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A review by daytimebelle
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
“He said that those suffering from addiction needed to be helped, not to be arrested, because their addiction was as much genetics as it was a choice. And that those pushing needed to be employed, not to be killed, because most of them were only trying to survive. He also said that none of these drugs could even make their way into our country to begin with if not for corrupt people in power—so they needed to be replaced, not reelected.”
The novel paints a grim picture of how the innocent can become collateral damage in a government’s relentless pursuit of control and order. It serves as a reminder of the injustices that can arise when power goes unchecked, and it made me realize how easy it is to overlook these harsh realities from the comfort of a distant life.
The character of Jun, Jay’s cousin, carries the emotional weight of the novel. Jun is portrayed as a sensitive, kind-hearted young man who becomes entangled in the dark realities of the world around him. Through Jay’s investigation into Jun’s life and death, we witness the tragedy of a good person caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. His story is a heartbreaking depiction of lost potential and the consequences of living under a regime that disregards the value of human life.
Jun's story, though fictional, made me reflect on the possibility that those often branded as criminals or troublemakers are, in many cases, simply people who have been failed by the very systems meant to protect them.
The novel paints a grim picture of how the innocent can become collateral damage in a government’s relentless pursuit of control and order. It serves as a reminder of the injustices that can arise when power goes unchecked, and it made me realize how easy it is to overlook these harsh realities from the comfort of a distant life.
The character of Jun, Jay’s cousin, carries the emotional weight of the novel. Jun is portrayed as a sensitive, kind-hearted young man who becomes entangled in the dark realities of the world around him. Through Jay’s investigation into Jun’s life and death, we witness the tragedy of a good person caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. His story is a heartbreaking depiction of lost potential and the consequences of living under a regime that disregards the value of human life.
Jun's story, though fictional, made me reflect on the possibility that those often branded as criminals or troublemakers are, in many cases, simply people who have been failed by the very systems meant to protect them.