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melanie_page's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
But the challenge is in seeing what a “good life” looks like. Winter knows that drug dealers take risks to get so much money. She argues that drug dealers help the economy by purchasing luxury goods and employing “half the men in the ghetto. Nobody else gave them jobs. So why be a player hater?” Why be that person who “worked all week for change to get to work plus a beer to forget about how hard he worked”? What Winter fails to see by not thinking about a community is what can happen after work, those meaningful connections at rec centers, schools, community gardens, and hospitals. Souljah convinces Winter to go with her when she speaks to a ward of AIDs patients, and while we see the epidemic for what it was, and the people who suffered as a result, Winter does not. Sister Souljah does not write an easy book in which her main character “gets it,” but lets the reader travel in the plot with our hands over our eyes, peeking through our fingers. Because we’re “getting it” and see what a disaster Winter is headed for.
I would argue that Sister Souljah does not glorify the drug life or the people who live it. Each moment in which Winter engages with street life feels laced with danger, even as we reside in her head and she celebrates and rationalizes moments during which she doesn’t even realize she’s being degraded. A recommended read.
Check out the full review at https://grabthelapels.com/2021/04/13/the-coldest-winter-ever/
Check out the full review at https://grabthelapels.com/2021/04/13/the-coldest-winter-ever/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Murder
Minor: Drug abuse and Kidnapping
bookskatlikes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed every minute of it. What a story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Abortion
hellalibrary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Considered an urban classic, this was my first time reading The Coldest Winter Ever and, I’ve got to say, it was WILD but I really enjoyed it! It’s fast and the story of Winter Santiaga completely sucked me in.
Sister Souljah has delivered a terrific story that delves deep into greed, drugs, the prison system, rape, homelessness, abandonment, generational cycles/curses, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, teen pregnancy, and ties it all to the Black community.
Winter is the daughter of Ricky Santiaga, drug king pin of Brooklyn, and she is the SHIT. Money, clothes, cars, bling, Winter has it all and isn’t afraid to show it off. She’s self-absorbed, arrogant, greedy, and truly unlikeable. But I also kind of felt bad for her? I know, I know, but I can’t help it!
After her father is sent to jail, and her family falls apart, Winter has to learn how to survive on her own, and she does so by hustling her way through various schemes in order to become a drug queen. Guess what happens?
What I also found interesting was how Sister Souljah wrote herself into the book, the voice of reason, the conscious that we all want Winter to develop. Asking questions like, what are your values? What’s more important, money or community?
This edition I read, also included some character analyses and a discussion with Sister Souljah where she explains her reasons for writing the book.
I highly recommend this teaching novel, because behind the bling, there are some lessons buried within.
Sister Souljah has delivered a terrific story that delves deep into greed, drugs, the prison system, rape, homelessness, abandonment, generational cycles/curses, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, teen pregnancy, and ties it all to the Black community.
Winter is the daughter of Ricky Santiaga, drug king pin of Brooklyn, and she is the SHIT. Money, clothes, cars, bling, Winter has it all and isn’t afraid to show it off. She’s self-absorbed, arrogant, greedy, and truly unlikeable. But I also kind of felt bad for her? I know, I know, but I can’t help it!
After her father is sent to jail, and her family falls apart, Winter has to learn how to survive on her own, and she does so by hustling her way through various schemes in order to become a drug queen. Guess what happens?
What I also found interesting was how Sister Souljah wrote herself into the book, the voice of reason, the conscious that we all want Winter to develop. Asking questions like, what are your values? What’s more important, money or community?
This edition I read, also included some character analyses and a discussion with Sister Souljah where she explains her reasons for writing the book.
I highly recommend this teaching novel, because behind the bling, there are some lessons buried within.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, and Violence
wordsbyclaire's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Child death