Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

59 reviews

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

sarahweyand's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? No

3.25

I wanted to like this book so badly. I really enjoyed probably the first 40% of the book. Jesmyn Ward has a lovely voice and I really enjoyed her narration of her story. The plot was interesting, I loved our characters, and the prose is really just lyrical and wonderful. I felt the story and momentum start to drop at the halfway point, however, and it had a hard time keeping my attention for the last half of the book. I didn't feel particularly connected to Anise, and I didn't love the magical realism aspects.

This book absolutely has and will continue to find an audience that loves it, and I can certainly appreciate and respect it for what it is. But love it I did not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Rape

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense 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

4.0

Like most books on slavery, this was emotionally hard to read. But it was beautifully written, and I loved Annis and even Aza. I have hope for Annis.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

beccacondon's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? N/A

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

timtellsstories's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Beautifully written and ultimately moving, she lost me in a few key moments of conflict and tension because she leans too heavily on her poetry when I need her to deliver precise prose. As a result, I didn't understand some of the fallout of those conflict points. Further, I didn't feel like I got to know many of the characters well, not even Anissa. Liked it, didn't love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny and Torture

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

useyourgoodeye's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-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

3.5

The book was very raw and the writing style put the reader in the story with stunning details. I just didn't care much for the mysticism and ethereal being aspects. I also felt as though the ending was too hasty and I would have liked to see more character storylines be fleshed out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence

ka_cam's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

Brutal and lyrical, follows a young woman born into US slavery and sold down the river after her mother and with, though quickly separated from, her lover. Spirit-ful and spiritual reflections on grief, intergenerational trauma, mother’s love, the connections between people, places and times. Good, heartbreaking, read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

campredwood's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

I’ve never wanted so badly to be finished with such a beautifully written book. Gut wrenching. I dreaded picking it back up and following Annis’s story. But if some atrocities had to be lived, if this author out this much into this book- it deserves to be read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Torture, Grief, and Pregnancy

sperzart's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Slavery