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jennaviolet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Rape, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Homophobia, Sexual content, Stalking, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
aksmith92's review
- 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
The plot: We are thrown into chaos on page one - Loretta Thurwar is introduced by way of having to kill another inmate named Melancholia Bishop through Criminal Action Penal Entertainment (CAPE), which is a top-rated "extreme sports program" that takes inmates from the private prison industry and turns them into...gladiators of sorts. Colloquially, they are known as the Chain-Gang All-Stars, and we walk through Thurwar's life in CAPE and plenty of others, including Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. The CAPE program is heavily explained because Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah wants you to understand how thought-out this program is, and we see, in detail, how the characters get to CAPE and what they have to do while they are in CAPE. We intimately meet these characters and their lives while getting doses of "regular" folks on the outside immersed in this dystopia-like world. In the process of reading this fictional story, we also get to read some footnotes about the mass incarceration system in our current world and reckon with what it means to be in an unchecked capitalist society.
What I loved: Everything. This was poignant, devastating, and brutal. There is no way around it - the book contains incredible violence. However, what is ALSO incredibly sad to read is the thought processes of those in the prison system who have learned that CAPE is the only way, who then adopt this violence-like mindset. There is a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome here - the stars of CAPE get used to the fame and "fortune" in this program (the further you get, the better food and clothing you have, etc.). While distant from what you just read, every chapter is connected in some way, and it's interesting to read about inmates, protesters, spectators, and even those involved in the CAPE program. Everyone you read about feels exceptionally human. The inmates are never portrayed as fantastic or good people, but they know this is an awful program.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah was masterful in his storytelling - a perfect example of "what could be" in our current society. Even on page three, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah decided (likely strategically) to connect the game contractually to mention the Super Bowl; it made me laugh, not out of actual laughter but because I can actually imagine that happening. There are mentions of "Whole Market" and other brands that we can assume and infer....this novel seemed like a dystopia but was entirely too relatable. There are incredible juxtapositions that just had me thinking. For example, we get chapters from someone named Emily's point of view - just a regular ole' white married woman who seems not to love CAPE and the games but somehow can't look away. One night, she's watching an episode of the Chain-Gang All-Stars on her smart refrigerator (just in case you can't get to your TV in time!). Emily is watching LinkLyfe, where cameras follow Chains/Links into nature and watch them "March." When the camera comes to Hurricane Staxxx, she covers her face with her arms that have "Xs" tattooed on them for every death she causes. The Xs on her arms align perfectly with her eyes, and she sticks her tongue out, pretending to be a dead cartoon character. We see this from Emily's point of view from her Fridge TV, and the irony of it all is just palatable.
One of my favorite parts is how connected I felt to the characters. Some who've read this book have mentioned that the chapter structure and how the story is told could be better, leading to them forgetting about the characters or not feeling as connected. I disagree; I don't know how Adjei-Brenyah did it, but I was fully immersed in all the characters and their stories.
This is satire, though. We must remember that this is told from what we view as "an extreme." However, you can't help but feel its relevance and its importance.
What I didn't like: I liked everything. Literally, everything was important to me, and this book had an incredibly profound impact on me. It's an essential conversation starter about our current US system regarding justice and rehabilitation. I loved it so much, in the worst way possible. To love this book means that you likely hated it and were uncomfortable. It was the point. It is NOT a cozy read by any means, and the ending will stun you somehow. But I cannot recommend this book enough.
"LinkLyfe might be a nature show if people cared more for the canvas and less for the blood painted all over it."
"When you think of us, remember that just because something is, doesn't mean it can't change, and just because you haven't seen something before, that doesn't mean it's impossible. They call this the freeing ground. So who's going to be freed: me or you?"
Graphic: Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Grief, Racism, Classism, Gore, Confinement, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Torture, Death of parent, Body horror, Death, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Rape is not depicted, but is alluded to (either by an inmate doing it or someone had it happen to them). Same with sexual assault/harassment/violence - not on the page but mentioned.lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Self harm, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Hate crime, Transphobia, Car accident, Gun violence, Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Ableism
olliedrawlight's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, and Rape
megb64's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Classism, Death of parent, Self harm, Gun violence, Confinement, Violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Torture, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Domestic abuse
dominiq_ec's review
- 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
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Suicide, Cancer, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Police brutality, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Sexual content, Cursing, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Blood, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Torture, and Self harm
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Hate crime, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Car accident
I mean, this book does force you to take a relatively deep look at the United States penal system, which does include reading about the crimes some of these characters committed, as well as how they are (mis)treated by those that are responsible for their care. At the same time, these incarcerated folks are fighting to the death for entertainment's sake, so there's a lot of gory, violent descriptions. There is mentions of rape, but no graphic details. There is torture, and loss of life. It's a troubling book, so read with caution.oz2021's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Torture, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide and Toxic relationship
lycheejelly's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Torture, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Gore, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Medical trauma
texashippie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Classism, Domestic abuse, Racism, Lesbophobia, Gore, Homophobia, Police brutality, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Violence
daniellekat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, Blood, Torture, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Lesbophobia, Rape, Racism, Death of parent, Transphobia, and Sexism