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caseyjnovak's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
The characters are incredibly vivid, but the last two paragraphs kept it from rating higher for me. So many topics, so much trauma, so well intertwined. I enjoyed the format, though I did have to go back a few times to verify the different timelines. Will definitely look for more by this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Racism, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
knitswhilereading's review
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence
polkadots_pints's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
It has been an incredibly long time since I’ve read a story so beautifully crafted and that moved me so much. I confess, I don’t always get through the acknowledgments section at the back of the book, but the way Stringfellow writes not only had me reading the whole thing with ease, but also made me cry. Thank you to the author for exposing me and educating me on a world and experiences that is so real for many, and so different from my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and War
sofxaim's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. It was easy to get invested into the story and its characters. I saw a little bit of my family in the generational patterns seen in this story.
I think the jumping back and forth between years made it just a tad hard to follow along with the story, but at the same time I appreciated the flashbacks and the present as well. Like some of the other reviews said, I wish it was longer and that we could have seen a little bit more of My.
I think the jumping back and forth between years made it just a tad hard to follow along with the story, but at the same time I appreciated the flashbacks and the present as well. Like some of the other reviews said, I wish it was longer and that we could have seen a little bit more of My.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Grief, and War
ada_elisabeth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.75
This was an okay book. I finished it about a week ago and just didn't have time to review it, so I'll keep this kind of short.
I liked the storyline and the plot and it was a relatively easy/light read, but I often found myself getting lost in the many perspectives. Each chapter was told by a different member of the North family, through various decades from the 1940s to the early 2000s. While I really liked this style of narration, there was no sense of chronology or consistency to when each character narrated a section, making it easy to get confused. I also found that the flashbacks to the forties or sixties felt out of place and very slow when stuck between two chapters about 2001, which they often were. I understand the point of using flashbacks here, but I'm not sure if it was the best idea to keep the reader engaged.
The story itself was sad, but not overly so, which meant that it didn't really fit the ✨sad book summer✨ vibe, but that's okay. Overall I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite book ever, so 4/5 stars.
(Sorry for the super apathetic review, I wasn't feeling it today for some reason.)
“The things women do for the sake of their daughters. The things women don’t. The shame of it all."
I liked the storyline and the plot and it was a relatively easy/light read, but I often found myself getting lost in the many perspectives. Each chapter was told by a different member of the North family, through various decades from the 1940s to the early 2000s. While I really liked this style of narration, there was no sense of chronology or consistency to when each character narrated a section, making it easy to get confused. I also found that the flashbacks to the forties or sixties felt out of place and very slow when stuck between two chapters about 2001, which they often were. I understand the point of using flashbacks here, but I'm not sure if it was the best idea to keep the reader engaged.
The story itself was sad, but not overly so, which meant that it didn't really fit the ✨sad book summer✨ vibe, but that's okay. Overall I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite book ever, so 4/5 stars.
(Sorry for the super apathetic review, I wasn't feeling it today for some reason.)
“The things women do for the sake of their daughters. The things women don’t. The shame of it all."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Rape
atalea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, and Pregnancy
jazful's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The book "Memphis" tells an entertaining story with female characters who are likeable. Particularly impressive is the author's ability to describe the atmosphere of the South in the USA in different decades authentically and realistically. The detailed descriptions allow the reader to vividly imagine the scenery.
The plot deals with important and relevant topics such as the history of Black families in the South of the USA, segregation, police violence, racism, Black Liberation, family tragedies & crime in Memphis. But also Black love, hope, female empowerment, strength and the power of sibling love. The book is written from the perspective of women, which gives it a special importance.
But there are also a few points of criticism. Joan, who narrates in the first person, is supposed to be only 10 years old in the first few chapters, but seems far too mature and grown-up for her age. In addition, the time jumps from chapter to chapter are sometimes far too confusing.
Another important point is the lack of trigger warning. A sexual assault on a child is discussed on the very first pages. Other serious topics such as murder, loss, rape, domestic violence and racist slurs also appear, which can be very distressing for those affected.
One serious point of criticism is the author's unprofessional and childish behaviour in dealing with important reader feedback. Readers who raised critical points were dismissed by her (on Instagram) and sometimes even told that they had not understood the book. For example, almost all the male characters in the book were portrayed problematically. The author did not accept the discussion and vehemently disagreed that these characters were lovable.
It is very important to have an exchange and a critical discussion (not even really with the author, but among the readers), especially in a work that deals with so many complex and sensitive issues. I don't think I'll read another book by her if she writes another one.
It is very important to have an exchange and a critical discussion (not even really with the author, but among the readers), especially in a work that deals with so many complex and sensitive issues. I don't think I'll read another book by her if she writes another one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: War
Minor: Slavery, Blood, and Medical content
sandysmith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
3.5
It's an interesting intergenerational story of a family of black women spanning historical moments in US black history. Going from the 1940s to the 2000s, and told from 4 points of view. Beautifully written but at times confusing as sometimes it was difficult to know which person was narrating, as all timelines used the same terminology eg mother daughter sister. Hazel having the perfect black love and living through segregation, her daughters August and Miriam in the Dr King and Malcolm X era, and their children Derek, Joan, and Mia. Mia is the only woman's voice not heard, which is a shame. Loads of trigger warnings include racism, rape, domestic violence, gang warfare, gun violence, police brutality, to name a few. So it's more of a 3.75 stars, so I settled on a 4. A debut worth reading, beautiful if a tad confusing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Pregnancy
paris_nicole's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
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
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. Is it written in multiple POVs (all females from three generations of the same family), in multiple timelines. The book addresses inter-familial trauma, while simultaneously acknowledging the racial history of this country and the atrocities faced by Black people. The story also celebrates the beauty of the Black community, specifically Black women, and their ability to hold the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Police brutality, and Murder
janetsuzanne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, and Violence