Reviews

Fires in the Mirror by Anna Deavere Smith

jasallbooked's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book for my Intro to World Lit class, and I am so glad I did. It was such a good book. I didn't even know this actually happened until reading about it, then later researching it. I liked how before the monologues/interview passages started, they gave brief background on what happened and then listed events in chronological order that happened after the start of it. I liked how we were able to view it from both perspectives. It is a very thought-provoking read.

aquariusashley's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

everyotherpageorso's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

dolorsitamet's review against another edition

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3.0

*3.5

An interesting concept, the verbatim usage of interviews//performance art, not theater//perspectives, etc.//not memorable enough for me, not moving enough either, having only read it on the page

tazemu's review against another edition

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

3.75

janayagr's review against another edition

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5.0

I had no idea that this happened until I read the book. The collection presents many perspectives, which are familiar to me as being an African American with family members who hold similar thoughts about non-black people. But it was nice to see the Jewish perspective the events at hand. I could understand both sides frustration but what I think the essential issue of the two was is that they both have a history of being shunned by those outside of their groups. Yet, Jewish people were (are) more easily able to assimilate in American society because of their skin color. Black people will always be considered, more directly and openly, an outside, ostracized group, because of the melanin of their skin.

I am not ranking which group "has it the hardest" because essentially that does not matter. But I feel like beyond the car accident, that's what caused the racial tensions in Crown Heights. I loved it.

itzbraz's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

3.75

rebekah_florence's review against another edition

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5.0

I love documentary theatre and I think Deveare Smith did an incredible job of capturing the grief, tragedy, fear, and activism of this moment in history. I definitely want to continue reading her work.

wanderlustmyfriend's review against another edition

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1.0

Wasn't too impressed.

alittlebitval's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this play for my American Drama class.