chipmunck's review
5.0
Great book. Easy read. Enjoyable.
This was a great book. I enjoyed reading it to get an understanding of Malcolms earlier years. I recommend this book for others to read.
This was a great book. I enjoyed reading it to get an understanding of Malcolms earlier years. I recommend this book for others to read.
absurtiddy's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- 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
2.75
shyleek's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It was a little slow for me and written a bit juvenile but not a horrible read. I think it can be confusing when a book is written and feels nonfiction but aspects of it are fiction. I got all the way to end for it to say it was mostly true but certain characters etc were added or changed. America has a hard enough time keeping its history straight without people blurring the lines.
marymanor's review against another edition
3.0
I will definitely recommend this to my 10th graders for independent reading.
raechsreads's review against another edition
3.0
X: A Novel was alright. Malcolm was portrayed as a young man who made bad choices and had to live with the consequences. It made me think of Malcolm X in a new light, through his time pre-activism.
robhughes's review against another edition
4.0
Malcolm X as a boy was always going to be an interesting proposition but I enjoyed this book. It shows wisdom doesn't come easy, neither does a sense of place or identity or purpose, and it's an interesting dynamic that it's written by one of his daughters.
In the end, it's like dipping your toes into his world and if the intention was to have readers wanting to find out more about what happened to Malcolm X after he left prison then I think this can be called a success.
In the end, it's like dipping your toes into his world and if the intention was to have readers wanting to find out more about what happened to Malcolm X after he left prison then I think this can be called a success.
kenoppi's review against another edition
5.0
** 4.5 stars
I'm part of a book group at school, and this was one of the novels we read. The discussion about it was probably last month, or earlier than that; I wasn't able to get around to reading it at the time, so I decided to catch up. And I'm very, very glad I did.
The opening scene to this novel was pulled taut with tension and I was impressed by the gripping quality of the writing, but I don't think this book is the sort that completely sucks you in from the very first page, since the alternating timelines are kind of distracting. Most of the members in my book group found the time-jumping annoying, but I was surprised by how much I was actually okay it. I think it worked well. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that we don't know what happens to some of the characters who were instrumental in the protagonist's development at the very end, but I can understand why the author(s) chose to leave them out. The ending of this novel, after all, isn't an ending. Not really. It's more of a beginning, of sorts.
And writing style just seemed—familiar. It spoke to me. This might be a fictionalized account of Malcolm X's life, but a considerable amount of truth does ring in it. This book holds a powerful message that not many other books offer. And not just one message, either. It was powerful message upon powerful message upon powerful message. A great read, overall. Highly recommended.
I'm part of a book group at school, and this was one of the novels we read. The discussion about it was probably last month, or earlier than that; I wasn't able to get around to reading it at the time, so I decided to catch up. And I'm very, very glad I did.
The opening scene to this novel was pulled taut with tension and I was impressed by the gripping quality of the writing, but I don't think this book is the sort that completely sucks you in from the very first page, since the alternating timelines are kind of distracting. Most of the members in my book group found the time-jumping annoying, but I was surprised by how much I was actually okay it. I think it worked well. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact that we don't know what happens to some of the characters who were instrumental in the protagonist's development at the very end, but I can understand why the author(s) chose to leave them out. The ending of this novel, after all, isn't an ending. Not really. It's more of a beginning, of sorts.
And writing style just seemed—familiar. It spoke to me. This might be a fictionalized account of Malcolm X's life, but a considerable amount of truth does ring in it. This book holds a powerful message that not many other books offer. And not just one message, either. It was powerful message upon powerful message upon powerful message. A great read, overall. Highly recommended.
sh3v's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0