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filmcritic23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
jhbandcats'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
5.0
This book delves into all these aspects of life on the island, as shown through the eyes of Akal, a disgraced Indian policeman exiled to Fiji. He doesn’t feel connected to the coolies (the workers) despite their both being Indian. As a higher caste person, he can’t - or won’t - see how similar they are.
Akal is tasked with finding a missing coolie but it turns out to be a more far-reaching case than he first thought. This is where we learn the complicated relationship between Fiji, India, and England. We see the casual racism of the white Europeans for anyone darker, the lack of respect for a policeman who, as an Indian, has “no right” to investigate his white “betters.” This grates on Akal every time but he has to bite his tongue and pretend the racism doesn’t bother him.
There’s a wonderful friendship between Akal (Indian), a fellow policeman (Fijian), and a doctor (Englishman). It illustrates how racial prejudice is something learned, not something inherent. To hear the three laughing together mitigates a tiny bit of the awfulness that has come before.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
kimikat273's review against another edition
4.75
I really enjoyed this book, and finished it with the knowledge that I had actually learned something I hadn't known about before. Books that open our eyes to something new are really special, aren't they? I liked the two main characters, Akal and the doctor, Robert Holmes. They seemed to bounce nicely off each other, despite their different backgrounds, and many of my favourite pieces of this book involved their quiet moments together. Completing the group is Taviti, a Fijian police officer who delights in teasing Akal. I understand that these three characters will feature in the next book from the author and I'm really looking forward to reading their further adventures!
All in all, this is a great book! My only complaint is that it felt too short - I could have read more and not been bored. Hence my reason for not giving a full five stars. I hope the next book is longer!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Medical content
thech4nclan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism
bookfortbuilder's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Murder, and Colonisation
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
coronationcorgi's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Suicide
uranaishi's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, War, and Deportation
chailady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and Murder
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Grief, and Alcohol