susannekaluza's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
cygnetbabe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Violence, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence
oliviaeld's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gloconno's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
shit!!! fuck!!! ow!!!
thinking about the nyt reviewer who said that Xuela sees herself as a symbol, is too unrelenting in her cold vision of the world and her domination, that it doesn’t feel real because there is no texture of life in its pages. I think in a lot of ways that is an accurate description of the prose, but doesn’t work as a value judgment imo. I think a lot of what made it so hard and new and real was bc that is how xuela lives her incredibly alienated life, increasingly so as the book progresses, and what makes it so hard and devastating to read. but also real, bc what does it mean to try to reckon with the forces of history and genealogy and positionality so unrelentingly, to ask and see what our lives mean and what it means that they feel the way that they do. i’m still not sure what to do with it all, this book offers literally no way out besides just like, accepting death and hoping we make peace with it all?? but it doesn’t even push us to accept it bc it really just reminds you that it’s happening anyway, and that there is no escaping loneliness until then anyway
thinking about the nyt reviewer who said that Xuela sees herself as a symbol, is too unrelenting in her cold vision of the world and her domination, that it doesn’t feel real because there is no texture of life in its pages. I think in a lot of ways that is an accurate description of the prose, but doesn’t work as a value judgment imo. I think a lot of what made it so hard and new and real was bc that is how xuela lives her incredibly alienated life, increasingly so as the book progresses, and what makes it so hard and devastating to read. but also real, bc what does it mean to try to reckon with the forces of history and genealogy and positionality so unrelentingly, to ask and see what our lives mean and what it means that they feel the way that they do. i’m still not sure what to do with it all, this book offers literally no way out besides just like, accepting death and hoping we make peace with it all?? but it doesn’t even push us to accept it bc it really just reminds you that it’s happening anyway, and that there is no escaping loneliness until then anyway
mayatorres's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
dearbookshelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? No
4.5
What really stood out to me with this story is the writing. Kincaid states events in an almost matter-of-fact way but then is able to really hammer home those emotions through the repetition of phrases. This was particularly impactful in the audiobook. I appreciate and found interesting the themes of colonialism and how it directly impacts the individual rather than simply focusing on the big picture. I'm certain I've come across Kincaid in high school and I absolutely want to pick up more of her work. Definitely an unexpected favorite this year.
yanulya's review against another edition
2.0
This was a hard one to rate. I had loved one of the early anecdotes in this book, when I'd heard Jamaica tell it on a radio show. But as another reviewer put it so succinctly, much of the rest of this book was to be endured rather than enjoyed. Ultimately I give it a 2.5 -- a 3 for sharing new perspectives and occasional bad-assedness, a 2 for repetitiveness and my actual experience reading it.