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A review by stitchsaddiction
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bernardine Evaristo has given the world a masterpiece in Girl Woman Other which is a collection of stories that follow a group of women whose individual tale weaves into another's and holds the attention and heart of the reader.
I can fully understand why this book is a Booker Prize winner, and I wish I'd read it sooner as I was captivated and moved from the first tale till the last which had me crying at the end.
I liked how the stories were put together being in four sections of three chapters - short and succinct with Evaristo's ability as a wordsmith to ensure the reader is taken into the tale in such a manner than you're deeply affected by the story of each main character. The author's ability to bring forth the many sides of the vibrancy of a contemporary Britain through the voices of the diversity of Black voices (predominantly women but there's a nonbinary character too) whose differing backgrounds is one that I haven't seen before and has me wanting to reading more of this author's work. Whether it be down to age, class, religion, sexuality or gender identity, employment status or familial status? Their voices and the stories they tell show differing views of a similar world and are a stark reminder that diversity is both important and telling of how we our world and those within it.
Evaristo describes her world as ‘fusion fiction’ and allows the reader to move from one tale to another in a seamless manner. It works so well, and I think the beauty of this work is not only the context but also how it's written in this manner. I think this work of belonging in many aspects is one that will remain with the reader for a long time.
I can fully understand why this book is a Booker Prize winner, and I wish I'd read it sooner as I was captivated and moved from the first tale till the last which had me crying at the end.
I liked how the stories were put together being in four sections of three chapters - short and succinct with Evaristo's ability as a wordsmith to ensure the reader is taken into the tale in such a manner than you're deeply affected by the story of each main character. The author's ability to bring forth the many sides of the vibrancy of a contemporary Britain through the voices of the diversity of Black voices (predominantly women but there's a nonbinary character too) whose differing backgrounds is one that I haven't seen before and has me wanting to reading more of this author's work. Whether it be down to age, class, religion, sexuality or gender identity, employment status or familial status? Their voices and the stories they tell show differing views of a similar world and are a stark reminder that diversity is both important and telling of how we our world and those within it.
Evaristo describes her world as ‘fusion fiction’ and allows the reader to move from one tale to another in a seamless manner. It works so well, and I think the beauty of this work is not only the context but also how it's written in this manner. I think this work of belonging in many aspects is one that will remain with the reader for a long time.