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P. Djèlí Clark: Ring Shout (Hardcover, 2020, Tor.com) 5 stars

Review of 'Ring Shout' on 'Goodreads'

No rating

I have no idea what to do with this.

The idea was intriguing, creative and powerful. However, I could not get along with the prose. I had to force myself through. Although it is a plot centered, dark book, which i normally would like, because it hit the right spots, I was completely detached from the story, because my non-native english self cannot deal with english slang. I know how important black slang (if that is the word for it) is for black culture, but it was pure struggle for me. All my brain did was constantly correcting the wrong grammar. Additionally, i had to stress through the book, because I read it for a challenge. So it might also be that I did not give it the time it deserves. That's why I decided not to rate it.

I think it is a book worth recommending, if you like dark plot heavy, fast paced stories. The characters do work, but because the book is short, they are not really fleshed out. And I think it's hard to connect with them and care for them. And the character I cared for was then taken out of the story halfway through.

Sometimes the plot was all over the place. But since i was so detached and struggled through the writing, that could be on me, because I could not follow the flow of the story at all.
It felt very black and white, very packaged brute emotions and like art that tries to process rage, and for that, it works.

I also believe that this would work very well on screen. Something similiar to "the walking dead". And there, the characters would shine.

Maybe i will reread the book one day without pressure and just take it slow. But right now, if i read another sentece that omits subjects or verbs I am probably going to lose it.