zosiablue's review
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Grief, Rape, and Pregnancy
vistacanas's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Karma is more like a suitcase. You have to be unafraid to open it up and look at what's inside, to unpack the things you do not need. Karma is the climate of the past which shapes how much leeway we have in the future.
Well, this was a wonderful multi-generational ride and an excellent introduction to the concept of epigenetics. It’s a combo of historical and futuristic fiction, as well as magical realism.
It took a bit longer to get totally pulled in to the story because of the multiple characters, but it’s well worth the extra effort.
Spanning from the early 1800s to the late 2000s, the stories of the women of the Moy family are heartbreaking. The concept of trauma being passed down to future generations becomes completely believable when you read about multiple generations simultaneously. I have no doubt that most of the immigrants and all African-Americans are impacted by this awful phenomenon.
Highly recommend this one for those seeking pleasure and evolution!
Graphic: Pregnancy, Classism, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Slavery
Moderate: Outing, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Deportation, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pandemic/Epidemic
thebookgeek's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, War, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pandemic/Epidemic
caseythereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Abandonment, Death, Bullying, Racial slurs, Vomit, Child death, War, Gun violence, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Xenophobia
lizsurber's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Classism, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Moderate: War and Xenophobia
Minor: Self harm and Forced institutionalization
permanme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, War, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Racism, and Sexism
indreni's review
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Outing, Lesbophobia, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Grief
8alsopo13's review
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicide, War, Ableism, Rape, Child death, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Xenophobia
haleysversion's review
- 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? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, War, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Sexism, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Child death
ottercorg's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my third Ford read this year, and I’ve now read each of his published works. I thought this would become my new favorite, and while it didn’t quite take the prize over Love and Other Consolation Prizes, it still has settled comfortably into second.
Ford took a concept that fascinates him - and me as well - and ran with it. And I devoured it. It was a delight to try and track the pieces of each character that were passed on from generations before. Ford writes so beautifully I can hardly stand it. And this book is just as heart-wrenching as the rest, possibly even more so because there are a handful of “main characters” as opposed to just one.
Well done. I don’t often reread books, but I already see myself reading this one again someday and look forward to discovering what I missed this first time around.
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Rape, Drug use, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol