A review by tafeeeeee
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

challenging dark emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

5.0

This was one of the hardest books for me to read to date. The emotions were so visceral and the descriptions were so vibrant that I had to stop listening for awhile to calm down and reflect. This audiobook made me cry, laugh, scowl, and smile. This is a 5 star read for me not because I necessarily "enjoyed" it but because it felt so real and the narratives were so poignant.

As a descendant of enslaved Black people in the South, this book tested my ability to keep listening. Just thinking of how my ancestors probably experienced or witnessed some of the situations mentioned made my heart ache. To think that the things mentioned in the book - and worse things - actually happened to real people is absolutely heartbreaking. 

Books like this are so important because they tell the hard truths. They make you uncomfortable so you may grow in knowledge and compassion. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I started listening but that's better in a way because I probably would have avoided starting the book because of the topics.

This was beautifully written and narrated. I'm not likely to forget this book anytime soon.
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