Scan barcode
amalas_bookstop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment
charris0903's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
clarkg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
walkie_check'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
caseythereader'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cerilouisereads'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, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
greatexpectations77'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
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Abandonment
I extremely do not recommend this book for anyone sensitive to stalking/assault. Parts are very hard to read.bianca_topete's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, and Police brutality
ohlhauc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
First off, it is gorgeously written. The melody and structure of the writing flows smooth until there are moments of tension or violence, whereby the writing shifts to reflect the terror and trauma. The dialogue also felt natural. I liked how the author did use first- and second-person when she was sharing the inner thoughts of the protagonist, showing how Lutie was thinking of herself in those moments.
And then the story itself is well-constructed and the build-up to the climax is a slow-burn. You can see characters and forces creeping closer to a collision, and that tension compels you to read forward. The specific moments and the underlying themes and ideas showing racism, sexism, and classism - their separate moments but also how they're an interconnected web that feeds each other into a never-ending cycle of oppression was haunting and head on. You could feel the weight on the protagonist's shoulders - as well as the other characters - and how their society, and the street they lived on, were moulding their destinies.
The ending was heartbreaking but also made the most sense even if it's probably not the one you would want.
If you care about reading great classics, you have to pick this up. I also highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in the Harlem Renaissance, stories about poverty and intersectional oppression (racism, sexism, classism), or even if you're into a story with lots of tension, twists, and brutal hard facts.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Grief