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gdulecki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-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
FUCK!!!!
“I seen men I knew were a danger to the world and they too deserve better than this. A shame for me to hope for better, but I know it’s better that can be done”
This was horrifying, brutal, and so deeply moving. There was so much going on, all the perspectives were woven together so masterfully, and I think this style of narration and storytelling was exactly what this story needed. I am at a loss for words, I am grateful for Adjei-Brenyah putting this book into the world.
“I seen men I knew were a danger to the world and they too deserve better than this. A shame for me to hope for better, but I know it’s better that can be done”
This was horrifying, brutal, and so deeply moving. There was so much going on, all the perspectives were woven together so masterfully, and I think this style of narration and storytelling was exactly what this story needed. I am at a loss for words, I am grateful for Adjei-Brenyah putting this book into the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
elainemh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
sandro_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Chain Gang All-Stars reads a bit like The Hunger Games where prisoners battle to the death for entertainment.
But, it takes it to the next level by marrying that not-so-distant dystopian reality with the very real statistics that plague our judicial and prison systems - a powerful message diluted by so many different character POVs.
But, it takes it to the next level by marrying that not-so-distant dystopian reality with the very real statistics that plague our judicial and prison systems - a powerful message diluted by so many different character POVs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, and Murder
siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
NYT Notable Books 2023: 20/100
On one hand, I appreciate that Adjei-Brenyah wanted to get a lot of messages into this book. By referring to real-life events, he tied it to reality in a way that made things seem even more bleak. However, beyond that, it was sometimes hard to see the impact of the book. The plotline with the abolitionists was interesting but it felt very under used, especially considering how often Adjei-Brenyah linked to real events. I think more focus on that would have made the book more impactful than it was, because as it was written, it felt confusing and overly bogged-down at points, which was too bad, since it was a really interesting premise.
On one hand, I appreciate that Adjei-Brenyah wanted to get a lot of messages into this book. By referring to real-life events, he tied it to reality in a way that made things seem even more bleak. However, beyond that, it was sometimes hard to see the impact of the book. The plotline with the abolitionists was interesting but it felt very under used, especially considering how often Adjei-Brenyah linked to real events. I think more focus on that would have made the book more impactful than it was, because as it was written, it felt confusing and overly bogged-down at points, which was too bad, since it was a really interesting premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
smithalexis035's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book really got me thinking about the possible future of our incarceration system. This book is graphic, it can be easy to get lost too as there’s a lot of characters and it jumps around a bit. This book is out of my normal comfort zone for genre but I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, and Classism
solskxn's review against another edition
Unfortunately, I had to abandon this book halfway through, but it's not for the reasons you might think.
Due to the graphic self-harm depicted when a new character named Patricia enters the story, I've had to part ways with it.
However, for those who may have a stronger stomach and less personal, visceral reactions to this particular trigger, please note that I would have rated this book highly. The subject matter itself is obviously harrowing, and there's no reprieve in this novel thus far. But the subject is provoking in its vulnerable nature, pitting minorities against one another in a gruesome way. It uncovers the core of humanity's evil and failings.
The narrative is interesting, written from various characters' perspectives, and it's poetic, brutal, vulnerable, real, and gross. Even though I couldn't continue, I believe this book has great merit and is worth your time if you're brave enough. Meanwhile, I'll be off reading a nice little children's story to settle my stomach and my inner child."
Due to the graphic self-harm depicted when a new character named Patricia enters the story, I've had to part ways with it.
However, for those who may have a stronger stomach and less personal, visceral reactions to this particular trigger, please note that I would have rated this book highly. The subject matter itself is obviously harrowing, and there's no reprieve in this novel thus far. But the subject is provoking in its vulnerable nature, pitting minorities against one another in a gruesome way. It uncovers the core of humanity's evil and failings.
The narrative is interesting, written from various characters' perspectives, and it's poetic, brutal, vulnerable, real, and gross. Even though I couldn't continue, I believe this book has great merit and is worth your time if you're brave enough. Meanwhile, I'll be off reading a nice little children's story to settle my stomach and my inner child."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
kimapede's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Rape
thissagreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A MUST READ!!!!! I could best describe this as prison Hunger Games meets the prison industrial complex, meets dystopian futurism.
The dialogue, the poetry, and hard conversations that these characters had to deal with and have, was eloquent, complicated, thoughtful and heartbreaking. This book forces the reader to think:
The dialogue, the poetry, and hard conversations that these characters had to deal with and have, was eloquent, complicated, thoughtful and heartbreaking. This book forces the reader to think:
- Where and when do ethics and morality stand, when referring to prison systems at large?
- Does it matter the crime, for someone to extend sympathy or empathy?
- Private prisons exist, but what happens to the boundaries and rights of the inmate?
- THIS IS WHERE WE COULD BE HEADED IF MORE PRIVATE PRISONS OPEN!
- Would companies actually sponsor and support the debauchery of the competition?
- Does winning the “games” really free the inmate? Or are they tortured mentally forever?
This book is VERY graphically gory and gruesome, but I will still HIGHLY recommend this book. This story will stay with me for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
ms_kristie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Deep reflection of prison industrial complex, entertainment and advocacy and what it might look like in the near future. Dystopian
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, and Classism
bluemonkey14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A powerful story about the US prison system. The world of Chain-Gang All-Stars is removed enough from ours to make this a spec-fic but close enough to be a thought provoking and uncomfortable read.
The book is sprinkled with asides - some of these provide additional content, others context. I like the idea of this although it does make some of the social commentary points feel a little "on the nose" for my taste. That said, I knew a bit about some of the issues before going in, so what seemed obvious to me may not have been to others. In all I'd say the decision to err on the side of pushing the point home was probably the right way to go.
I really like the way the story is told through different viewpoints - at times it feels a bit like a collection of short stories which all come together in the climax. The story is dense and immersive, there's a lot to take in, but I think that reflects the nature of modern hyper-capitalist life. There's always something to distract you, always a new shiny thing just over there, always something to stop you looking at the blood on the ground.
The ending is abrupt and jarring, like so many endings both in the book and in real life. I do think there's a lot still to cover in this universe (clearly, Loretta and Mari both have unfinished business ) so I really hope for a sequel or even more.
The violence is graphic and constant. It may not be to everyone's taste but again, it reflects the issues being portrayed. If the reflection in the mirror makes us uncomfortable, the only option is to change what's on this side of the glass.
The book is sprinkled with asides - some of these provide additional content, others context. I like the idea of this although it does make some of the social commentary points feel a little "on the nose" for my taste. That said, I knew a bit about some of the issues before going in, so what seemed obvious to me may not have been to others. In all I'd say the decision to err on the side of pushing the point home was probably the right way to go.
I really like the way the story is told through different viewpoints - at times it feels a bit like a collection of short stories which all come together in the climax. The story is dense and immersive, there's a lot to take in, but I think that reflects the nature of modern hyper-capitalist life. There's always something to distract you, always a new shiny thing just over there, always something to stop you looking at the blood on the ground.
The ending is abrupt and jarring, like so many endings both in the book and in real life. I do think there's a lot still to cover in this universe (
The violence is graphic and constant. It may not be to everyone's taste but again, it reflects the issues being portrayed. If the reflection in the mirror makes us uncomfortable, the only option is to change what's on this side of the glass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Suicide, and Police brutality
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia