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literary_lyette's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Slavery, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, and Abortion
midnightverde's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
nad_books623's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Slavery
sarah_speaks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Abortion
jedore's review against another edition
- 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
“Knowledge is a funny thing, Isaac. It informs by exposing. It shows you precisely how much you don’t know.”
I was pulled into this story from the Author’s note at the very beginning. Like the author, my father passed without ever admitting, let alone apologizing, for his major emotional shortcomings. Writing this book was a way for Daniel Black to heal the gaping wounds this leaves behind.
I don’t like to compare the pain of two different people. Pain is pain and no one deserves to have their pain diminished. But, I have to say what Isaac, the gay son who is the recipient of his father’s deathbed letters, went through is FAR worse than what I went through.
On top of a typical dysfunctional family, he has the added horrors of the impact of slavery and being black in the U.S., being gay in a subculture that considers it an abhorrence, and the lack of love, tenderness and communication when it was needed most. I honestly don’t know if I would be able to climb out of a hole that deep.
Reading the imagined letters that the reformed father wrote to Isaac was definitely a soothing salve. Many of the things he conveyed explained some of the characteristics and behaviors of my own father (and other men I know and love), so it was helpful for me personally as well.
That being said, I still find it difficult to excuse my middle class white father for his emotional neglect. A black man of the same generation is a whole other story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with daddy issues stemming from a hyper-stern and inexpressive father born in the early to mid-1900s, as well as anyone walking the path toward anti-racism. It’s a very quick, deeply emotional, and insightful read.
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Bullying and Domestic abuse
jbird_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
gigisxm's review
- 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
5/12 #bookclub
9/20 #booksbyblackfolx
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Hate crime
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
hayleyvharrington's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
stephanieswilley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol