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tbooks15's review against another edition
It’s trying to be “kindred” but it is not
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
One of the things I really liked about this book, aside from the use of vernacular, the author uses different parts of the corn plant to represent race distinction, such as it is. For people who look "white" he uses the term "cornsilk"; for "balck", he uses "cornflower", and for indigenous Americans, he uses "cornroot". I find this to be a perfect metaphor for humanity, all different parts of the same plant, and how very stupid it is that one part is degraded by another.
catmariemartin's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
literarylover37's review against another edition
I was giving an ARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest, I DNF'd this book at about 30%. Usually I try to push through a book if it is one that I've been given for free and will be reviewing but in this case I found myself just beginning to skim and realized that I wasn't getting enough out of it to make a difference.
My main issue was that I just did not like or connect to any of the characters. Heck, I would even take being engaged by the characters; there have been baddies I didn't like but loved to hate! Still the lack of support for the characters wouldn't be a problem if this was a plot driven book but it isn't. It is a character based book because in the 30% I did make it through, not much happened at all. They found out about a lynching that was scheduled and were still making their way to this event by 30%. (I've now realized based on other reviews that the lynching isn't the point, it's just the event that sort of connects the characters. Okay that would have been better to have known before; I didn't get that from the synopsis.) (It scarily reminded me of Joyce's Ulysses in this meandering way.) I was already tired of these characters at that point. If you do like slower moving books that are focused on characters who are not entirely likable, then this book might click more with you.
SO. Not a bad book. But. Not a book for me.
I'll be honest, I DNF'd this book at about 30%. Usually I try to push through a book if it is one that I've been given for free and will be reviewing but in this case I found myself just beginning to skim and realized that I wasn't getting enough out of it to make a difference.
My main issue was that I just did not like or connect to any of the characters. Heck, I would even take being engaged by the characters; there have been baddies I didn't like but loved to hate! Still the lack of support for the characters wouldn't be a problem if this was a plot driven book but it isn't. It is a character based book because in the 30% I did make it through, not much happened at all. They found out about a lynching that was scheduled and were still making their way to this event by 30%. (I've now realized based on other reviews that the lynching isn't the point, it's just the event that sort of connects the characters. Okay that would have been better to have known before; I didn't get that from the synopsis.) (It scarily reminded me of Joyce's Ulysses in this meandering way.) I was already tired of these characters at that point. If you do like slower moving books that are focused on characters who are not entirely likable, then this book might click more with you.
SO. Not a bad book. But. Not a book for me.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
Didn't finish. Read about the first 30 pages and I couldn't get past the atrocious characters, even though they presumably are people of their time. I enjoyed Neverhome by the same author, but didn't like the fictionalized approach to lynchings and racism.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3 STARS
2017; Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)
On a hot summer night in the 1930s, three black men are about to be lynched by a vengeful crowd. One woman, with her husband and boss, goes towards the violence while another one runs from it towards her lover.
I found the first 1/3 of the novel quite well-written but then found it hard to stay engaged with the story and characters. I found myself flipping to get to the end. I finished the novel but it took a bit of work.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2017; Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group
(Review Not on Blog)
On a hot summer night in the 1930s, three black men are about to be lynched by a vengeful crowd. One woman, with her husband and boss, goes towards the violence while another one runs from it towards her lover.
I found the first 1/3 of the novel quite well-written but then found it hard to stay engaged with the story and characters. I found myself flipping to get to the end. I finished the novel but it took a bit of work.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
leonore_book's review against another edition
3.0
This book was different. The author tried to tell of two women's stories, but failed to make them connect. One stopped short leaving you with so many questions and the next just simply didn't make a point with the first. I like the effort, but it just didn't seem to work. By the end the stories just didn't seem complete and didn't really tie into together.
thedizzyreader's review against another edition
1.0
When you're three quarters through and still not that into it, it's past time to abandon the journey. Not sure if it's because I didn't like the narrators or if I was just too confused to roll with it. I also wasn't a big fan of the completely separate stories and the big switch in the middle. I do, however, appreciate what I think the author was trying to do with putting the lynching in the background.
indyreadrosa's review against another edition
5.0
Look. I like Laird Hunt's stuff. The whole story is told through conversation and observation from narrators with a limited view (as we all have) of the world. It is not tied up neatly in a bow...but the weight of the events at the center hold down the narrative--keeping it from flying away into disparate parts. (I original used "desperate" by accident but that word fits too) I am going to have to go back to it and read at a slower pace to truly judge it. If you like reading about American History (even the nihilistic void that underpins so much of it) this is a good slice of novel to read.
emydeqdillon's review against another edition
4.0
I like how the characters paths cross at some point during the book and how the universe seemed to keep intervening to keep this group from attending a lynching. Calla’s experiences that day were scary and emotionally heart wrenching.
I wish there was more of an “ending” that elaborated on Ottie Lee’s encounter with Calla on the road. The last section of the book was a beautiful glimmer of kindness and goodness in a book whose subject is so dark.
I wish there was more of an “ending” that elaborated on Ottie Lee’s encounter with Calla on the road. The last section of the book was a beautiful glimmer of kindness and goodness in a book whose subject is so dark.