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badwolfreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Lakewood
Megan Giddings
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OPENING LINE: "Lena's grandmother's final instructions were that the funeral should be scheduled for 11 a.m. but would start at 11:17 when everyone would be there and seated."
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: Lena agrees to be part of a mysterious research study to help pay her mother's medical bills but she quickly finds out there's more to the study than she thought.
• This was such an interesting plot
• Poor Lena, she really felt trapped
• Kept me engaged - I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next
• Author did a great job of creating a fever dream kind of feeling
• The studies being done and the invasiveness of them was disturbing
• I liked how the author tied it in to testing on African Americans (similar to the Tuskegee Experiment)
• I would've liked to find out what the point of the studies were
• Story kind of ended abruptly
printedonvellum's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? No
2.75
The book explores some important territory and would be a good entrance point into the history of black medical mistreatment and exploitation.
However, the author doesn't take all of these things full-circle. Many points are made, but they aren't borne out by the specifics of the plot or character action.
Additionally, there's a lot of setups that never result in any payoff. And the ending feels very rushed. Sort of feels like it had another revisions or two in it but the publisher wanted it out NOW.
However, the author doesn't take all of these things full-circle. Many points are made, but they aren't borne out by the specifics of the plot or character action.
Additionally, there's a lot of setups that never result in any payoff. And the ending feels very rushed. Sort of feels like it had another revisions or two in it but the publisher wanted it out NOW.
slrich9024's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
caroiline's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ashtynolive's review against another edition
4.0
Okay this book definitely deserves its flowers. It sets you on edge and is beautifully written. This is a modern classic with commentary on race and healthcare and the sordid history of human atrocities in the name of “research” and “progress”.
Part 1 does get a little repetitive. I feel that some of the story was sacrificed for vague descriptions of the experiments. I think a little more narrative about why this was happening would have really fleshed out the book.
The second half is quite underwhelming. Maybe I just didn’t “get it” but I found that it didn’t quite flow the same as Part 1. It felt a bit rushed and a little unresolved.
Part 1 does get a little repetitive. I feel that some of the story was sacrificed for vague descriptions of the experiments. I think a little more narrative about why this was happening would have really fleshed out the book.
The second half is quite underwhelming. Maybe I just didn’t “get it” but I found that it didn’t quite flow the same as Part 1. It felt a bit rushed and a little unresolved.
wonoowoo's review against another edition
2.75
a lil disjointed and confusing at times with some unanswered questions but i also get the appeal of that as well!! super interesting and a lil gorier than i expected !
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
Whoa, this book...totally unlike any other that I've read. When Lena signs up to take part in a government experiment, it sounds too good to be true. There are drops to turn her eyes blue, pills to cure Alzheimer's...but these also cause forgetfulness. Each body part has a price. The water tastes weird. No questions are allowed.
If you're looking for an increasingly unsettling book with very few answers, this is it. Don't expect a resolution or an a-ha moment. It's all part of the fun of reading this disturbing book.
It gets even more interesting when Lena starts exhibiting some of the same traits as her mother: what is inherited? Can trauma be passed down like debt?
If you're looking for an increasingly unsettling book with very few answers, this is it. Don't expect a resolution or an a-ha moment. It's all part of the fun of reading this disturbing book.
It gets even more interesting when Lena starts exhibiting some of the same traits as her mother: what is inherited? Can trauma be passed down like debt?
_egg_wash's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Chronic illness
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
Minor: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Vomit, and Excrement
helen_is's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5