Scan barcode
gracemacdonald94's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.75
What a gorgeous book. Some of the themes make it a really tough read, so I took my time with it. But overall it is a beautiful and thoughtful book with a hard earned ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
maggiems's review against another edition
3.0
A classic case of wrong book at the wrong time. Just was in a reading slump and struggled to get through this.
The book is beautifully lyrical and has the exact right aura of mysticism, but some of it was a hard read.
Need more black joy.
The book is beautifully lyrical and has the exact right aura of mysticism, but some of it was a hard read.
Need more black joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
geraldinerowe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I struggled with this book. It has some fascinating ideas and was excellent in parts, but seemed to be muddled in others. The language, which some have described as beautiful, I found pointlessly pretentious. The story rambled, despite being a short book, and went off on long tangents. But nevertheless kept me reading until the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Violence, Car accident, and War
Minor: Suicide
katewhite77's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
This is a novel about how we live and how we die. The sort of mark we want to leave behind when we leave this relm of existence.
Very poetically written and a beautifully performed audio book by the author. it is,also a book abort how badly adults can treat children at times and those on the fringes of society you may walk past on the street and discuss. Love thy neighbour we all need safe passage.
Very poetically written and a beautifully performed audio book by the author. it is,also a book abort how badly adults can treat children at times and those on the fringes of society you may walk past on the street and discuss. Love thy neighbour we all need safe passage.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
feebles640's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug abuse
gummistovlar's review against another edition
dark
I'm grappling with how to describe this book, but I'm sure I'll be thinking about it for a long time.
It was a very challenging and unsettling read at times - content warning for child sexual abuse (including the abuser's perspective at several points, so please take care of yourself if that's not something you're ok to read), a range of mental health issues and substance use.
It was a very challenging and unsettling read at times - content warning for child sexual abuse (including the abuser's perspective at several points, so please take care of yourself if that's not something you're ok to read), a range of mental health issues and substance use.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Murder, and War
apworden's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Racism
serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
*Women’s Prize Longlist 2022 - Book 16*
With Creatures of Passage I’m pretty sure I’ve saved the best until last. While I want to give it time to settle I’m virtually certain that, despite the stiff competition, this is my favourite of the sixteen contenders. It is certainly the most challenging not only in terms of structure and style (although I didn’t find it difficult, just complex), but also in terms of content. Be sure to check for trigger warnings before you pick it up. However, the reader is richly rewarded for their effort. The book is stunning and the comparisons with Toni Morrison are not overstated.
Set in Anacostia, a suburb of Washington DC, in 1977, at its simplest it is the story of the Kinwell family - twins Nephthys and Osiris, Osiris’s daughter Amber, and her son Dash. But it is also about so much more. It blends Egyptian mythology, ghosts, alternate history and magical realism with the awful realities of grief, generational trauma, racism, war, child abuse and other harms we do to each other . It is very specific and intimate, while also being universal and timeless. It is incredibly rich, multi-layered and nuanced with lush, poetic prose. Motifs, language and storylines repeat, cycle back and twine around each other. Somehow Yejide has managed to link into a rich literary lineage - not just Morrison but Zora Hurston Neale, Alice Walker and of course the African oral folklore tradition- while remaining unique not derivative. The audio, narrated by the author herself, was compelling and riveting. I was totally absorbed by this story that both was and wasn’t of this world. I loved this book so much that I plan to buy a physical copy and reread - both rarities for me. I’ll also be prioritising her earlier novel.
This won’t be for every reader but I was blown away by this mesmerising tale.
With Creatures of Passage I’m pretty sure I’ve saved the best until last. While I want to give it time to settle I’m virtually certain that, despite the stiff competition, this is my favourite of the sixteen contenders. It is certainly the most challenging not only in terms of structure and style (although I didn’t find it difficult, just complex), but also in terms of content. Be sure to check for trigger warnings before you pick it up. However, the reader is richly rewarded for their effort. The book is stunning and the comparisons with Toni Morrison are not overstated.
Set in Anacostia, a suburb of Washington DC, in 1977, at its simplest it is the story of the Kinwell family - twins Nephthys and Osiris, Osiris’s daughter Amber, and her son Dash. But it is also about so much more. It blends Egyptian mythology, ghosts, alternate history and magical realism with the awful realities of grief, generational trauma, racism, war, child abuse and other harms we do to each other . It is very specific and intimate, while also being universal and timeless. It is incredibly rich, multi-layered and nuanced with lush, poetic prose. Motifs, language and storylines repeat, cycle back and twine around each other. Somehow Yejide has managed to link into a rich literary lineage - not just Morrison but Zora Hurston Neale, Alice Walker and of course the African oral folklore tradition- while remaining unique not derivative. The audio, narrated by the author herself, was compelling and riveting. I was totally absorbed by this story that both was and wasn’t of this world. I loved this book so much that I plan to buy a physical copy and reread - both rarities for me. I’ll also be prioritising her earlier novel.
This won’t be for every reader but I was blown away by this mesmerising tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism and Racism
anniesidd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, and Murder
msrichardsreads89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Poetic prose, atmospheric writing, and haunting characters. It is definitely a book that will stick with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Pedophilia and Rape