Reviews with content warning for Colonisation - To Paradise

Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

20 reviews

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

To Paradise is a book I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it. I’ve checked it out twice before returned it unread both times. I breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn’t longlisted for the Booker then decided I might just try a little. And got hooked and had to plow through it quickly since it has to be returned in just a few days!

It’s a big, sprawling and ambitious book, one with gorgeous prose. It is sort of three stories in one. The first is an alternative history, set in an America where the Civil War had a very different outcome. In the Free States homosexuality is fully accepted. However, racism and classism still prevail. The second story is more contemporary set in what is recognisably the AIDS epidemic. The third, which has an epistolary element and is the longest and most multifaceted of the three, is set in a dystopian future where multiple pandemics and climate change have caused plenty of suffering, martial law, the loss of liberty and the recriminalisation of homosexuality.

These three stories are entirely separate, each set roughly a century apart. And yet they are not. A house in Washington Square is a prominent location in each and all feature characters called David, Charles and Edward. This can be slightly disorienting since they are clearly not the same people. And yet they play similar roles and represent similar constructs. In addition there are strong thematic threads running through each story. All have a character, somewhat an outsider, who is seeking love and acceptance. The impact of colonisation in Hawaii, which places a central role in book 2, reappears in book 3 with a focus on ownership of Hawaiian artefacts and cultural appropriation. Disease, loss, inheritance, race, homosexuality, and safety are other common themes. Yet despite seeing these connections I found the structure a bit messy and confusing. I’m still ambivalent as to whether they combined effectively to form a coherent novel. That, and many other issues, especially those where the author’s position seems at odds with my own, would make for a fascinating book club discussion.

A beautifully written book that made me think, made me feel and will stick with me. A winner.

Content Warnings

qqjj's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Content Warnings

madelonpaige's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Content Warnings

mirandaandtitania's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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? Yes

The third book was my favourite of the three, and I definitely enjoyed it as a whole! The dystopian life was very interesting and Charlie's point of view was fascinating and also heartbreaking.

Content Warnings