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bookswithlee's Reviews (669)
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
really enjoyed this book. I took my time reading through it to truly digest the information and I believe that made the book more enjoyable.
This is a multiple time stream book and we follow multiple characters. At times, I found it hard to follow due to some of the details in the book that I can explain now without spoiling the story.
I will say that I found the story to be both heartbreaking and sweet. I loved the significance of the black cake throughout the story. Similar to the cake, the story had multiple layers each of which is important and necessary in its own way. Food holds so much significance in various cultures and I felt the author did a good job shining light on the significance of black cake.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys different time streams, found families, with a little bit of suspense added in. Great book! One that I can see myself rereading in the future
Thank you Netgally for this book.
TW/CW: death of a parent, sexual assault, racism, rape, abandonment, suicide attempt, murder domestic abuse, pregnancy. Adult/minor relationship
This is a multiple time stream book and we follow multiple characters. At times, I found it hard to follow due to some of the details in the book that I can explain now without spoiling the story.
I will say that I found the story to be both heartbreaking and sweet. I loved the significance of the black cake throughout the story. Similar to the cake, the story had multiple layers each of which is important and necessary in its own way. Food holds so much significance in various cultures and I felt the author did a good job shining light on the significance of black cake.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys different time streams, found families, with a little bit of suspense added in. Great book! One that I can see myself rereading in the future
Thank you Netgally for this book.
TW/CW: death of a parent, sexual assault, racism, rape, abandonment, suicide attempt, murder domestic abuse, pregnancy. Adult/minor relationship
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia
Mental health, fantasy, bisexual rep, with a dark feel? What’s not to love?
This book is definitely one of a kind, and as someone who is a therapist who works with adolescents, I felt this book. I was constantly reading into every move, trying to understand and feel what the characters felt.
I recommend the physical book as it includes graphics throughout and as the book gets “darker” the pages get darker. I loved how interactive it felt.
Often I struggle with books that have mental illness Rep as it’s often done poorly with a lot of stigma, however, it was written well and accurately described in this book.
I loved it!
Cw: pyromania, child neglect, codependent relationship, drug use, mental illness
This book is definitely one of a kind, and as someone who is a therapist who works with adolescents, I felt this book. I was constantly reading into every move, trying to understand and feel what the characters felt.
I recommend the physical book as it includes graphics throughout and as the book gets “darker” the pages get darker. I loved how interactive it felt.
Often I struggle with books that have mental illness Rep as it’s often done poorly with a lot of stigma, however, it was written well and accurately described in this book.
I loved it!
Cw: pyromania, child neglect, codependent relationship, drug use, mental illness
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It only took me 2 months to finally get this book from my library, it just so happened to come available this month. I wasn’t going to read this book as I was weary of the slavery setting; however it was done well in this story. A hard, but important read that I can find myself picking up again in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Violence
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Well sometimes people we love the most can hurt us the most”
4.5 stars ⭐️ This book has left me in deep thoughts for multiple reasons. From the minute I started the book I knew that something was off. Not only did I see myself in Monday as a child but I am also in the profession that is constantly highlighted in this book. I will not share what I do as that will spoil the story.
The hardest part for me is that this is not just a story this is the reality for many children and families.
I will never forget this book. I will forever think about Monday.
.5 taken off only because the timeline was a bit confusing at times
4.5 stars ⭐️ This book has left me in deep thoughts for multiple reasons. From the minute I started the book I knew that something was off. Not only did I see myself in Monday as a child but I am also in the profession that is constantly highlighted in this book. I will not share what I do as that will spoil the story.
The hardest part for me is that this is not just a story this is the reality for many children and families.
I will never forget this book. I will forever think about Monday.
.5 taken off only because the timeline was a bit confusing at times
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-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
After reading this book, I decided to look up the meaning of its title as I was not familiar with it. This is what I found:
The word Sankofa in translation is “to retrieve” this bird teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward and this book embodies this and so much more.
We follow Anna who is a biracial 48 year old woman who is in search of her biological father after the passing of her mother. In searching for him, she finds that he held high power in a west African country. In discovering more about him, Anna begins to learn more about herself.
What I enjoyed about this story is the way that the author executed the struggles of the main character. We watch as Anna grapples with not feeling White enough while also not fitting in with Black folxs either. This is something that I’m sure many may be able to relate to.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the ending as it felt gimmicky, however, I also appreciated that the author gave some closure and tie it up nice in a bow.
Great book! Can’t wait to read more from this author
The word Sankofa in translation is “to retrieve” this bird teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward and this book embodies this and so much more.
We follow Anna who is a biracial 48 year old woman who is in search of her biological father after the passing of her mother. In searching for him, she finds that he held high power in a west African country. In discovering more about him, Anna begins to learn more about herself.
What I enjoyed about this story is the way that the author executed the struggles of the main character. We watch as Anna grapples with not feeling White enough while also not fitting in with Black folxs either. This is something that I’m sure many may be able to relate to.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the ending as it felt gimmicky, however, I also appreciated that the author gave some closure and tie it up nice in a bow.
Great book! Can’t wait to read more from this author