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thehawk72's review
3.0
I was pretty confused for a good portion of the book, but once it got closer to the end, everything started to come together for me. Often times writing like this feels fake-deep to me and it doesn't make me that interested in the book, but it kinda worked itself out for me.
The only thing that I couldn't figure out that I was left disappointed with was Marla. She's been keeping a secret for a super long time (longer than The Freak's death) and I don't know if they ever revealed it to us. Unless the secret she was keeping was that she knew who murdered her? Or if she knew what happened to Uncle Matt since no one else could figure it out? It seemed like an unnecessary amount of suspicion towards her for not being able to figure out what her big secret was. Granted, it's very possible that King did tell us this and I couldn't discern it through her writing.
The only thing that I couldn't figure out that I was left disappointed with was Marla. She's been keeping a secret for a super long time (longer than The Freak's death) and I don't know if they ever revealed it to us. Unless the secret she was keeping was that she knew who murdered her? Or if she knew what happened to Uncle Matt since no one else could figure it out? It seemed like an unnecessary amount of suspicion towards her for not being able to figure out what her big secret was. Granted, it's very possible that King did tell us this and I couldn't discern it through her writing.
numbat's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a bit of a hard book to get into. There were many different points of view to keep track of that all came together in the end. Some of the themes were quite challenging, such as cancer and mental health and were perhaps not handled in a delicate way. That is to say a little glib. Overall it was engaging and well put together with some interesting gimmick and devices. The underlying current of racism was ever present but not really addressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Physical abuse
mads95's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings towards this.
I really enjoyed the story telling. The multi-points of view and nameless characters really kept me wanting to read more to see how they were all connected. I think my problem with it is where she was telling instead of showing.
She did a great job of showing throughout all the generational problems, the trauma, the obvious mental health issues most the characters were suffering from, the mystery, but when she got to the race issues she just told us, and it was so very on-the-nose. There was unique storytelling of the other themes and issues based on the characters experiences and perspectives. But there was no one to offer their actual experience of racism, just the white characters feeling guilty for their families hateful thoughts and opinions. Yet it seemed like that was supposed to be the most important message.
I'm not going to pretend I know the right way to talk about race and racism and the reality of it. Its important. But it just seems like the approach and execution could have been a lot better.
She places a lot of blame, and while I get that's kind of her point and she meant it to be "uncomfortable" she offers no action to the reader other than to be less of a shitty person.
Overall I enjoyed the story, but the more I reflect on it the more I find things I didn't like.
I really enjoyed the story telling. The multi-points of view and nameless characters really kept me wanting to read more to see how they were all connected. I think my problem with it is where she was telling instead of showing.
She did a great job of showing throughout all the generational problems, the trauma, the obvious mental health issues most the characters were suffering from, the mystery, but when she got to the race issues she just told us, and it was so very on-the-nose. There was unique storytelling of the other themes and issues based on the characters experiences and perspectives. But there was no one to offer their actual experience of racism, just the white characters feeling guilty for their families hateful thoughts and opinions. Yet it seemed like that was supposed to be the most important message.
I'm not going to pretend I know the right way to talk about race and racism and the reality of it. Its important. But it just seems like the approach and execution could have been a lot better.
She places a lot of blame, and while I get that's kind of her point and she meant it to be "uncomfortable" she offers no action to the reader other than to be less of a shitty person.
Overall I enjoyed the story, but the more I reflect on it the more I find things I didn't like.
jayarna's review
5.0
This should be studied in schools. There is so much to unpack here. Wow, just wow.
krichardson's review
3.0
This was a weird book. There are a ton of characters that all get equal screen time and it's hard to keep them straight for quite a while. I'm not really a fan of the ghost deus ex machina, or how the messages and metaphors are so explicit. The lessons are good ones though, and once I got to know the characters I was rooting (ha) for most of them. I may raise the rating later once I've had time to sit with it a little.
plaidpladd's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was good. I liked how all the different plot threads came together and the switching POV
sarahtribble's review
5.0
"Am I right about the meaning of this book? Who knows, but it doesn’t matter: what matters is that this book somehow makes no sense and all the sense in the word, and this collection of oxymorons is the reason why this is one of my favourite books of the year, and yet I can’t even really tell you why."
Full review here: https://thesepapertowns.blogspot.com/2019/06/dig-by-s-king-2019.html
Full review here: https://thesepapertowns.blogspot.com/2019/06/dig-by-s-king-2019.html
allison_sirovy's review
5.0
So I started off thinking the book was weird, but, truly, it made me uncomfortable. Lots to think about in this book. Confusing in the beginning. Hopeful at the end?
shema's review
4.0
This was kind of a hard read, but in a good way. It talks about uncomfortable subjects that are important to talk about like how toxic families can affect generations and how all white people benefit from racism. But it offers a bit of hope by the end that if you choose, you can break free from the cycle of abuse as the kids in this book learn.