Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

57 reviews

lfl's review

dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful writing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

This book was so descriptive, for better or for worse you felt everything that Annis was going through. I did the full immersion on this one (audio and physical) which I think helped when it came to being able to follow along with the descriptive writing. I have been slowly making my way through this authors books and have not been disappointed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Grief

Minor: Pregnancy

jesstaurant's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Vomit, Trafficking, and Grief

kshertz's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This was so deep and hard and sad. It’s just a realistic look at the horrors of slavery combined with what might have been. It was hard to be in this headspace for too long, but it’s definitely beautifully written 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

yolie's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

moonyhannah's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, and Grief

jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition

challenging slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Vomit, and Grief

shainabriley's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent

nrogers_1030's review

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Grief

bluz19's review

challenging dark inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This story is categorized as literary fiction with the themes of being heavy, supernatural, cerebral, and have LGBTQ+ themes. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assault, slavery and abuse. This is not a usual read, it is a hard truth, it is harsh and real but it is also lyrical and reads like a song. It is about a generational love and the trust of a daughter. Annis is the descendant of a West African warrior, she comes from so much strength. When her mom is sold in the slave market she is overtaken with grief. Then Annis is sold South, along the journey, a weather spirit using the namesake of Annis’ grandmother appears. She goes on a physical and spiritual journey to understand herself and her past.

It is a hard read because it is based in the time of American slavery, you experience the hard truth that is slavery. The ripping apart of families, the assault on black bodies and disregard for those lives. You also see the traditions of black families that still exist today. You see the strength and the culture. We so often talk about “we lost our history when they stole us” this is a book of transitioning and finding freedom in our current situation. This book by no means glorified slavery, instead it shows us the power that is ourselves and our choices. 

I think I originally picked up this book to just get the experience of the read. I think I would read again just because there is so much to unpack there and a lot of it is about finding the deeper meaning. There involved so many themes that I think could be flushed out more. Although this isn’t my usual read, I think it was definitely a story worth diving into to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent