Reviews with content warning for Rape - Let Us Descend

Jesmyn Ward is a fantastic storyteller and wordsmith who can do no wrong in my book. This exploration of slavery through the eyes of Annis is both beautiful - the prose - and heart wrenching - many of the plot details. Slavery is a topic that has been explored extensively in fiction yet Let Us Descend feels fresh and original. One reason is the use of Dante’s The Inferno as a reference for the hell Annis was forced to descend into, which provided a powerful new lens to consider the experiences of the enslaved. Another was the story’s female focus, particularly the mother-daughter bond and the link to female ancestors. I was struck by the way Annis’s mother expressed her love by trying to equip Annis for survival both physically and spiritually. As the novel progressed it became clearer how essential the memory of her mother’s love and their spirituality was for Annis. Grief features prominently in this story. It’s really visceral, practically tangible at times, undoubtedly a reflection of the huge personal loss Ward suffered while writing this novel as well as a testament to her talent as a writer. We all know that words matter and Ward’s choice of “sire” for the enslaver who biologically fathered Annis struck me as a telling and apt choice. It guides the reader to think about the conception of children like her in a particular way. All in all a brilliant masterpiece.

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dulceflecha's review against another edition

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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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qqjj's review against another edition

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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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caseyjayner's review against another edition

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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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emelynreads's review against another edition

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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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