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khuppe's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.25
A compelling coming of age story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Drug use, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Sexual assault
adoesetfree's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I checked this out from my library on a whim a few days before Mother's Day- books about complicated mother/daughter relationships always draw me in, and it felt appropriate considering the time.
Turns out this book was exactly what I needed right now: after reading two very humorous, light-hearted novels, the slow-paced heaviness of "What We Lose" was refreshing and palette-cleansing. Clemmons took a very difficult and honest look at grief, and how it can impact individuals and break down family units. I often felt grieved myself while reading, which either speaks for my sensitivity or Clemmons' skill. Probably both.
I appreciated the way this was written: the bite-sized looks at Thandi's psyche, combined with Clemmons' simple but insightful prose, made the book easy to consume. The writing was a very good balance of "straight-forward, with the occasional sentence to take your breath away."
Though grief (how it feels and changes your life, how people cope or don't cope with it, the vague probability of healing from it) is the main focus of "What We Lose", the book also dipped its feet in the effects of capitalism, classism, and misogynoir and colorism within the Black community- all discussions that I enjoyed and appreciated.
Turns out this book was exactly what I needed right now: after reading two very humorous, light-hearted novels, the slow-paced heaviness of "What We Lose" was refreshing and palette-cleansing. Clemmons took a very difficult and honest look at grief, and how it can impact individuals and break down family units. I often felt grieved myself while reading, which either speaks for my sensitivity or Clemmons' skill. Probably both.
I appreciated the way this was written: the bite-sized looks at Thandi's psyche, combined with Clemmons' simple but insightful prose, made the book easy to consume. The writing was a very good balance of "straight-forward, with the occasional sentence to take your breath away."
Though grief (how it feels and changes your life, how people cope or don't cope with it, the vague probability of healing from it) is the main focus of "What We Lose", the book also dipped its feet in the effects of capitalism, classism, and misogynoir and colorism within the Black community- all discussions that I enjoyed and appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
garlinds's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault
alenert's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Racism
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