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annamolpus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
2.75
I cared about the characters and appreciated the sense of setting, but I struggled quite a bit with the mythology/magical realism elements. Trigger warning for child abuse. I wouldn't have finished if this hadn't been a selection for my book club.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Violence
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
thogek's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
Creatures of Passage is an unusual novel in today's landscape, but one I'm glad I got to experience.
The cultural background formed by mostly Gullah peoples making (or perhaps passing through) their lives in the poor DC neighborhood of Anacostia in what feels like an alternate-universe version of the United States but sometimes doesn't, woven through with various elements of what might be called urban fantasy or magical realism but so smoothly so that every weave clearly belongs right where it is, and told from a richly fluid word-of-mouth storyteller-historian point of view that here and there touches on the poetic, all delivers a rich story experience built on top of what it otherwise a relatively simple story.
Creatures of Passage is just different and odd enough that I don't know that I ever would have found it myself if I hadn't happened across its foggy blue cover in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. I came to much appreciate my seconds minutes hours with it, though I had no way of knowing this at the time... ;-)
The cultural background formed by mostly Gullah peoples making (or perhaps passing through) their lives in the poor DC neighborhood of Anacostia in what feels like an alternate-universe version of the United States but sometimes doesn't, woven through with various elements of what might be called urban fantasy or magical realism but so smoothly so that every weave clearly belongs right where it is, and told from a richly fluid word-of-mouth storyteller-historian point of view that here and there touches on the poetic, all delivers a rich story experience built on top of what it otherwise a relatively simple story.
Creatures of Passage is just different and odd enough that I don't know that I ever would have found it myself if I hadn't happened across its foggy blue cover in a LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. I came to much appreciate my seconds minutes hours with it, though I had no way of knowing this at the time... ;-)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Cursing and 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
lizzie_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Murder
jennieandrews's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse
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
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Abandonment
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy