Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Don't Cry for Me: A Novel by Daniel Black

45 reviews

jedore's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-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

“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.

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Content Warnings

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

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion

sydneybedell's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexism

Minor: Abortion

tahsintries's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Racism

tlaynejones's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, and Terminal illness

hayleyvharrington's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

wellreadmegs's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a quick read but had such depth. I feel like I gained a lot of perspective and more empathy toward older generations because of this book. I thought it was truly a thought-provoking read and I devoured it but also wanted to savor it. This book tackled subjects of race, generational trauma, religious beliefs, and sexuality. 

The author's note about wrecked me and then I just felt this ache throughout the entire book. Wishing the father could somehow find a way to connect with his child. I loved the way this story was told and appreciated the quick chapters. This book could easily be read in one sitting. 

The books reminds me slightly of a modern-day Tuesday's With Morrie. Everyone should read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Murder

cc_shelflove's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Receiving something like this from your dead parent would honestly be a gift. Told in letters written to his son, Jacob asks Isaac for amends after he failed as a father and ostracized his son for being gay. The letters read like a memoir, so I often forgot I was reading a piece of fiction. Don’t Cry for Me was very educational in that it explored both generational and racial differences. There are so many stories about the past that we forget to ask our loved ones while they are alive. Once they are gone, the questions seem to flow more freely. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, and I think the book would have been better if it included Isaac’s reactions to the letters. Overall, a strongly worded novel.

If you liked this book, check out Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism and Child death

Minor: Slavery, Suicide, and Blood

bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Racism

afroheaux's review against another edition

dark emotional 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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was an incredibly emotional read. Take care while reading. It dives deep into the roots of abuse and it’s cyclical nature. The author does a great job of making you feel empathy for the character without making you feel like he’s absolved of his misdeeds. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual violence