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A review by brooke_city
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: racial slurs (seriously, A LOT), racism, murder on page, drug use on page, addiction
A simple plot with complex feelings. An ugly time in America's past; and present, tbh.
On the surface, it's about a mother's search for her daughter. At its core, it's a story of hate/hope. (I liked how Bobby put that: the opposite of hate isn't love, but hope.)
Mary Pat is a frustrating character to be in the head of. She fancies herself better than the other Southies who wear their racism on their sleeve, but she's just as quick to make snap judgments. She's one of those "you're a good Black, not like the others" racist.
As a reader, you can feel her desperation of wanting to know what happened to her daughter. And it takes her into some feelings she wouldn't otherwise have, had Jules not been involved in the murder of Auggie. And just when you think "she finally gets it," she slides right back into her whiteness and feeling of superiority.
It was important thar Mary Pat attend the funeral bc there were hard truths she needed to hear, a devastated community she needed to see. And I was glad that Auggie's parents didn't spare her feelings. They weren't the "model minority" to turn the other cheek and sing kumbaya bc they both lost children that night. Hope – represented by an intelligent young Black man, Auggie – was snuffed out that by hate – represented by Jules, who was pregnant by a married man, drug dealer, and pedophile. Stereotypes often associated with Black men.
Mary Pat fostered a home of hatred. Bobby's character is proof of nature vs nurture, bc despite his parents being dysfunctional, abusive drunks, they didn't tolerate racism. I think his relationship with Carmen shows that everyone can have baggage, preconceived notions, diff backgrounds – but can come together by communicating.
It's a heavy, heavy story. And I can't imagine anyone else but Robin Miles narrating it flawlessly. A Black woman delivering a dark time in our history with great inflection. Rage inducing and heartbreaking at the same time.
A simple plot with complex feelings. An ugly time in America's past; and present, tbh.
On the surface, it's about a mother's search for her daughter. At its core, it's a story of hate/hope. (I liked how Bobby put that: the opposite of hate isn't love, but hope.)
Mary Pat is a frustrating character to be in the head of. She fancies herself better than the other Southies who wear their racism on their sleeve, but she's just as quick to make snap judgments. She's one of those "you're a good Black, not like the others" racist.
As a reader, you can feel her desperation of wanting to know what happened to her daughter. And it takes her into some feelings she wouldn't otherwise have, had Jules not been involved in the murder of Auggie. And just when you think "she finally gets it," she slides right back into her whiteness and feeling of superiority.
Mary Pat fostered a home of hatred. Bobby's character is proof of nature vs nurture, bc despite his parents being dysfunctional, abusive drunks, they didn't tolerate racism. I think his relationship with Carmen shows that everyone can have baggage, preconceived notions, diff backgrounds – but can come together by communicating.
It's a heavy, heavy story. And I can't imagine anyone else but Robin Miles narrating it flawlessly. A Black woman delivering a dark time in our history with great inflection. Rage inducing and heartbreaking at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship