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fatoumata26's review against another edition
5.0
Do you know how good a book has to be for me to get through 800 pages?! Jeffers does an amazing job with this book! It is beautifully written and well composed. Although the book is fiction she conveys a very real story in an alluring way drawing parallels across centuries of American history.
It definitely is not a light read, but also one you won’t regret. I have heard others share similar sentiments that this book has the ability to carry a course and I couldn’t agree more. I would have loved the opportunity to read this in a course for the opportunity to dissect it in class discussions.
It definitely is not a light read, but also one you won’t regret. I have heard others share similar sentiments that this book has the ability to carry a course and I couldn’t agree more. I would have loved the opportunity to read this in a course for the opportunity to dissect it in class discussions.
yellowinter's review against another edition
4.0
Long, but worth the time.
Difficult to read in parts, but isn’t that our history? Or any history unvarnished and unveiled?
Land - its inhabitants through time, both remembered and forgotten…
Like “Homegoing” by Gyazi, fictional works like this make me think of all the stories lost, threads that cannot be traced.
Difficult to read in parts, but isn’t that our history? Or any history unvarnished and unveiled?
Land - its inhabitants through time, both remembered and forgotten…
Like “Homegoing” by Gyazi, fictional works like this make me think of all the stories lost, threads that cannot be traced.
ellens8's review against another edition
5.0
An epic story of a Black family from slavery through present times.
azacadabra's review against another edition
5.0
A novel exploring black feminism, steeped in American history. The book seems honest, is often raw, and always thought provoking. Super well researched, literary, but still full of heart, and just enough magic.
anniekg's review against another edition
4.0
This was an incredible book. I was quite impressed by it and really loved getting to know the characters. Ailey was compelling and I loved moving over her life from childhood. The content was obviously horrific at times and hard to stomach but as a white woman I know that I need to sit with that. I'm very glad I read it even though it took awhile and I had to borrow it from the library twice. It covered so much history and so much emotional territory and had a lot of compassion and nuance in the Garfield family characters. I did love having time with the perspective of Belle and Lydia as well.
There were sections where I became a little confused by the many characters (listening on audio book) but the downloadable guide helped. I found the ending a little unsatisfying on one hand but I also really liked that it wasn't wrapped up in a neat bow., but I also appreciated that it wasn't a climactic ending and things weren't necessarily resolved.
There were sections where I became a little confused by the many characters (listening on audio book) but the downloadable guide helped. I found the ending a little unsatisfying on one hand but I also really liked that it wasn't wrapped up in a neat bow.
Spoiler
I sort of expected Uncle Root to die and Ailey to end up with David James by the endjkehr1's review against another edition
5.0
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is not a normal read for me.
The words are incredibly powerful. The author takes the reader on a haunting journey that will leave them no choice but to open their eyes! One of the best reads of the year!
The words are incredibly powerful. The author takes the reader on a haunting journey that will leave them no choice but to open their eyes! One of the best reads of the year!
juliemowat's review against another edition
5.0
Fabulous book with amazing characters. Depressing at time but I learned so much. Beautifully written
alexisnelson's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most awe-inspiring books I have ever read. I am technically generation z and hearing the cultural norms amongst black people of that time was so interesting to me! I also loved getting to learn about history from the view of a singular family generation and although it got confusing at some points when it skipped from generation to generation I still really loved how it all came together. This will definitely be one of my favorite books ever...
savannar's review against another edition
4.0
This book is beautifully written, but often tough to read, I found. The characters are so well-drawn that you really feel the sorrows they experience.
It's long, but mostly in a satisfying way. I like to write, and in my writing process I like to plan/worldbuild, as the author has clearly done here. She has put so much care into developing each generation of this family and I appreciated almost all the detail. I say mostly/almost, because I could've done with fewer specifics about Samuel Pinchard-- while the connection between Rabbit and Leena and the Hutchinson sisters is fascinating and I'd love to know more about them.
It's long, but mostly in a satisfying way. I like to write, and in my writing process I like to plan/worldbuild, as the author has clearly done here. She has put so much care into developing each generation of this family and I appreciated almost all the detail. I say mostly/almost, because I could've done with fewer specifics about Samuel Pinchard-- while the connection between Rabbit and Leena and the Hutchinson sisters is fascinating and I'd love to know more about them.