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blackcake'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 will you inspire you to seek out knowledge about your family. It showed, in a plethora of examples through the generations, how history repeats itself when you're unaware of it or haven't learned from it.
The hard hitting issues, as far as racism, colorism, featurism, and xenophobia was painted and explained brilliantly. Charmaine did a phenomenal job educating the reader on these topics, specially in the loosely based Jamaican culture. She walked us into the world of the toxic thinking and beliefs some people, mainly of the older generation, possessed.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in food culture, Jamaican/Island culture and lifestyle, family secrets, and/or civil rights. You will not be disappointed.
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Domestic abuse, Rape, Slavery, and Suicide attempt
katy_heath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
Minor: Slavery, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Not an option to include but this book includes forced marriagedaniellestarredpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Biphobia, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
hjb_128'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
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
kyriannaj'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
1.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer
reddeddy'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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Slavery, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
erinoconnor'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? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
tinyjude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The story deals with topics such as immigration, racism, colourism, gambling issues, biphobia, sexual assault, domestic abuse, colonialism (specifically the West Indies-The UK, America and Spain) and its consequences even in the way the characters viewed their oppressors' land as full of opportunities and then became disillusioned and appalled by the bigotry and lies. It also deals with conflicts such as police brutality and abuse, the difficulties both women (just for being women sometimes) and men of colour face in the workfield; as well as how colourism and gender plays a big role in it.
But most of all it's a book about family history, heritage, feeling torn and at a crossroad with your identity (multiculturalism, hybridity, cultural assimilation, etc.), feeling lonely and ashamed by unfair things that happened to you (mostly women), white lies, safety and love. Above all. It's a book about love. A mother's love for her children. Family's love, friends' love, sibling's conflicts and love and romantic affection. Love for yourself, your safety and your life.
And: What are you willing to sacrifice for x?
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Mental illness, Slavery, Trafficking, and Death of parent
clpaige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Murder, and Sexual harassment
ptoridactyl30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism