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pran's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs and Rape
swenja's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Rape, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Vomit
jewelrybonney's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Medical content, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Police brutality, Misogyny, Violence, Torture, Racism, Racial slurs, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism and Colonisation
Minor: Ableism
bibliotecabecca's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Torture, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Violence, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Vomit, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness
l_barasa'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, Cursing, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
nwfalens's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Sexism, Child death, Death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts
breeisreading_'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? Yes
4.5
I’m in awe of James’ writing style, how he effortlessly switches between the myriad of characters and still makes it easy for us to go with the flow, picking up a new voice and way of storytelling that never feels out of place from the previous chapter.
This was honestly not what I expected, and not what I assumed going into it - I did think there would be more emphasis on Bob Marley, as that’s definitely how the book was marketed. However, the lack of “The Singer” didn’t even let me down, as every other character was so absorbing that I never felt I wanted any less of them all.
Sometimes the politics and economics was all a bit much, but maybe that’s just me as someone who has no idea about most of any of what was mentioned. I feel like I learnt a lot about Jamaica and its politics and people and the 70s/80s and drugs/gangs etc in America as well. It definitely kept me hooked throughout.
And even though most of the characters were awful, evil people - I ended up liking so many of them, or at least feeling attached to them. Especially Weeper. And definitely Nina Burgess (and all her many other names). Every character felt very real and alive to me, and because I’ve been reading this book solidly for like a week now, I honestly think I’m going to miss this world and it’s inhabitants now I’m not with them anymore.
Graphic: Gun violence, Drug use, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Violence, Grief, Racism, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Vomit, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Addiction, and Fire/Fire injury
daisytudball's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lots of content warnings on this one..
Graphic: Death, Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Police brutality, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
serendipitysbooks'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
4.5
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Homophobia
emmanicoleman's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Violence, Drug abuse, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Racial slurs, Rape, and Hate crime
Minor: Homophobia, Trafficking, Vomit, War, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry