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rchulin1's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
junglejelly'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
4.0
While I did mostly enjoy the book, I did find the middle too slow in pace, and the parents' perspectives too jarring. The slow pace and different perspectives affected the flow of the book.
The ending is so haunting and left me
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
stellahadz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
That being said, it's a brilliantly written book. The characters are well fleshed-out, and their stories are gripping, although sometimes hard to read because of how much hardship they face. The beginning of the book dragged a bit for me, but the last 3/4 more than made up for it. Definitely recommend, but only if you're ready for a book to break your heart.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
tamaramo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Vomit, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
kwahl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
irislise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide, Vomit, and Murder
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
erebus53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Amongst the main players are,
a woman who is a doctor who is being pressured by family to marry the man she has been dating,
his father who is a politician,
her mother who is trying to hold a family together,
the woman she buys her handmade dresses from,
a boy who works in the tailoring shop,
his family and their hopes and financial struggles that have been immense since his father was laid off by government funding cuts for schools.
These disparate characters seem to have little in common except locality. Each has their own history, drives and challenges. The pace is slow and half way through I was feeling a little lost when it came to understanding the significance of some things. Although frustrating, this is part of the point of the book. Without a big picture of what is going on, it is easy to ignore small things that contribute to a problem. This is a major theme of the story, but it takes a back seat to the unfolding interplay of characters.
As a backdrop we see a country that lives with shortage of medical and teaching staff (caused in part by the exodus of graduate students), and a divide between rich and poor that leaves those who are destitute or disabled begging on the streets. There is also some disability narrative with a mother who is terrified that her children will be Dyslexic, because she feels that her personal survival was only possible due to marrying a man with a good job.
Logical things happen but it still feels affronting. The last 5% of the book is a rollercoaster of tenseness and revelation, and emotional resonance that would only be possible with the time and love that the reader invests in the characters to this point. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes character driven stories, has a lot of patience, and an interest in Nigeria.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Alcohol