. Sometimes I sang songs into the wind, catching a piece of cloud in my throat and swallowing them for safekeeping" (6)
"I am beginning to see that nothing lasts long, not even hope" (30)
"I ain't no n** and I don't want to be stomped to death under some white man's boot who's calling me one. There is a charge in the air that is beginning to smell like the start of a fire that will burn out of control" (95)
"Be a lady...bedtime prayers...learn your lessons well" (102, 113).
"Music is a train for me and I ride, hanging on to the rhythms as if their grace will carry me along" (180).
"My thirst is endless, the well has no bottom, but there is love around me, I'm sure of it now" (207).
Melancholy.
Yearning.
Cleanse.
If I was to limit my impression of Soul Kiss to 4 words, this would be it. Shay Youngblood does an excellent job capturing the many emotions that Mariah experiences in a snapshot of her life from age 7-18. This isn't the typical coming of age story where a character moves from innocence to some sort of temptation, a brief moment of being on top of the world to a precipitous downfall, perhaps an awakening of sorts followed by redemption and restoration of good feelings. In Soul Kiss, Youngblood first presents Mariah and Coral as an unorthodox mother-daughter duo. They share a love of words and a deep bond. There's a crack in their seemingly solid wall that serves as a protection against the world and it is blown apart with a single act. Coral's decision to move Mariah with her great aunts is devastating to Mariah but it's an act of love that is realized in the end.
My only real criticism of Soul Kiss is some of the characters seem less developed, though they are central to the story. It's not really explained what happened between Coral and Gert and I think knowing why may explain a little better why Coral behaves the way she is portrayed. Based on how she was in the beginning compared to the end, her behavior is beyond erratic. I wish Aunt Merleen and Aunt Faith were a little bit more prominent in the story line because they are important to Mariah, but there's no details given about Aunt Merleen, a woman who drank scotch, drove a car, and had some degree of wealth in the 1960s South. This is not unheard of or unbelievable, I just think she could have had an amazing backstory.
My favorite thing about Soul Kiss is the writing. Youngblood, like Mariah, has a way with words that is a gift to any reader. Youngblood also inserts commentary on several issues such as respectability politics/classism, feminism, drug abuse, sexual assault, and lesbianism. Some important lines-
"there was a swing in our backyard where Mama spent several hours pushing me into the sky. Sometimes I sang songs into the wind, catching a piece of cloud in my throat and swallowing them for safekeeping" (6)
"I am beginning to see that nothing lasts long, not even hope" (30)
"I ain't no n** and I don't want to be stomped to death under some white man's boot who's calling me one. There is a charge in the air that is beginning to smell like the start of a fire that will burn out of control" (95)
"Be a lady...bedtime prayers...learn your lessons well" (102, 113).
"Music is a train for me and I ride, hanging on to the rhythms as if their grace will carry me along" (180).
"My thirst is endless, the well has no bottom, but there is love around me, I'm sure of it now" (207).
jenah's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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