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_fallinglight_'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: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Dementia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cursing and Transphobia
jessicabobessica'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
This book really tackles some tough territory in a way that feels accessible. The issues of class and race are presented without expectation from the author that people *already know* how these things work.
I enjoyed this one.
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, and Gaslighting
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Abandonment
minimicropup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
We follow twin siblings from their childhood through to their teens, where they eventually go their separate ways and live with different racial identities. We later follow their children, unaware of much of the family history as they navigate early adulthood.
πΊπΈ Set in small town Louisiana; Los Angeles, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Washington D.C. from the 1940s to the 1980s.
ποΈ Love the narration. Felt like I was watching a movie, it was easy to stay engaged and differentiate the characters. The narration is also expressive and emotive - one of the few audiobooks I didn't need to adjust the speed on for it to sound more natural.
πΊπ Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags:
π₯Ή The writing style is so immersive and empathetic, and I was hooked into the story early on. The twins each have different personalities and are well developed as we follow them over the decades.
π The timeline jumping for the first 75% or so of the novel worked well to set the scene and provide context. It is very show, not tell, even when in-real-life horrors are unfolding.
π€ However, the last 25% was harder to follow. I sometimes got confused about what timeline we were in for the later chapters and I felt like the character development for Kennedy and Jude was lacking a bit. It almost felt like the kids we followed earlier were not the adults we follow now. It just didn't relate back to the past if that makes sense? It felt more like we were being reminded of what happened in their childhoods instead of seeing how those events impacted them now.
Mood Reading Match Up:
- Historical fiction with small town 1950s vibes up to gritty 1980s city life
- Multigenerational story showing the impact of each generation on the next ones
- Character studies exploring privilege, bias (conscious and unconscious), race, prejudice, presumptions, and identity
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Dementia, and Death of parent
elanilanella'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: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Dementia, Gaslighting, and Classism
marshmallow333'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
4.25
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse
gabrielastbr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
dnvrdnvr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Transphobia
michaelion's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Passing is a thing that happened and I'm sure there are still many, many quadroons and hexadecaroons walking around without a clue. I've always felt sympathy for the people who passed, and this book definitely gave me a new / another understanding. (I mean, who can be mad at you for wanting better for your life and your family?) To be moved so much by a book show just how good it is. That being said though I do not feel sympathy for Stella!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dementia, Murder, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment