morybaby's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, and Pedophilia
mercurial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
johoha93's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Torture, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Grief, Racism, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
alireads's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Gun violence, Body horror, Cursing, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Child death, Torture, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
runlaurarun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, Torture, and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Racial slurs
faerietale_princess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Titus is a layered, complex character. He is consumed by guilt and tries to compensate for it. In doing so, he kind of loses track of what he really wants in life.
Cosby’s writing in this one is top-notch. The literary devices, themes, and structure are as layered as Titus.
You’ll see many parallels in Titus’ life, as well as vivid imagery and robust themes.
There were a couple of times where I felt adding a line or two would’ve really enhanced the story via callbacks. Sometimes some things kind of felt unimportant, but they were brought up again way later. This makes it feel a bit out of left field.
However, this only happened once or twice max in the whole novel. It did not take away from my enjoyment at all.
This is an incredibly thought-provoking book with plenty of things to discover and discuss. If I were an English professor teaching a class about literary devices, I would use this book.
If you like books that make you think, you may enjoy this.
If you like Criminal Minds, you may enjoy this.
Graphic: Gun violence, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
Minor: Racism
jhbandcats's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
I’m tired of the crazed serial killer story. If there were as many serial killers as serial killer novels, there would be a huge dip in our population. The weakest part of the story was about the fanaticism and insanity, the abuse to the victims, and the descriptions of the torture chamber.
A minor complaint: when the sheriff finds the old woman who knew of the young boy, she doesn’t say his name and he’s referred to as “the boy” thereafter. Why no name? It wouldn’t have given anything away.
Spoiler
Also, it felt like the killer was a rabbit pulled out a hat. I don’t think anyone would have figured out his identity by the end.Spoiler
The strongest parts deal with the racism embedded in the South (and indeed the whole US) and the way Black people are confronted with it every day. The topical issues of white supremacy and rabid Confederacy adherents show that the worst bits of the story are all too real, not fiction at all.
It’s a shame that Cosby is likely preaching to the choir - I can’t imagine any racist deciding to read to the end of this book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Animal death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Pedophilia, Vomit, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Chronic illness, Murder, Gore, Blood, and Mental illness
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
S.A. Cosby knows how to put words in front of each other, really painting a vivid image of this rural southern community and its conflicts. This is only enhanced by Adam Lazarre-White's incredible narration which brought each character to life. I found this book to really take its ideas and themes seriously and with the level of nuance they deserved, even if I felt some points could have been pushed farther or were fumbled. It hit more often than it missed.
I wouldn't say it's perfect? There's a question I wanted answered that didn't, there's a romantic plot line that I felt didn't really add anything, and sometimes I found the narration to be repetitive (yes there's a serial killer running around and you want to catch him, I've been reading the book I know this!). But when the book finished playing, I didn't think it detracted enough from my overall enjoyment and appreciation to give the book anything less than 5 stars. I am absolutely going to go and read the rest of S.A. Cosby's books now.
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Gore, Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Death, Torture, Child abuse, Child death, Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mass/school shootings, Classism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Addiction, Pregnancy, and Excrement
There is a brief description of an unseen character dying from HIV/AIDS in the 80's.readingtomydogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Child abuse, Gore, Blood, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Murder, Mass/school shootings, Grief, Rape, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Cursing, and Hate crime
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Chronic illness