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emilybryk's review against another edition
3.0
This is a little bit of a weird one. The setting was both entirely necessary for the story (obviously enough), but it also felt very ham-fistedly "Southern," as if every character we encountered had to be notable for How Southern They Are.
I don't know. I loved "Ten Thousand Saints" so, so much, and partly because of the deeply, deeply intertwined characters. In this one, there's that same interconnectedness, but the characters don't feel as genuinely human. Much of their inner lives was replaced with A Big Point About Race, and the story and characters couldn't quite keep pace with that.
I don't know. I loved "Ten Thousand Saints" so, so much, and partly because of the deeply, deeply intertwined characters. In this one, there's that same interconnectedness, but the characters don't feel as genuinely human. Much of their inner lives was replaced with A Big Point About Race, and the story and characters couldn't quite keep pace with that.
oofsharkz73's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Racial slurs
abbyvisel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
This book drove me crazyyyy with how long it was. The author really dragged every detail possible out to the point it was too much. Overall amazing book. Very sad and shocking. Heartbreaking & heartwarming
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
The book starts with a tragedy and its relentless with tragedy throughout, but at the same time it is shot through with hope. It is the story of strong women, and the things they sometimes have to do just to get through a life. It is a testament to Henderson's craft that she gets you to try and understand even the characters who are flawed and should be objects of derision. Excellent book group choice.
eertbarc's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.25
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Slavery, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Gun violence
threedemons's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book that will linger, its characters still with me, for a long time coming. The writing is tight, insightful, eloquent, and the stories heart wrenching. Henderson is able to make you care about every character equally, to see past even their greatest of sins and appreciate their humanity regardless. This is a masterpiece. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
erincharp's review against another edition
4.0
This story has it all. Race relations, romance, crimes, and secrets that aim to haunt families for generation. Beginning in the 1930s in Georgia on a sharecropper's (and bootlegger's) land, the story opens with the gemini twins born to Elma Jesup. One twin is black, the other twin is white, and as the story unravels, an innocent man is lynched while others walk unfairly free.
This book took me a long time to read. There are a lot of characters and a lot of information to digest, but the story itself will stay with me for a long time.
This book took me a long time to read. There are a lot of characters and a lot of information to digest, but the story itself will stay with me for a long time.
mamaorgana80's review against another edition
5.0
So good. And sad. But good. I loved every single one of these characters and the depth they brought to the narrative.