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sphynxreads's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
4.5
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I truly believe he is a master of writing beautifully yet accessibly while tackling issues that are often difficult to grapple with through characters who feel larger than life because they are inspired by real people and well-researched events. Despite making me cry multiple times (again), this book healed something in me. But fair warning, don't go in expecting a heavy focus on the plot. More than anything, it's an excellent collection of character studies across four generations, unpacking something that I am aware of but haven't really read much on previously: generational trauma, how it develops, and how it manifests in different forms in different people. This story drips with so much empathy that despite presenting hard truths about identity, manhood, mental health, and social responsibility, it refuses to be prescriptive in its narrative. Rather, it helps one to understand where these individuals are coming from. I learned so much about myself and even my own family members in the process of reading this book, which is impressive in itself considering how short this is. I'm defending revisiting and annotating this once I get my hands on a physical copy. Rush to the bookstore on release date because this is not a book you want to miss!
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I truly believe he is a master of writing beautifully yet accessibly while tackling issues that are often difficult to grapple with through characters who feel larger than life because they are inspired by real people and well-researched events. Despite making me cry multiple times (again), this book healed something in me. But fair warning, don't go in expecting a heavy focus on the plot. More than anything, it's an excellent collection of character studies across four generations, unpacking something that I am aware of but haven't really read much on previously: generational trauma, how it develops, and how it manifests in different forms in different people. This story drips with so much empathy that despite presenting hard truths about identity, manhood, mental health, and social responsibility, it refuses to be prescriptive in its narrative. Rather, it helps one to understand where these individuals are coming from. I learned so much about myself and even my own family members in the process of reading this book, which is impressive in itself considering how short this is. I'm defending revisiting and annotating this once I get my hands on a physical copy. Rush to the bookstore on release date because this is not a book you want to miss!
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