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juneofthemoon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
kvahedi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
adrienne_adrimano's review against another edition
2.0
Suffering, even when described with pretty turns of phrase and narrated with a gentle, enticing fervency, is still suffering.
I commend [a:Jesmyn Ward|1676417|Jesmyn Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314898674p2/1676417.jpg] for writing creatively on such a tough topic (slavery), but I truly don't think I was enriched by this novel. Worse, I don't think I get it.
I don't think the bee motif was effective. It seemed random, like the author just picked something that could whimsically (within the few possible uncontrolled happenings in the lives of the enslaved) start and end the story.
Was using the word "descend" literally and figuratively so many times necessary?
Why detail the learning of a useful skill to have the main character never really use it?
Why bring up these sprits that are supposedly so powerful and all-knowing, and have them be even worse antagonists than the enslavers??
This is another book that proves that an author can write a tragedy that has been written many times, mind you, especially about slavery, and the critics are gonna eat it up and give it all the glory. We deserve more. Runaway slave? Fine. And then what? What does the average reader take away from this?
I commend [a:Jesmyn Ward|1676417|Jesmyn Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314898674p2/1676417.jpg] for writing creatively on such a tough topic (slavery), but I truly don't think I was enriched by this novel. Worse, I don't think I get it.
I don't think the bee motif was effective. It seemed random, like the author just picked something that could whimsically (within the few possible uncontrolled happenings in the lives of the enslaved) start and end the story.
Was using the word "descend" literally and figuratively so many times necessary?
Why detail the learning of a useful skill to have the main character never really use it?
Why bring up these sprits that are supposedly so powerful and all-knowing, and have them be even worse antagonists than the enslavers??
This is another book that proves that an author can write a tragedy that has been written many times, mind you, especially about slavery, and the critics are gonna eat it up and give it all the glory. We deserve more. Runaway slave? Fine. And then what? What does the average reader take away from this?
theonewheremonicareads'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? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Annis, born into slavery in the American South and sold by her white enslaver who also fathered her, makes the arduous and terrifying journey hundreds of miles deeper into south to her new reality. Along the way she seeks comfort in the memories of her mother and an ever increasing awareness of the spirit world around her as Anise reaches toward new life and taking back ownership of herself.
This book. I don’t think I have anything to say about it that would be worthy of saying, but what I will say is Jesmyn Ward has reached into the past and brought forth a story so intense and searing and so heavy in the shame and ugliness of American slavery in the South while also exhaling hope and triumph. In her poetic voice she lays bare grief and suffering and what it means to wrestle with faith and spirituality in the midst of blinding sorrow. I know Ward was expelling some personal grief when she wrote this, and it shows. Her own wailing and mourning came through Annis beautifully. Grief is a universal experience, and even though this is set against the backdrop of slavery, I could still relate to her pain and desire for more in life. This is a tough read, but Annis’s story will certainly stick with me for a long time.
Annis, born into slavery in the American South and sold by her white enslaver who also fathered her, makes the arduous and terrifying journey hundreds of miles deeper into south to her new reality. Along the way she seeks comfort in the memories of her mother and an ever increasing awareness of the spirit world around her as Anise reaches toward new life and taking back ownership of herself.
This book. I don’t think I have anything to say about it that would be worthy of saying, but what I will say is Jesmyn Ward has reached into the past and brought forth a story so intense and searing and so heavy in the shame and ugliness of American slavery in the South while also exhaling hope and triumph. In her poetic voice she lays bare grief and suffering and what it means to wrestle with faith and spirituality in the midst of blinding sorrow. I know Ward was expelling some personal grief when she wrote this, and it shows. Her own wailing and mourning came through Annis beautifully. Grief is a universal experience, and even though this is set against the backdrop of slavery, I could still relate to her pain and desire for more in life. This is a tough read, but Annis’s story will certainly stick with me for a long time.
willijm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-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
4.0
yellowboundbooks's review against another edition
5.0
this book is love and pain and sorrow and ache and mushrooms. i feel like i know the history and pain of my people deeper.
incredibly beautiful writing, characters that feel real, broken and strong, human. spirits that are as sinful as the masters.
incredibly beautiful writing, characters that feel real, broken and strong, human. spirits that are as sinful as the masters.
milliethomas285's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
behindthegossip's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
dye2knit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5