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blissfulbrii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Sister Souljah did it! The Coldest Winter Ever was a very realistic and intriguing read. Main character Winter Santiaga got on my nerves so bad lol but I understand she was written to be naive and immature with the arrogance stemming from her lavish lifestyle from her Father’s work, ultimately being humbled by life, despite the area she lived in.
Honestly I have much RESPECT for the author Sister Souljah for including in this book edition a THOROUGH READ of discussion questions aimed for the author as she took the reader down the thought process and creative direction of the intricate decisions she made and also I thought the character analysis was very interesting. I will be reading more!
Honestly I have much RESPECT for the author Sister Souljah for including in this book edition a THOROUGH READ of discussion questions aimed for the author as she took the reader down the thought process and creative direction of the intricate decisions she made and also I thought the character analysis was very interesting. I will be reading more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
bottrill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction and Misogyny
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