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bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Abortion, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Terminal illness, and Kidnapping
etinney's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Classism
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual assault
Minor: Racism
joensign's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity and Abortion
aileron's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
tree_branch's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Kidnapping, Abortion, and Pregnancy
libraryofemerson'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Classism
Minor: Abortion
claire_reardon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rating is TBD 📚
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, and Classism
carriepond's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
This is not a plot-driven novel, so if that is something that is important to you, look elsewhere. I, however, love a good character-driven novel where the main thing that is happening is the internal monologue of the characters, and although this is my first time reading Brandon Taylor, I understand that this is a common thread in his works.
There are many things this novel does incredibly, the greatest of which is the depth of characters that Taylor creates. I loved sweet Fyodor and Bea, and ended up feeling very invested in Seamus, who I had immediately pegged as an asshole. And at the very end, Taylor gives us more about Daw, who just made my heart break a little more. And the writing was beautiful-- there are so many sentences and passages that I've underlined because they resonated with me or moved me. I will admit, though, that, despite the well-drawn characters and beautiful writing, something about this felt a little too disjointed, making it hard to completely lose myself in it.
Full of ruminations on class, race, sexuality, academia, art, passion, and love, Brandon Taylor's The Late Americans is arresting and beautiful despite feeling stretched thin at times. It makes me excited to check out his backlist, and I recommend that readers of character-driven literary fiction check this one out when it comes out on May 23.
*I received an advanced review copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to the publisher for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death and Abortion