Reviews tagging 'Racism'

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

173 reviews

bookishvanessa's review

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

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

lns6519's review

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Drug use

Moderate: Violence and Abortion

shrachel_'s review

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

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

ennzito24's review

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

5.0

Words can't describe how much I love this book. This was one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read and it's something that will stick with me for the rest of my life. Theorizing was so captivating and elegant! While the book is fiction, the subject matter behind it is very much real. Honorée is truly a master storyteller and I can't wait to read more of her work. Everyone needs to read this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Eating disorder, Death, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Rape, Racism, Police brutality, Miscarriage, Ableism, Murder, Sexual violence, Sexism, Mental illness, Hate crime, Grief, Genocide, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Death of parent, and Colonisation

aashton93's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-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

I absolutely loved this book. I normally don’t like to read books about black
Trauma. I like to escape when I read this book was beautifully written. It had so much history and connection. It focused on real family ties and generational trauma. But also the overcoming. Highlighted the importance of storytelling and family history. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Slavery, Colonisation, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, and Rape

lit_vibrations's review

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

It was written so good you’d think it was based off a true story. This book deserves all the stars‼️ If you don’t have it buy it and if you already own it READ IT . . . I used audio as I read along with the physical and it was such an amazing experience highly recommend this way. 

The dual timelines were well-paced and woven together perfectly. We journey between the past and present generations of Ailey Garfield’s ancestral lineage in Chicasetta, Georgia. There were so many hidden family secrets, unforeseen linkages, injustices, traumatizing and heartbreaking moments that created this remarkable story. 

The author showcases the importance of knowing one’s family history. Painting such a vivid picture both good and horrific with her words it’s hard not to envision all the characters and the situations they encountered. The family tree was very helpful with keeping up with them all.

Memorable Characters:

Ailey

Lydia

Uncle Root

Dr. Oludara

Most disliked characters:

Samuel

Victor

Gandee

Rebecca

Abdul

The plot was definitely unpredictable and crafted in such a way that made you want to know more. I still have questions about Coco since she was one character I felt the author didn’t shed enough light on. Coco mentioned her family not paying her much attention growing up. So, it’s almost as though the author made her character nonexistent until certain parts. We get so much more backstory on Ailey and Lydia but not much on the pain or trauma Coco experienced when they were all abused by Gandee. I wanted so bad for one of them to speak up. 

Overall, the book was worth the read and if nothing more the author knows how to evoke a reader’s emotions. The dialogue was engaging and continued to build with each chapter. We get themes surrounding family history, addiction, gender, self-discovery, racism, bondage, and education. If this book isn’t on your TBR I highly recommend you add it‼️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, and Racism