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A review by emilyrowanstudio
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.
I thought I would really enjoy this book - a character liberated and driven by music and dance, a story of rising up against racism and police brutality, of self-discovery, homeland and tracing our roots. It was written partially in Jamaican patois, particularly in the dialogue, and i've enjoyed books written in English-based creole languages in the past as I find them so immersive. The characterisation is great, there is some really beautiful imagery, the prose is often soulful and poetic.
But despite all these things, I found it hard to connect with the story and the main character. I didn't love the writing style which was probably the downfall for me. The pacing felt off, some parts of the story were told too quickly and some were slow to get through. With music woven through so much of the book, I hoped this would be echoed in the prose but I found the story-telling very stop/start at times. It lacked a rhythm that flowed.
A great story, but a book that was too over-described and over-written for me to want to finish.
But despite all these things, I found it hard to connect with the story and the main character. I didn't love the writing style which was probably the downfall for me. The pacing felt off, some parts of the story were told too quickly and some were slow to get through. With music woven through so much of the book, I hoped this would be echoed in the prose but I found the story-telling very stop/start at times. It lacked a rhythm that flowed.
A great story, but a book that was too over-described and over-written for me to want to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Murder