Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

407 reviews

pferdina's review

challenging dark informative medium-paced

• 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

The beginning was slow for me. I had trouble getting into the story. But I stuck with it and ended up feeling glad I’d read this. The story illustrates a lot that is wrong with our system, and predicts how that basic unfairness and exploitation could turn out in not very much time. Lots of footnotes containing statistics and real-life examples. 
The story itself is about the Chain Gangs made up of criminals forced to fight each other to the deaths a way of disposing of the excess of prisoners for the entertainment of the rest of society. A reality show embraced by millions. Horrible.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Self harm, Mental illness, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

lil_owl_reads's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a brilliant idea placed into a book that bit off more than it could chew, and a great story told in a writing style that almost made me give it up. I would say if you’ve ever considered the prison industrial complex or being an abolitionist this book will not be a shock, but if these thoughts have never crossed your mind, this is a great fiction to start with. I wish the story was shorter and more concise, because some of the tangents are a little unnecessary, and the use of footnotes and abbreviations is pretty heavy handed (think 2010s sci-fi). Other than that, this is a really moving novel with just enough truth in it to be terrifying.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, and Self harm

cathy61r's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Murder, and Misogyny

gurpreetlally's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Gore, Death, Violence, Torture, and Murder

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Torture, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Blood, Death, Gore, and Sexism

Moderate: Self harm, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Cursing, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape

Minor: Racial slurs and Religious bigotry

rosebee00's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape and Transphobia

rnfortier's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

4.75

Am intense read but one that so so important.
This book is grounded in the realities of our criminal justice system, so much so that it presents a future that seems not that far off given the rate of incarceration (particularly BIPOC) in the US.
Thoughtfully presented and so well researched, but the author humanizes his characters in such a tragic way you can’t help but love them as the wade through a murder forward “justice” system.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Medical trauma, Death, Body horror, Racism, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Racial slurs, and Sexual violence

madele's review

dark reflective slow-paced

• 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

4.75

This book did completely destroy me but something about it I can't put my finger on made me not do 5 stars... I do think everyone should read this book tho 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Torture, and Murder

jonezzzing's review

challenging emotional fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is a masterful examination of American incarceration through an abolitionist lens. 
The footnotes were unexpected and a beautiful and heartbreaking way to weave reality into this story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

Minor: Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Rape, Classism, and Racism

smileymiley550's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Body horror, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Grief, Police brutality, Gore, Racism, Classism, Confinement, Physical abuse, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Self harm