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A review by knkoch
Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
This was a really tough read for me. The characters endure some deep hardships, and I had a hard time getting through parts of this. It’s important to bear witness, and I’m certainly privileged to merely read about these experiences of immigration, poverty, and depression rather than directly live much of what these characters go through.
There’s a well-observed beauty in the author’s descriptions of both Jamaica and Brooklyn, but some relationships were very hard to read about, particularly the maternal ones. There’s a brutality there that makes it hard to imagine rereading this one. But the romantic relationships are elegant and visceral, and the ending wrapped things up in an unexpectedly satisfying way.
There’s a well-observed beauty in the author’s descriptions of both Jamaica and Brooklyn, but some relationships were very hard to read about, particularly the maternal ones. There’s a brutality there that makes it hard to imagine rereading this one. But the romantic relationships are elegant and visceral, and the ending wrapped things up in an unexpectedly satisfying way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Physical abuse