Reviews tagging 'Rape'

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

190 reviews

elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

The Love Songs of W. E. B. du Bois is beautifully written; it is very clear that the author, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers is a well-researched poet who expertly wields words like a weaver at a loom. The story is expansive and gorgeously constructed. It is also incredibly brutal (rightfully so, given the brutality of the topics discussed by Jeffers, and portrayed remarkably without romanticization of the extreme trauma experienced by the people of the book) and, as such, may be incredibly unpleasant to some readers.

I will likely never read this book all the way through again without taking breaks because I was deeply affected by the Jeffers’s nuanced portrayal of trauma. I hesitate to use the word triggered because it is so often weaponized by critics of books like these that deftly detail and describe the legacy of slavery in America and that discuss the intersectionality of abuse (domestic and sexual most prominently throughout this book) as well as racism and sexism. I experienced significant distress at certain parts of this book and I would recommend that all readers take the time to look through the trigger warnings and protect their mental health while reading, because I do highly recommend this book. 

I cannot really put a numerical rating on this book - its value as literature and as a historical and cultural text cannot possibly be encompassed by assigning a number of stars - so I will instead say this: Read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Body shaming, Mental illness, Rape, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child death, Self harm, Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Incest, Classism, Infidelity, Sexism, Blood, Colonisation, Racism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Trafficking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Dementia and Homophobia

Minor: Vomit

emilyrowan1990's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

bookishvanessa's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Rape

Moderate: Abortion

sydneyletta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

This book doesn’t have a plot. It follows the main character’s life and the lives of her ancestors. The audio book kept me engaged but this was a tough family saga that covers a lot of very hard topics. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Racism, Rape, Addiction, and Trafficking

Moderate: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, and Suicide attempt

carotx's review against another edition

Graphic sexual assault became more prevalent 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Racism, Sexual violence, and Rape

brynalexa's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Perfect. It’s a rare long gem that deserves to be so. I loved making small discoveries throughout the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Genocide, Infidelity, Infertility, Mental illness, Body shaming, Abortion, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Self harm, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Colonisation, Sexism, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Addiction, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Murder, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Physical abuse, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy

amurcia91's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Rape

bella_ruth's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Slavery, Addiction, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use

shrachel_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery and Drug use

Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Racism, Infidelity, Suicide, Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Incest, Racial slurs, and Rape

ackaleigh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I started this book hoping to read it throughout the year. Oh, how quickly I gave up that idea when I started reading! This book spans generations. It demonstrates the curiosity we have of family history and how those stories impact us. If you enjoy literary fiction with strong elements of family and community, you will love this book. It is not without its sadness, but it is beautifully and carefully written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Racism, Slavery, Addiction, Racial slurs, and Drug use

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault