A review by brotestantethic
Lakewood by Megan Giddings

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.25

Feverish. A damning indictment of clinical trials and the United States’ perversion of Black people. Giddings creates an expansive and believable landscape, despite how ridiculous the trials may seem. Every second is filled with uncertainty and terror, and I would certainly classify this as thriller even though it lacks many of the typical elements. It’s an incredibly smart novel.

What fell just short for me was the main character Lena’s personality and stakes. She has high stakes for sure, but they are not built in a convincing way before plummeting into the horrors. Lena’s personality blossoms in the second act, consisting of letters written to her best friend Tanya; here, we get a hazy first person account of her journey. This section is full of personality, with words and grammar slipping into a diabolical haze of sickness and poor memory. This bit was, I will say, extremely hard to follow. But the heart is there, and the
concept that these trials live within families, that memories traverse generations and are passed down hereditarily is absolutely stunning.
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