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A review by daijahsbookworld
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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this was my first tananarive due novel, and i’m so glad i chose it. this book is profoundly gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and challenging to read. while i can usually handle a lot of triggering content, stories centered on racial trauma hit differently for me because i am black and racial trauma is something i, and people i love, have to live through everyday. it's not something i like to read in my fiction often because of my daily experiences. that being said, i think this book addressed its heavy themes with an incredible amount of care and thorough research, which made it both impactful and deeply respectful of the subject matter.
the writing is absolutely stunning and incredibly immersive. tananarive due has a way of pulling you into the story so completely that you feel every emotion the characters experience. however i do think the book’s length worked against it in some ways. at almost 600 pages, it felt a bit too long and i believe trimming 100–150 pages could have made it even stronger. the repetition at certain points risked diluting the story’s powerful message and its emotional impact for some readers.
despite that this book is profoundly important and i cannot recommend it enough if you’re in the right mental space to handle its intense and triggering content. if you’re prepared for an emotionally raw and thought-provoking experience, this is a story worth picking up.
this was my first tananarive due novel, and i’m so glad i chose it. this book is profoundly gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and challenging to read. while i can usually handle a lot of triggering content, stories centered on racial trauma hit differently for me because i am black and racial trauma is something i, and people i love, have to live through everyday. it's not something i like to read in my fiction often because of my daily experiences. that being said, i think this book addressed its heavy themes with an incredible amount of care and thorough research, which made it both impactful and deeply respectful of the subject matter.
the writing is absolutely stunning and incredibly immersive. tananarive due has a way of pulling you into the story so completely that you feel every emotion the characters experience. however i do think the book’s length worked against it in some ways. at almost 600 pages, it felt a bit too long and i believe trimming 100–150 pages could have made it even stronger. the repetition at certain points risked diluting the story’s powerful message and its emotional impact for some readers.
despite that this book is profoundly important and i cannot recommend it enough if you’re in the right mental space to handle its intense and triggering content. if you’re prepared for an emotionally raw and thought-provoking experience, this is a story worth picking up.