Reviews with content warning for Racism - The List of Suspicious Things

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey, Jennie Godfrey

15 reviews

coffeekitaab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

The List of Suspicious Things is simply charming. After reading this debut, I am already looking forward to more from this author.

We are introduced to 12-year old, Miv, living in Yorkshire during a time when Thatcher is in power and the Ripper is terrorising the streets. When Miv's dad suggests they should consider moving home given the unsolved murders in the area and the increasing threat, as every teenager, Miv worries life will never be the same - she would be leaving her school, all her friends, her life and her bestest friend Sharon behind. But what if she can solve the case? If there is no risk, there would no longer be any reason to move. And so begins the List of Suspicious Things. Miv and Sharon start playing closer to attention to the prominent characters in their small close-knit Yorkshire community and they realise there is more to them than meets the eye.

Jennie Godfrey is brilliant, genius, author extraordinaire. The honesty with which the various characters and sensitive topics are explored and threaded within the plot of the book - be it, Miv, a curious, immature and sincere little girl, trying to come to terms with the unexplained despondency of her mother, her father's increasing withdrawal from her life, Mr Bashir, the new owner of the local cornershop, trying to belong in a place where people are committed to "other" him, Mrs Andrews, the kind librarian whose handsome and charming husband has won over the neighbours, but what is really going on between them behind closed doors? The narrative stays true, where possible, to the real life crimes of the Ripper, supporting character Jim Jameson is targeted for his geordie accent by the locals after the Wearside Jack tapes are discovered during the investigation.

That said, it is not the case which is the main theme in the book - it is very much this community and their personal demons that form the premise of the story - dealing with sensitivity, issues of racism, alcoholism, depression and domestic violence. The book is a very innate portrayal of the perils that face the middle-class during this time in the late 80s. Arguably, some of these issues still exist today, but the authenticity with which Jeannie Godfrey has presented Yorkshire, the culture and voice is genuinely so rich and very pleasing to read. The changing nature of the streets and disregard Miv had for her own safety, often not asking her parents for permission/informing them of her whereabouts before leaving the house, as a young teenager, brought nostalgia of a more relaxed, community driven/collaborative era but was also chilling in parts. The dialogue between the characters requires a separate level of praise, reflective, humorous and sometimes gut wrenching. This book really brought all the flavours and I definitely shed a tear at one point.

Words will fail me at just how much I enjoyed this book - I felt like I was reading a Dick King Smith, something so wonderful and alot to take away with it, but thoroughly enjoyable. I hope everyone picks it up! Highly recommend this one!

Thank you @Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest, unedited review,

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gabbyj's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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 reached under the bed for my torch, switched it on and went back to my book. In just a few pages, my mind and body quietened as the words performed their hypnosis. I knew that my favourite character, Georgina - known as George for her tomboy looks and something called 'pluck' - would not be frightened about moving or even about the Yorkshire Ripper. In fact, she would probably summon the rest of the Five to try to catch him.
What if someone caught him? I wondered, as I drifted off to sleep. What if the murders were to stop? And we could stay? Then I would never have to leave Sharon and we could be best friends always."

It's late 1979 in the town of Shipley, West Riding of Yorkshire. Focusing on the life of 11 year old Miv and her best friend Sharon, Aunty Jean, haulage manager Dad, unwell Mum and neighbours, widow Mr Bashir and son Ishtiaq, Arthur and many more. All the adults talk about is the Yorkshire Ripper, who is yet to be caught, so Miv decides she and Sharon will investigate, creating her List Of Suspicious Things.

Reminding me of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and A Terrible Kindness, this is a nostalgic and heartwarming, coming of age tale. I adored Miv, finding her way, noticing suspicious men in her life (of which there were many!) and going to school whilst worrying about bullies, lipgloss, boys and her mum's quiet retreat from family life. Full of observant writing about human behaviour, with atmospheric dialect and affectionate humour: "gossip...filtered through Aunty Jean via washing line conversations - a route far more effective than the telephone..."and "Tupperware went up and down the streets of our town faster than the traffic." It has emotional depth and includes astute social and political commentary about how working class people lived, worked and behaved at this time, including the climate of fear that existed, especially in Yorkshire. Plenty of challenging topics are covered, including domestic violence, racism, grief, mental illness, suicide, death and of course the predatory murders of women, all seen through the eyes of Miv, her friends, family and neighbours. I adored reading this debut fiction and was sad it had to finish!

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rosecott's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious sad slow-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

4.5

Such a clever story. I loved the characters, they all felt completely believable and real to me. Miv was so relatable, throwing me way back to what it was like to be 12 albeit in a much earlier decade! I also utterly adored Sharon and her beliefs in what was right.
This book made me laugh, and also broke my heart.
If you’re into true crime, then this was a fascinating look at the Yorkshire Ripper case from a completely different angle but also done in a sensitive way I feel.
Lots of dark themes explored but also somehow lighthearted and through the innocent lens of a child’s eyes.
Absolutely sobbing as I got to towards the end though.
I didn’t expect the turn of events at all.

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whatnovareads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book- wow. Heartwarming and Heartbreakingly brilliant, I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want it to end ♥️.

The novel is set in a small Yorkshire community in the 1970s where two school girls are trying to catch the Yorkshire Ripper. Whilst compiling their list of suspicious things, they discover the hidden secrets and goings on in the lives of their neighbours, teachers and parents. This is a tender coming of age story about friendship, grief and prejudices. It is told with warmth and sparks of humour that bring the characters to life, the sense of time and place is so perfectly conveyed that I think I was actually there myself.

An awesome debut by the very talented Jennie Godfrey and already looking forward to the next book.

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sam_uel_c's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-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

3.25

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janeyjacks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book was a lesson to me in a) don't go for a title simply based on reviews and b) don't go for a book just Coz you like the narrator (although that's usually a sure bet for me, and Joanne Frogatt is generally ace).
I found this book meandering and overlong, several hours in l came back and checked the blurb in case I'd mistakenly purchased a memoir rather than a novel, so light it was on plot.
Whilst l could warm to a few of the characters (Mr Bashir, Ishtiak, Helen Andrews and the old Rag and Bone man), I found Miv herself to be pretty unsympathetic. | know kids are childish and self obsessed by their very nature, but she seems especially so, and heedless of the damage her actions might cause to others.
And most of her plans are just plain stupid. She's supposed to be a bright kid yet thinks it's a good idea to go and lurk about Chapeltown putting herself in the path of mass murderer that the police can't catch...? Daft though kids are,I don't remember having any Comparable ideas at that age!
I guess there is a kind of tying up of ends in the last few chapters, but by then, I barely cared about them and just wanted the book to be over However, I realise everyone else loved this one so chacon à son goût!
TLDR: not for me!!!

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