Reviews

By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker

azjanae's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

mia_lou's review against another edition

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funny reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

cayborg's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

And to think I nearly gave up reading at the start! This book does not seek to hook you in and leave you desiring more, but leaves nibbles of thought for you to munch and savor, before you realize you had been given a full meal.

Of course, she said, from watching their mothers make pots, primitive man would assume God made men from clay. Though why, seeing their mothers' work, they'd think God male, she could not grasp.

My favorite quote but kinda spoilery:

When life descends into the pit
I must become my own candle
willingly burning myself
to light up the darkness around me

discocritic's review against another edition

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4.0

this one was definitely only appropriate for a college-level and beyond audience but the prose was absolutely beautiful all the way through...

lashaun's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The way fatness was used in this book was kind of disheartening for me to read. Like.. I get it but, girl, be fr. A lot of characters to love though. A book that has the capability to really be cherished. 

kholmes72's review against another edition

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4.0

"By The Light of My Father's Smile" is a story of healing ones spirit. It's about what happens when a father dies and in the after life sees where he failed his 2 daughters in life. It also shows how one act can destroy so many lives. To quote the author "That it is the triumphant heart, not the conquered heart, that forgives. And that love is both timeless and beyond time."

forwardsbeckonrebound's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

alice walker’s writing is so beautiful and profound that it makes everything else feel very small and for moments makes me feel like i can see the world so clearly 

loveangle's review against another edition

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4.0

"Laughter isn't even the other side of tears. It is tears turned inside out. Truly the suffering is great, here on earth. We blunder along, shredded by our mistakes, bludgeoned by our faults. Not having a clue where the dark path leads us. But on the whole, we stumble along bravely, don't you think?"

"And so you laugh," I said.

"I laugh," he said, waving his hand in the air, attempting to disguise a tear.

skuborssy's review against another edition

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1.0

I tried so hard, so hard to like it and be invested in this book. It’s so all over the place. Maybe I’m not refined enough of a reader, but this was hard to follow!

rhijane's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0