Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

104 reviews

kmrose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I really loved the metaphysical in this book - that Annis was always speaking to her mother’s spirit or the more god-like spirit. And her mother’s words were always in her head guiding her. It was an awful story full of love. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Slavery

readingonfordearlife's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Slavery

kezharri's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Amazing personification and beautiful description. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

Moderate: Rape

jenmtnbike's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Minor: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

yolie's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

ajluedke91's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

The first sentence of the book description is exactly what Let Us Descend is; “a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is heart-wrenching”. It reads as a poem and a puzzle, almost, connecting all the dots. It’s a deep think read.

Update after  week of reflection: it truly is a story of self-liberation in all its forms. Beautiful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Violence

Moderate: Rape

moonyhannah's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Grief

bendercath's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This book’s lyrical writing feels like an epic poem that sears its way into the senses and deeply into the heart. It is haunting.

Jesmyn Ward’s artistry is remarkable. Stunning. I listened to the audiobook read by the author which felt like a privilege and an honor.

I will not forget this book. The parallels and references to Dante’s Inferno are brilliant. What I will not forget in particular is the brutality of this story. The moments of love and longing kept me reading but it was an incredibly difficult read. Painful. I almost gave up but felt that it was important not to look away … just as the author says: we must bear witness.

The relationship between Annis and her mother is so powerful — in that it gives Annis the strength to endure all that she faces. Really, all of the female relationships in the book have power.

I love historical fiction and often read this genre but I don’t know if I will be able to do so for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Slavery

jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, and Grief

shainabriley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent