Scan barcode
rnfortier's review
- 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
4.75
This book is grounded in the realities of our criminal justice system, so much so that it presents a future that seems not that far off given the rate of incarceration (particularly BIPOC) in the US.
Thoughtfully presented and so well researched, but the author humanizes his characters in such a tragic way you can’t help but love them as the wade through a murder forward “justice” system.
Graphic: Slavery, Medical trauma, Death, Body horror, Racism, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Racial slurs, and Sexual violence
rainbopagn'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
4.75
SPOILERS in
3
2
1
I am more than a little pissed that Thurwar killed Staxxx. I had expected them to go out together, mortally wounding each other. I understand the meaning of the full circle moment but it still annoyed me.
Graphic: Blood, Police brutality, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Homophobia, Suicide, Torture, Transphobia, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Moderate: Abandonment, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Ableism, Rape, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Infidelity
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Cursing
liketherobot5's review
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Self harm, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
embel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Body horror, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Gore, Blood, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexism
jillaay_h'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Slavery, Suicide, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Medical trauma, and Racism
chughes5'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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Gore, Cursing, Body horror, Blood, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
karlymarcy's review
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Physical abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Rape
3littlewordz's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Self harm, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Police brutality, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Gore, Bullying, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Cursing
aksmith92's review
- 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
The plot: We are thrown into chaos on page one - Loretta Thurwar is introduced by way of having to kill another inmate named Melancholia Bishop through Criminal Action Penal Entertainment (CAPE), which is a top-rated "extreme sports program" that takes inmates from the private prison industry and turns them into...gladiators of sorts. Colloquially, they are known as the Chain-Gang All-Stars, and we walk through Thurwar's life in CAPE and plenty of others, including Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker. The CAPE program is heavily explained because Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah wants you to understand how thought-out this program is, and we see, in detail, how the characters get to CAPE and what they have to do while they are in CAPE. We intimately meet these characters and their lives while getting doses of "regular" folks on the outside immersed in this dystopia-like world. In the process of reading this fictional story, we also get to read some footnotes about the mass incarceration system in our current world and reckon with what it means to be in an unchecked capitalist society.
What I loved: Everything. This was poignant, devastating, and brutal. There is no way around it - the book contains incredible violence. However, what is ALSO incredibly sad to read is the thought processes of those in the prison system who have learned that CAPE is the only way, who then adopt this violence-like mindset. There is a little bit of Stockholm Syndrome here - the stars of CAPE get used to the fame and "fortune" in this program (the further you get, the better food and clothing you have, etc.). While distant from what you just read, every chapter is connected in some way, and it's interesting to read about inmates, protesters, spectators, and even those involved in the CAPE program. Everyone you read about feels exceptionally human. The inmates are never portrayed as fantastic or good people, but they know this is an awful program.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah was masterful in his storytelling - a perfect example of "what could be" in our current society. Even on page three, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah decided (likely strategically) to connect the game contractually to mention the Super Bowl; it made me laugh, not out of actual laughter but because I can actually imagine that happening. There are mentions of "Whole Market" and other brands that we can assume and infer....this novel seemed like a dystopia but was entirely too relatable. There are incredible juxtapositions that just had me thinking. For example, we get chapters from someone named Emily's point of view - just a regular ole' white married woman who seems not to love CAPE and the games but somehow can't look away. One night, she's watching an episode of the Chain-Gang All-Stars on her smart refrigerator (just in case you can't get to your TV in time!). Emily is watching LinkLyfe, where cameras follow Chains/Links into nature and watch them "March." When the camera comes to Hurricane Staxxx, she covers her face with her arms that have "Xs" tattooed on them for every death she causes. The Xs on her arms align perfectly with her eyes, and she sticks her tongue out, pretending to be a dead cartoon character. We see this from Emily's point of view from her Fridge TV, and the irony of it all is just palatable.
One of my favorite parts is how connected I felt to the characters. Some who've read this book have mentioned that the chapter structure and how the story is told could be better, leading to them forgetting about the characters or not feeling as connected. I disagree; I don't know how Adjei-Brenyah did it, but I was fully immersed in all the characters and their stories.
This is satire, though. We must remember that this is told from what we view as "an extreme." However, you can't help but feel its relevance and its importance.
What I didn't like: I liked everything. Literally, everything was important to me, and this book had an incredibly profound impact on me. It's an essential conversation starter about our current US system regarding justice and rehabilitation. I loved it so much, in the worst way possible. To love this book means that you likely hated it and were uncomfortable. It was the point. It is NOT a cozy read by any means, and the ending will stun you somehow. But I cannot recommend this book enough.
"LinkLyfe might be a nature show if people cared more for the canvas and less for the blood painted all over it."
"When you think of us, remember that just because something is, doesn't mean it can't change, and just because you haven't seen something before, that doesn't mean it's impossible. They call this the freeing ground. So who's going to be freed: me or you?"
Graphic: Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Grief, Racism, Classism, Gore, Confinement, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Torture, Death of parent, Body horror, Death, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Cursing, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Rape is not depicted, but is alluded to (either by an inmate doing it or someone had it happen to them). Same with sexual assault/harassment/violence - not on the page but mentioned.lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Self harm, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Classism, Hate crime, Transphobia, Car accident, Gun violence, Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Ableism