aublyn105's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
4.5 stars.
This novel was incredible, slightly slow at times for me, I don't know if that's because I read it for school or not. Gaines is an amazing writer and I want to read more of his work soon. Amazing ending, I loved the characters.
This novel was incredible, slightly slow at times for me, I don't know if that's because I read it for school or not. Gaines is an amazing writer and I want to read more of his work soon. Amazing ending, I loved the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Murder, Gun violence, Confinement, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Police brutality
Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Alcohol, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content and Sexism
morrisimo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
4.75
Jesus Christ this book was so sad. Very well written and paced, accessible, powerfully emotional. Deftly deals with race relations in 1948 Louisiana, questions of duty, purpose, believe, and humanity. Complex main characters and well written and interesting secondary characters. Descriptive and engaging. Devastating. Maybe a 4.75??? Not to devalue my 4.5 books, but this one really got to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Death
bubothereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
- Gaines pointed out the utter absurdity of saying "god is with you" when you've been falsely accused of murder, then get killed for it.
- Accurate display of the 40s US South.
- This book is more about Grant's transformation, than Jefferson's.
- Heart-wrenching, but ended the way it should to depict the injustice faced in the USA. You regret it just as much as everyone else.
- Characters outside of Grant were weak.
- This book is Black Lives Matter before BLM existed.
- It's methodical on purpose; I really loved his take on god and bravery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
deereadsbooks's review
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This book was honestly very eye-opening for me. The way it was able to portray the ways of life in the 1940s after being falsely accused of a crime... it was just so beautifully written, and I enjoyed the book A LOT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
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