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surprisebear's review
challenging
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Addiction, Racism, Hate crime, Grief, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Xenophobia
nfoutty's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction and Racism
Minor: Gun violence and Police brutality
criticalgayze's review
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Like with Exit West, this book poses some interesting questions. These are two that really stuck with me:
- What gives a person their "self?"
- Does a change in one's "self," especially a drastic change, make them more aware of who they are or less aware?
While Hamid is amazing at positing deep moral questions, unlike with Exit West, I don't think this book goes quite far enough in addressing them or their repercussions in the specific world he's laid out here. It is sad to think, but I don't think the violence of the moment likely escalates to its logical end point, and I think the ledge is come down from rather too quickly and smoothly.
We also get a rather random glimpse at a possible aware external narrator who only presents themselves once, which makes it feel like an original structure idea that forgot to be fully excised from the final edit.
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Hate crime, Gun violence, Murder, and Chronic illness
Minor: Addiction
caterpillar's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i really liked the premise of this book and the story as it played out! i didn’t love the style of writing (run-on sentences/stream of consciousness) because it made it hard for me to keep my attention on what i was reading. however, as the book progressed, i began to enjoy it more
Moderate: Murder, Drug abuse, Addiction, Violence, Racism, Suicide, Hate crime, and Death of parent
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