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almostonfire's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book is devastatingly beautiful. Gyasi so accurately captures the complicated feelings of working with animals in research and the balance of science and religion through Gifty, a PhD student struggling to come to terms with her brother's death and addiction and her mother's depression.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
merakiforest's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Medical content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, and Classism
gymjam_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Religious bigotry
emwink's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Grief
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, and Suicide attempt
thetheocean's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I thought the dynamics between characters were insightful and felt true. This did feel like an honest portrayal of family trauma and all the complexity that goes along with that. However, and maybe it's because I listened to the audiobook version, I had a hard time following all the jumps between different time periods and places and keeping track of the side characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
kdawg420's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Wonderful and profound story that hits close to home. This is the kind of book that will leave you thinking, and is by no means an easy beach read. For anyone who is grappling with the intersection between religion and science, this book will spark a lot of reflection and will probably be quite relatable. This is a book you read again every now and then. It was hard to tell whether the story was past or present at times, but not enough to be distracting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt
sujanyar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
This book is well-written. I blame myself for not researching the topics this book deals with better before reading. The super religious background being at loggerheads with her scientific field of research was probably the theme I didn’t expect. The complicated relationship between mother and daughter and as an onlooker of opioid addiction was fleshed out so well.
Overall I expected more plot, and this book is also really sad and made me feel murky and desolate after reading. The ending of the book doesn’t provide the closure you’re looking for either.
Overall I expected more plot, and this book is also really sad and made me feel murky and desolate after reading. The ending of the book doesn’t provide the closure you’re looking for either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
samw0327's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, and Grief
eloiseatthelibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Love Yaa Gyasi's writing. I enjoyed the way this book layered past and present so seemlessly. Beautiful and heart breaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism
katetiffin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
5.0
I finished this book in public so I couldn’t cry but had I been alone I likely would have. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking moments that still managed to steal a few laughs from me due to Gyasis incredible writing and wit. I loved this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, and Death