A review by fraeyalise
Long Division by Kiese Laymon

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

Edit: Unfortunately, I read the digital copy as that was the only copy at my library and from reading other reviews I really missed out. Apparently, in print it's a book you read half and then flip over. I would have LOVED to experience that reading it the first time. :c 

Original review: What a beautiful, weird piece of Southern sci-fi. Really glad I picked this up. 

At some points, I'd feel confused, but not in a bad way, or a frustrating way, but in an intriguing that-was-not-what-I-expected way. I loved the main characters constant "random" questions that were never really random. I loved the layers in this book. I'm absolutely positive it will give up more secrets on a re-read. 

The part where Shalaya gives up Baize to change the future, though, that was super hard to read. I couldn't have done it. I couldn't look my son in the face and then choose a different path to where he doesn't exist.

I wish the book had been more explicit in the end about what happens to them and their family. And I wish I had a more concrete why on how the two Citys were connected.
 

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