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thedeepmagic's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Certainly you'll have to remember that this book was written in the early twentieth century, with all its prejudices and racial attitudes intact . . . But that these same things come from a uniquely Black perspective, which is worth getting into. Lafala is the main character but every character you encounter is full of rich complexity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Classism
readingbrb's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Trafficking
lukebryan's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
It's only 130 pages long, but it feels like a whirlpool that sucks the reader into its depiction of Marseille and spits them out missing it. The characters feel full to the brim with life, the prose rockets along and is full of funny insight, and the plot is always surprising and captivating. Why did this take 87 years to be published?
However, the novel does have some asterisks next to it. Most prominent is the anti-semitism that is engaged with once or twice, which is just gratuitous. The other thing is the treatment of Lafala's disability, which is treated as an extension of his relation to Marseille society. Those are just two things to keep in mind - I would call this a must-read if those things are not turn-offs.
However, the novel does have some asterisks next to it. Most prominent is the anti-semitism that is engaged with once or twice, which is just gratuitous. The other thing is the treatment of Lafala's disability, which is treated as an extension of his relation to Marseille society. Those are just two things to keep in mind - I would call this a must-read if those things are not turn-offs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Death, Racism, and Murder
yozhik's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It was alright. Maybe I'm not big-brained enough to understand the subtleties and nuance of the book but I felt it was an incredibly bland writing style. Book was advertised to be "overtly queer" two side characters were mentioned to be gay. So what. Author despised xenophobia but writes xenophobic passages against Arabs and Jews for funsies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Trafficking
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Torture and Antisemitism