Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

21 reviews

silodear's review against another edition

dark 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? No

4.5

Im so grateful for new novel from Jesmyn Ward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, and Death

Minor: Sexual assault

cbrigs99's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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? No

3.25

This is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story delving into the horrors of slavery. The story is told through the lens of Dante’s Inferno, and there are numerous parallels displayed by the author as the main character goes through the stages of sinking deeper into her personal hell and rising out of it. Overall, I thought the prose was nice and the over arching message is amazing. The ending was a great way to wrap the whole story up and a nice conclusion to the story of the main character, Arese. I did struggle to get through this book at times, mainly due to the way the author wrote out some of Arese’s experiences and the incorporation of the gods/goddesses guiding the main character. I had a hard time following what was occurring at times, but part of this has to do with it being a first person perspective of a traumatic life and numerous damaging experiences. I think it was an intentional artistic choice, but for me it inhibited my ability to grasp the story. However, this is a beautiful book and I think many people should read it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Physical abuse

booksbeyondthebinary's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Grief

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Confinement

Minor: Incest

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Grief, Confinement, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual assault and Infertility

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Confinement

dulceflecha's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Rape, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief

qqjj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Rape, Grief, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

caseyjayner's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? N/A

4.5

Beautiful and tragic portrayal of strength and resilience amidst  horrible treatment of slavery.  Profound love of mother and child runs throughout.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Slavery, and Rape

emelynreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Heart wrenching historical fiction about the realities of slavery in the American south. Even though it's seems like a short read (wide line spacing) it is challenging to read because of the traumatic subject nature. After finishing the book, I mainly felt a deep sorrow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Physical abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Violence, Torture, Confinement, and Body horror

Minor: Rape

bookishcori's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Blood, and Torture

Moderate: Rape