katymvt's review against another edition
challenging
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
2.25
elingunnar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
carrix2's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting story of two girls who room together at college in the 1970s, one white and one black. While it peripherally touches on race, it is not actually the focus of the book. The black girl, Minette, is standoffish and progressively more odd. She does not want or try to make any connection to anyone, including her roommate. The white girl, Generva (Genna), comes from a wealthy family and emotionally unavailable parents. All she wants is to be accepted, especially by her roommate, and for no one to find out she is the descendant of the college's founder.
The book is written as Genna's memoir, documenting the tumultuous year leading up to her nineteeth birthday.
The book is written as Genna's memoir, documenting the tumultuous year leading up to her nineteeth birthday.
ventellina's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.5
amethyst_hearts_books's review against another edition
1.0
I want to meet J C Oates so I can look her in the eye and say "what the hell?"
Why did she make Minette so unlikable?
Why did she make Genna so unlikable?
Why did she make it seem like Minette's death had an interesting reason?
Why did she make it seem like Minette was actually faking her "harassment"?
What the hell was the point to this book? It was so incredibly unsatisfying. I read all the way to the end because someone recommended it to me, and I was just... disappointed.
Why did she make Minette so unlikable?
Why did she make Genna so unlikable?
Why did she make it seem like Minette's death had an interesting reason?
Why did she make it seem like Minette was actually faking her "harassment"?
What the hell was the point to this book? It was so incredibly unsatisfying. I read all the way to the end because someone recommended it to me, and I was just... disappointed.
fedytsubasa's review against another edition
1.0
Boring... I kept on reading it just to now how the girl died, like " I wonder what will happen!" and then that!! -.-"""
accioanna's review against another edition
3.0
Genna Meade är den vita flickan och Minette Swift är den svarta flickan. Tillsammans delar de rum på Schuylers college. Genna Meade blev intresserad av Minette Swift redan första gången hon såg henne på skolans öppet hus - hon gör allt för att vara vän med Minette och förstå sig på henne. Genna är den enda Minette har på colleget. Genna är den enda som förstår hur svårt Minette har det. De är nästintill systrar. Eller? För Minette är totalt ointresserad av Genna. Hon är otrevlig, nonchalant och illa omtyckt av alla på Schuyler. Och hennes mående tycks bli allt sämre och sämre. Ett antal rasistiska attacker riktas mot Minette men ingen vet vem som står bakom dem. Jag tyckte att berättelsen om Genna och Minette var väldigt intressant. Genna är så jobbig, naiv, irriterande know-it-all med white savior komplex. Och Minette är otroligt unlikeable. Alla karaktärer är det. Men hela Gennas konstiga bild av Minette är intressant att läsa om. Suckade högt flera gånger. Historien om Gennas far var inte lika intressant. Lite rörigt blev det ibland.
maureenmcc's review against another edition
3.0
Drew me in, getting deeper and deeper into the characters and their themes of loneliness, separation and redemption
dam3md's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
This book starts off fairly straightforward, but the suspense and tension build as you learn more about Genna's horrific home life and the racist incidents plaguing Minette increase in frequency and severity.
By the end, there are more questions than answers and none of what the narrator writes or herself can be believed fully.
Overall, a really interesting inspection of white guilt, white savior mentality, and the lingering racial tensions that continue to plague social and interpersonal relationships today.
By the end, there are more questions than answers and none of what the narrator writes or herself can be believed fully.
Overall, a really interesting inspection of white guilt, white savior mentality, and the lingering racial tensions that continue to plague social and interpersonal relationships today.
lisagray68's review against another edition
2.0
Yawn. If you've ever read a book on black/white racial relations in America, you've read it. Nothing new here, move along. Joyce Carol Oates is her wonderful self, pick another of her books though. I recommend "We were the Mulvaneys".