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laurenleigh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was my first time reading James Baldwin, and I was struck by his powerful, elegant style. While the story was sometimes a little hard to follow (maybe because I was listening), I still enjoyed the quality of Baldwin’s prose. The narrator was very good, and he added a new dimension, especially with the dialogue. The plot got me thinking about ancestral trauma and generational debt. So much of the hardship these characters face is directly tied to the injustices their forebears faced. The characters have their own individual flaws that come into play, sure, but how would things have turned out differently if they hadn’t inherited these traumas? If their ancestors weren’t enslaved and instead had the opportunity to earn money? And how much of their individual flaws were influenced by these ancestral traumas? What if they had the opportunity to be raised in stable, loving environments where they didn’t have to constantly worry about their safety and their well-being?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Infertility, Suicide, Violence, and Pregnancy