Reviews

A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley

hexagon9067's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

clarbineds's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mwf1234's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

agirlnameddante's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

4.25

codosbankarena's review

4.0

A melancholy book on racism in the 1950's in America that still feels somewhat relevant to this day. Kelley has a good way of helping the reader tap into the intense family moments and the destruction that hatred causes. Great writing, great story.

lunaseline's review

4.0

Så ovanligt! Inte bara boken, utan det faktum att jag inte riktigt vet vad jag ska säga om den...
Ett tips på någon av de oändliga sidorna med boktips jag suttit med i sommar, någon som sa... ja, minns inte.
Det är en ovanlig berättelse, ovanligt berättad. De första sidorna är det svårt att förstå vem som är vem och vad som är vad. Vad:et, eller varför:et, kvarstår en aning även när jag väl läst ut. Men känslan är att Kelley skriver om något viktigt - eller om flera viktiga saker till och med. Och bara det faktum att det ÄR ovanligt, gör det bra i mina blasé-lästa ögon.
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dukegregory's review

4.0

4.5

Unreasonably underread. A debut with great depth and a shocking amount of hope for a developing America. Incredible use of perspective. Kelley's cast is predominantly white, and they never get off easy for their transgressions, but there are also liberals who both try to be better while still receiving critique. I finished this two days ago and have kept thinking about it but am unsure how to encapsulate my thoughts. Highly recommend.

valerie_gruber's review against another edition

challenging

4.25

brunogcarr's review against another edition

5.0

Primeiro livro de William Melvin Kelly, escrito ainda antes dos trinta anos (inveja!!).
Centrado na questão racial, é original na estrutura e narrado a várias vozes, dando a conhecer várias perspectivas da história. Ainda assim, não perde a unidade ou a coerência por um momento que seja. Cativante a ainda atual, infelizmente. Belíssimo livro.

janson's review

funny informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Early(?), or just in the thick of it, race satire. Of a kind, but rooted in lived-then-ness, with Whitehead and Beatty.