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meganfletcher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Death, and Sexual content
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
More, though, I am compelled by the beauty of Baldwin's prose. His internal dialogues pulse with blood and belief, with characters who often think or act from a rich river of motivations. No shallow staples of literature here. Read passages aloud to feel this fully. I know I did.
Too, there is a great deal in the story which is sublimated, left unspoken and seemingly untested. For every character who takes their turn at a "prayer," three others reveal their equal tenacity, equal clamor, for story. For every action we believe we understand, three less-articulated causes presume themselves. And later influence. The social circumstances of race are only one background which unsettles itself into these lives.
This is not a fast read. Baldwin's prose compels us to labor a bit, to digest carefully. Had I not, I might have wondered why any of these characters really matter. It is, perhaps, because no character here exists as a prop or a literary guise. We experience an intimacy of happenings from which we cannot turn away.
Moderate: Violence, Racism, and Sexual content
catwhisperer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Grief, Racism, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
remib's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Rape
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Violence, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Slavery, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, Police brutality, Confinement, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Blood
Minor: Vomit and War
anniefwrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, Vomit, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Police brutality, and War
jojo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Racism and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Suicide
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Infertility, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, and Slavery
davyjones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Infidelity, and Infertility