tadow's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ashyfield's review against another edition
5.0
Best book of the year ???? Upsetting but so creative and powerful.
carlysgrowingtbr's review against another edition
5.0
This is an important story that I feel more people need to read.
Tackling the injustices and racist foundation of the modern day prison system, Chain Gang All Stars forces you to take a critical look at how the prison system functions and the racial inequality that goes on behind the scenes. It takes a stab at how the world views prisoners, especially those of color as "less than" and how they are treated as "unredeemable" overall.
In this novel, the prision system has been structured into a dual system. In general population you are isolated unless you are working long and strenuous days. The prisoners are outfitted with wrist bands that limit their movement, speech and activities so that they work non stop and cannot speak. Some go years never being able to talk. They also can be shocked on a whim and it's almost mind killing when you are.
In order to escape this torture, prisoners are offered to enter a "program" that is basically a gladiator type competition, to the death. Fight for your life weekly, if you survive three years you earn your freedom. Almost no one survies.
This novel follows numerous people. A woman who's weeks from earning her freedom, a innocent man who is fighting for his life after being unjustly prisoned, a man who is in general population and accepts the contract to the fighting program and many others. It also follows people who are "fans" of the gladiator program, since it's televised and betting on the contestants is allowed. Overall it's a very interesting, if not horrifying, story that forces you to get uncomfortable and take a hard look at the modern day prison system and it's failures.
Tackling the injustices and racist foundation of the modern day prison system, Chain Gang All Stars forces you to take a critical look at how the prison system functions and the racial inequality that goes on behind the scenes. It takes a stab at how the world views prisoners, especially those of color as "less than" and how they are treated as "unredeemable" overall.
In this novel, the prision system has been structured into a dual system. In general population you are isolated unless you are working long and strenuous days. The prisoners are outfitted with wrist bands that limit their movement, speech and activities so that they work non stop and cannot speak. Some go years never being able to talk. They also can be shocked on a whim and it's almost mind killing when you are.
In order to escape this torture, prisoners are offered to enter a "program" that is basically a gladiator type competition, to the death. Fight for your life weekly, if you survive three years you earn your freedom. Almost no one survies.
This novel follows numerous people. A woman who's weeks from earning her freedom, a innocent man who is fighting for his life after being unjustly prisoned, a man who is in general population and accepts the contract to the fighting program and many others. It also follows people who are "fans" of the gladiator program, since it's televised and betting on the contestants is allowed. Overall it's a very interesting, if not horrifying, story that forces you to get uncomfortable and take a hard look at the modern day prison system and it's failures.
bookswithsara8's review against another edition
DNF at 19%.
I tried so hard to get into this book because the synopsis sounded great. The book tries to talk about so many important topics. I just could not feel any sort of connection to the characters and wish there was more social commentary rather than description of the matches, the weapons, etc.
I tried so hard to get into this book because the synopsis sounded great. The book tries to talk about so many important topics. I just could not feel any sort of connection to the characters and wish there was more social commentary rather than description of the matches, the weapons, etc.
natatouille's review against another edition
4.5
Wowowowow when I turned the last page and saw the acknowledgements page my jaw dropped. I was actually expecting at least a few more chapters??? This book is really good and I love (hate) learning about the US prison systems. Disappear the problems, not the people
crondeau1n_yvr's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Great book but difficult subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Rape, and Racial slurs
tessamoose's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
zoes_human's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0