Difficult to read. Couldn’t see the point.

Best discussion we’ve had about a book so far. I think it made us all a little uncomfortable and that’s why we didn’t rate it high.

Girl, Woman, Other-Bernadine Evaristo, author; Anna-Maria Nabirye narrator
I gave the book five stars because it is written brilliantly, but I did not enjoy the book. The subject matter, language, unnecessary sexual content and political viewpoints were off-putting for me, in their presentation. The legitimization of behavior I disapprove of, regarding sex, moral and ethical behavior, was rampant throughout the book. In addition, although the reader was excellent in interpreting the narrative, the staccato style created unnecessary tension.
There are many characters in the novel, and they have extended families, which makes them a bit hard to remember. Therefore, the print book is probably easier to look back in and refresh one's memory. The ending while contrived, was thoroughly satisfying because all the dots connected. Each of the characters, while unique, was also similar to another in some way.
Because the book, which takes place in Great Britain, is basically about people of color, specifically females, it focuses on that community and illuminates their experiences as pure or mixed race women who are sometimes gender-challenged and it illuminates their trials, failures and ultimate successes, informing the reader that gender, sexual identity and race, are largely irrelevant when it comes to talent, ability or honor. That message made the book well worth reading, even if not a reader’s normal choice of book. Absent the use of crude language that positive message and the prose made the book absolutely brilliant.
Its progressive message, however, very political in nature, anti-Trump and anti-conservative, was more than contrived, it was deliberate and unnecessary. I am tired of being brainwashed by the industry and the liberals, truthfully. It is a dangerous situation and it is wrong, when the means of communication are so corrupt and so deliberately engineered to influence the public with negative messages towards one group of people, whether it is about their sex, color, religion or politics.