Reviews

Dig by A.S. King

mimimilaa's review

5.0

amazing

wavez's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

issianne's review

5.0

Holy moly. I'm so glad I picked this one up. It was just the right amount of weird storytelling with a touch of fantastical-ness. I thought the way in which King sets the story for our characters was innovative and intriguing. The build-up to the movement of convergence was effortless, and I adored the subject matter discussed (I probably would've taken more of it if we're being honest). The characters are broken, weird, and messy--aren't we all? I would highly recommend to all.

thisisuru's review

4.0

When you start tying the threads? What a great feeling.

dembury's review

5.0

People are SLEEPING on King's novels. Especially this one. As ever, her books are weird and wonderful and hardhitting and heartfelt and just GOOD. "Dig" is both noticeably King but also unlike any of her other books. This one tackles a big sprawling family, a family with ancestors who were potato farmers, and a whole lot of the dirty issues that come with secrets, prejudices, teenage-hood, privilege, selling weed, anxiety, and finding purpose. It sounds like a lot, and in many ways it is. The narrative bounces back a forth between a pretty big cast of characters, but the glorious bit is that these characters are fascinating. Not always good, decent characters, but ones who feel real and relatable. If you like your books with a big dose of surrealism and plenty of depth (and a poem about worms), "Dig" is a must-read.

bookishnewfie's review

5.0

This book. Wow. This book was amazing. You might find your self confused with all the characters different stories going on for the first half of the book but MAN is it worth it when it all ties together. This book covers so many topics and emotions that are so important I feel like everyone should read this.

beccam22's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

I have heard this book pitched many time to me and I don’t think anyone I have heard talk about this book has read this book. Yes it’s kind of about potatoes, a pita or farmer, a character is called the shoveler. 

But this book is about racism, this book is about generational trauma and breaking out of that. This book is about trusting the next generation is not just lazy, whiney, and stupid kids. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Cancer, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Classism, and Hate crime

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Child death, Colonisation, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Vomit

all of the characters are connected, the grandmother is I would say the most racist which is routed in receiving “black blood” after an accident that almost killed her and needing a blood transfusion following, being told she had “black blood” and feeling dirty/unpure ever sense. She passed this racism down to one child, the others have tried to do better. Her husband does get sick of her shit near the end of the book and wants to do better. The grandchildren all recognize the racism and want to do better. There is mention of white supremacy, neo-nazism, and hate crimes. There is also a character who is introduced as a very likable and caring person and come summer when he wears short sleeves has a “100% white power” tattoo. There are teenagers being recruited to join white supremacy groups outside their school. There is a girl who was kidnapped, raped, murdered, and buried in the woods but is not gone into in detail until the end of the book. A female character talks about douching with turpentine multiple times in the book.

hilaryannbrown's review

5.0

WHAT. WOW. WOW. I couldn't sleep until I finished this, and now I won't be able to sleep because that ending gave me so much to think about.

I love a book with multiple narrators who come together in the end! This is a story about five teenagers whose lives cross in surprising ways. It's also about white supremacy and making a better world than the one your parents left you. It's a work of surrealism and magic that ends up feeling more real than the physical world around you.

I am absolutely floored.

brigid_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

goodem9199's review

5.0

A.S. King is fucking brilliant.