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toryreadsandrambles's review against another edition
5.0
This story truly touched not just my heart but my entire, entire soul. Honestly I cannot find the word to explain how incredible this book was and how beautiful Jones’ writing is. Each chapter complete swept me away and broke me , then put me back together piece by piece. These characters: Samuel, Isaiah, Maggie, Puah, Sarah, Be auntie, even the more complex/grey ones like Amos and Essie will stay with me always. I’m very lucky to have been able to read this book.
jade_smith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that this book occupies an important place in the literary landscape. It tells a story that was important to tell, and I'm glad it's been received with acclaim. I don't doubt that this novel has done a lot of important things for a lot of people -- and I don't wish for my criticism to be taken as a mark that this was a "bad book." It wasn't.
This being said, it didn't quite work for me.
For a novel that is (should have been) character-driven, the ten-odd POV characters lacked distinct voices. There are two types of third person writing: that which comes from inside a character, and that which comes from outside, i.e. from an omniscient narrator. Technically, this book has both, with some chapters from an almost pansophical ancestral chorus. For the most part, however, chapters are from the POV of "The Prophets" vast cast of characters on the Mississipi plantation. The problem is that these characters voices are mostly indistinguishable from each other; every character speaks, thinks, and philosophises in the exact same voice. For me, this made it hard to form an emotional connection with the characters, and left the story feeling unthethered. I think this novel would have benefitted from leaning into the 'external' third person -- this would have allowed Jones to observe and describe in the way he wanted to, without it feeling like the characters coherence suffered.
While at times gorgeous, Robert Jones Jr's prose erred on the side of being overwritten. I will be the first to admit that there were definitely metaphors and references here that went over my head -- I am a white Australian, and Jones has said that he wrote with a black American audience in mind. But, this incongruence doesn't account for the entire novel. I think perhaps this writing style would have worked for me had this been a 150 pg novella, but as it stands, it became exhausting, and worsened the afformentioned probems with character voice.
Plot-wise, this book works. Story-wise, this book works. Conceptually, the characters are excellent. It's just a shame that the prose ultimately lets itself down.
This being said, it didn't quite work for me.
For a novel that is (should have been) character-driven, the ten-odd POV characters lacked distinct voices. There are two types of third person writing: that which comes from inside a character, and that which comes from outside, i.e. from an omniscient narrator. Technically, this book has both, with some chapters from an almost pansophical ancestral chorus. For the most part, however, chapters are from the POV of "The Prophets" vast cast of characters on the Mississipi plantation. The problem is that these characters voices are mostly indistinguishable from each other; every character speaks, thinks, and philosophises in the exact same voice. For me, this made it hard to form an emotional connection with the characters, and left the story feeling unthethered. I think this novel would have benefitted from leaning into the 'external' third person -- this would have allowed Jones to observe and describe in the way he wanted to, without it feeling like the characters coherence suffered.
While at times gorgeous, Robert Jones Jr's prose erred on the side of being overwritten. I will be the first to admit that there were definitely metaphors and references here that went over my head -- I am a white Australian, and Jones has said that he wrote with a black American audience in mind. But, this incongruence doesn't account for the entire novel. I think perhaps this writing style would have worked for me had this been a 150 pg novella, but as it stands, it became exhausting, and worsened the afformentioned probems with character voice.
Plot-wise, this book works. Story-wise, this book works. Conceptually, the characters are excellent. It's just a shame that the prose ultimately lets itself down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Transphobia and Vomit
therkive's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot explain the devastation this novel wrought within me. The strife of love, against the brutality of slavery, against the pain of religion and homophobia and race. What a stunningly cruel and magnificent read. I honestly cannot express anything but praise for this entire book and will be thinking about it for a long time.
tessareadsbookies's review against another edition
2.0
Love the premise and the history behind the plot, but I hated the writing a lot. It was hard to follow, super figurative and metaphorical. There was so much biblical language and ideology and I just couldn’t keep up. I felt so confused and lost with this whole book that I couldn’t enjoy what I believe the author truly wanted the reader to take away. Unfortunately I was left very unimpressed :(
simply_jxde's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a beautiful and poetic read (although it felt like it was trying a bit too hard to be poetic). A lot went over my head though, and I had to reread a lot of the more confusing parts. Overall, Isaiah and Samuels love was a tender one. I can't help but think that if they existed during our times, they may have flourished even more. I wish we got to see how they even got together in the first place. There were also a lot of references to Nigeria which I enjoyed. I also enj yed the little sub plots though I did wonder how they would all connect in the end. I do wish that Samuel didn't die and they both survived and met up again later because now I can't really see the point of Isaiah surviving alone. I can't believe I almost let the book gaslight me into believing he was still alive
The ending did leave a lot to be desired and I have no idea what really happened.
The ending did leave a lot to be desired and I have no idea what really happened.
julie_sapienza's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
zoeyreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
timothyjmcl's review against another edition
3.0
This book is working with some big important ideas. And some of them are beautifully executed. But, the structure of the book makes it a bit difficult to follow. And the multiple subplots distracted from the main plot.
edwardsmc32's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
3.75
While it took me awhile to get into the book and begin to understand the characters and story as it was being laid out, it picked up tremendously and pulled me in and then broke my heart. The author has a way of letting you into each character’s heart and mind while still keeping the main characters the main characters. While difficult to read at times, it is a beautifully tragic story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy