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dnietoperafan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I would 100% recommend this book to anyone.
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Colonisation
aseel_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
rosysnake's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Slavery and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Deportation
amyvl93's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It is clear that Evaristo had a lot of fun playing with places, geographies and what a world steeped in black culture for hundreds of years would look like, in comparison to one dominated by white culture. There's some interesting reflections in particular on beauty standards and relationships - however, after a while these start getting a little grating. Whilst the sense of place of individual locations is strong, the narrative also feels at times unmoored from a sense of time - is this taking place now, in the past, somewhere in between?
What does makes this book readable still is Evaristo's impactful writing; her reinterpretation of the middle passage is excellent, as are scenes later on in the novel where Doris really starts to feel the horrors of her situation.
I'm not necessarily sure I would recommend Blonde Roots as a place to start with Evaristo's work, but for completists it's probably worth a read.
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
mx_sunshine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I love Bernadine Evaristo, I want to read everything she’s written. I love how she describes characters. This was a very surprising story that fully explored an intriguing premise.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Gun violence and Fire/Fire injury
mog261's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
zoebill96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
josy_trapp's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Miscarriage and Murder
amberinbookland's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
bryonyporter's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder