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mrhouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I think the book does show racism in America but it is not the author's story to tell. I think there are other ways it could have been done to avoid speaking from a black woman's perspective.
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
curious_oyster's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Medical content
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
sparklyengineer's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Cursing and Medical content
Minor: Sexual content
nicoleolander's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
lcl_reads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
As I was reading, I felt a bit conflicted about rating the book. I really appreciated this part of the author's note at the end: " I was writing to my own community - white people- who can very easily point to a neo-Nazi skinhead and say he's racist... but who can't recognize racism in themselves." I think my conflicted feelings are because this book is not written for me.
This book was bold in its pursuit and the amount of research and thought Picoult put into the topic was evident to me.
Some critiques I've read of the book are that Ruth's story is not as developed and I actually appreciated that. I would have loved to have more of the respectibility politics, colorism, and relationships between Ruth, her mother, and her sister explored. I also think Picoult was smart in identifying that that was not her story to tell nor was that the point of this particular book.
I think it is important to remember that no book can be everything, so, yes, this book is not everything, but it is the story I think was right for Picoult to tell to the audience she has, from her position, with the support of the research she did and for what it is, it was executed as well as it could have possibly been.
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Suicide
inirac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Blood, Police brutality, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
crystalxqueer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs and Violence
Minor: Medical content and Grief
vanesst's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Blood, and Alcohol
jamiejanae_6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
juliaathomsonnn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Suicide