leah_alexandra's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm so conflicted here because I really really wanted to love this book. The premise sets this up to be a totally fascinating read, but the writing and overall execution just falls flat. The dialogue is trite, and there is very little character development because of how quickly the book moves forward in time, skipping chunks of years in the process. Many of the minor characters and plot points feel like caricatures meant to make quite heavy-handed points about Black motherhood, which is a tremendously important conversation to have, but does it have to be so intro-level? I kind of wish the story had either leaned in harder to the magical realism aspects or taken a harder turn towards realism with a more in-depth exploration of Amara's work in the DA's office to put together a case against the Melancons. It wasn't a bad book, just not as good as I was expecting.Â
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Police brutality
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Having liked Jerkins’ previous book, Wandering In Strange Lands, I was excited to try her fictional debut and it did not disappoint! In Caul Baby, she presents us with a blend of motherhood and magic which is completely compelling. I loved that we had perspectives from a big cast of characters (although all narrated by just one narrator - who is good though!), reflecting on topics like gentrification, Black bodies being exploited by white people in medicine, and of course race and class.
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
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