Scan barcode
metchap's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
navasketch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
mateoj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.
elisestewart's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
bkwrm1317's review against another edition
Picked up for Voyage Out to try to re-engage and the book was so so but didn’t really do it for me/not the right mood.
cowilks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
aliciasokol's review against another edition
4.0
Highly original and unusual. Starts out laugh-out-loud funny…then gets dark and twisty. I’m not sure I really understood where it ended up - and I don’t think the plot was fully resolved by the end - but I enjoyed the creativity and fresh voice. Like nothing I’ve ever read.
spregasaur94's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. It was entertaining and an interesting concept and approach but I mostly felt confused the whole time and then at the end. I respect that that may have a lot more to do with me as a reader then the book itself. It was just confusing and not all of the parts always connected for me. Definitely a unique reading experience overall though and I respect the effort that went into this storytelling!
I’ll also add that I really appreciate the authenticity in this book. I felt like the characters were real people and unapologetically themselves. So few books center young black men in all of their love, humor, fear, passions, worries, and strengths. I felt that Laymon did an incredible job building City and making him someone to love and root for.
I’ll also add that I really appreciate the authenticity in this book. I felt like the characters were real people and unapologetically themselves. So few books center young black men in all of their love, humor, fear, passions, worries, and strengths. I felt that Laymon did an incredible job building City and making him someone to love and root for.
nadia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
What a fantastic, unique, funny, clever book!
It has a theme I often struggle with — time travel — but I got it enough to appreciate the quality of what Kiese has put together. I did spend some time trying to piece together exactly what happened when afterwards, and whether I missed something that was meant to make it all click, before realising that that's not really the important part. I got the overall gist and it was a brilliant backdrop for such important conversations.
Probably one I'd wanna reread in a couple years and I'm also excited to read more of Laymon's work.
P.S. I hear a more recent edition of this book has the book in a different structure? I've got an edition from 2013.
P.P.S. This was one of the first ever recommendations Rob's first StoryGraph rec algorithm gave to me! The model has come on a very long way since then but it's very cool to see that it was getting a lot right back then.
It has a theme I often struggle with — time travel — but I got it enough to appreciate the quality of what Kiese has put together. I did spend some time trying to piece together exactly what happened when afterwards, and whether I missed something that was meant to make it all click, before realising that that's not really the important part. I got the overall gist and it was a brilliant backdrop for such important conversations.
Probably one I'd wanna reread in a couple years and I'm also excited to read more of Laymon's work.
P.S. I hear a more recent edition of this book has the book in a different structure? I've got an edition from 2013.
P.P.S. This was one of the first ever recommendations Rob's first StoryGraph rec algorithm gave to me! The model has come on a very long way since then but it's very cool to see that it was getting a lot right back then.
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Gun violence
imofmw's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs