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challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have a love/hate relationship with Jack. The writing is solid and there are many beautiful passages, but there are so many problematic things with this novel. The relationship between Jack and Della is unhealthy to say the least. Jack is an alcoholic with low self-esteem, suicidal ideations, and also suffering from depression and anxiety. But then, here comes Della. Sorry, but Jack does not love Della. Jack loves how Della makes him feel better about himself. Jack does not once think about the consequences of being in a relationship with a Black woman in the Jim Crow south. Jack does not have the strength of character to fight society and Della’s family. Whether it’s in a contemporary romance, or a literary novel, you can’t love someone out of depression, alcoholism, low self-esteem, etc. NOPE. Then there is the way that race is basically erased by Robinson’s writing. Jack is a pretty unreliable narrator, but it’s still pretty obvious that when it comes to race in America, Jack is clueless. And Jack’s cluelessness is almost insulting. Also, Della is a smart, college-educated woman. I could not even remotely understand what she saw in Jack, whether he was white or Black. Robinson wants to convince the reader that it was racism that destroyed Jack and Della’s relationship. It was not. Racism is the easy scapegoat. It’s possible that in a few years Robinson will write a novel from Della’s point of view, but I won’t be interested in reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent