Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Between: Novel, A

This book was such a fantastically written exploration of the tie between dreams and consciousness. The tension is palpable as Hilton’s life appears to branch off just to be yanked back into place again and I felt so engaged with his childhood and grandmother. In the last third, things began picking up as Hilton got new insights and I honestly think it was the perfect time to pick up the pace. The end is devastating but cathartic in a way that could only be achieved with a very limited set of options.

The first third of the book contains very graphic sexual content including a depiction of explicit infidelity but it’s very distinct when the narrative departs from that highly sexualized place as it’s one of the first confirmations we have to begin understanding how Hilton’s perceptions of reality are slipping.

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nannahnannah's review against another edition

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5.0

I feel like I’ve heard Tananarive Due’s name around, and now I know why. Her writing and characterization are superb. I had to stop to take notes on some of the ways she made the main character's book-long breakdown seem so real and emotionally powerful. And in a debut! So glad this was published in the 90s, because I can read what else she’s done since then.

Representation:
- the main character and his family (as well as most of the secondary characters) are Black
- the MC’s friend is Latino

When he was a child, Hilton found his grandmother, "Nana", dead in the kitchen. After he returned with help, she was alive. But he knew she had been dead. Later, Nana sacrificed herself to save him. Now in his mid-thirties, Hilton begins to have surreal nightmares, his family has a stalker sending racist death threats, and Hilton dissolves into paranoia and delusion. His family thinks he needs help, but he’s convinced there's something supernatural behind his breakdown … and it all comes back to Nana.

This book kept me up until three in the morning. Regularly. I am stunned that it has so few reviews. Everything -- every last detail -- is carefully planned to make the reading experience more immersive. Hilton’s PoV as a child is written in a very simplistic way. I thought perhaps the author was a little uncertain handling her debut, but when his adult PoV became more sophisticated, I realized Tananarive Due knew what she was doing. Everything is deliberate (another, more common example being the dream scenes written in present tense while everything else is in past).

I’m not even sure what more there is to say, except that this kept me on the edge of my seat, even during scenes I normally wouldn’t like (i.e. scenes involving cheating on one’s partner). As Hilton slowly felt like he was losing his grip on reality, I felt lost with him. So, so well done.

I cannot wait to read what else this author has written.

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ofbooksandechos's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

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amandaquotidianbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

I love how this book plays with the idea of what is real and what isn’t. I do wish we had more concrete explanations for what is happening to Hilton, but that might be clearer upon rereading. Hilton was a complex character and oftentimes unlikable. But he and the other characters were very well drawn. I’m eager to read more by Due!

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