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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Long After We Are Gone evokes so many emotions and feelings. It is complicated and messy and frustrating. It is also very raw and real. If you are looking for a feel good story, this is not it.
This is a story of redemption and retribution. It is about answering for your sins and finding yourself and then accepting who you are. Owning your worth, if you will. The overarching theme is family and roots, and this theme runs deep. These four siblings are looking to survive at all costs. You are going to want to knock each Solomon sibling upside the head at some point, but it is because you are so invested in their stories. Not to mention how frustrating their circumstances are... circumstances that are out of their control. The premise of Long After We Are Gone is so on par with the real stories coming out of post-Emancipation US history. Do better, America.
If you pick up Long After We Are Gone--and I am convinced you absolutely should--know two things: 1) Aside from the deep family connection, it is nothing like One Summer in Savannah; 2) This book is slow to build, but it is so worth it in the end. This family is worth it.
This is a story of redemption and retribution. It is about answering for your sins and finding yourself and then accepting who you are. Owning your worth, if you will. The overarching theme is family and roots, and this theme runs deep. These four siblings are looking to survive at all costs. You are going to want to knock each Solomon sibling upside the head at some point, but it is because you are so invested in their stories. Not to mention how frustrating their circumstances are... circumstances that are out of their control. The premise of Long After We Are Gone is so on par with the real stories coming out of post-Emancipation US history. Do better, America.
If you pick up Long After We Are Gone--and I am convinced you absolutely should--know two things: 1) Aside from the deep family connection, it is nothing like One Summer in Savannah; 2) This book is slow to build, but it is so worth it in the end. This family is worth it.
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
I’ll preface by saying that this is not the genre I typically read. There is a horrible legal precedent at the heart of the story that provides its backbone, which I wasn’t aware of, which was interesting to read about. That being said, lot of the characters are stock. Some of the relationships which are portrayed as the ‘good’ ones are cringe-inducing. I was reading an uncorrected proof, but there is a lot tense-switching that doesn’t make sense. I wish the author well, but this just wasn’t the book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars. This book is riddled with triggers. Please read the Author's Note at the beginning of the book to read all of the content and trigger warnings. I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book. My full review with spoilers will be on their website.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Racism, Sexual violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Outing, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Soulful
This was quite the saga, so I took my time with it. I read it in small chunks so that I could savor it. This wasn’t a light read. It required me to sit with my own emotions and failures. The characters were all so damaged, but not broken. That made them feel relatable. By the end of the story, it even made them feel lovable. This was a powerful story of honoring our ancestors and their traditions. It was an emotional look at mending a family that had unraveled.
The writing was excellent. It was so vivid and descriptive. The author did a great job with the character development. She made their flaws feel authentic. She made me want to hug them at times and shake them at other times. I absolutely adored Ellis from beginning to end. He was such a pillar of strength and stability in the midst of so much chaos. Junior grew on me after he learned to love himself. I cheered for him when he finally decided to fight back. By the end of the book, I had become fond of each of the siblings. I was rooting for them and they didn’t disappoint me.
This was such a robust story. It really pulled at my heartstrings. I gave it a four star rating simply because I wanted a better explanation on a few things. The children not having any information on their long lost mother didn’t work for me. The rest of the book was a success. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Terah Shelton Harris for this advanced copy to review.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
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:
Yes
A heart wrenching story of family and coming together in the face of tragedy and injustice.
Solomon King was a force among his children and when he died with his last words to one of them being a warning not to let the white man take the house, four siblings come back to their family home to save it.
Each of these four siblings have secrets and things going on in their lives that are holding them back, but through the genuine love they have for one another they manage to pull together and face the harrowing path ahead of them.
Their ancestral land is being sold out from under them and they need to collectively find a way to save that from happening.
Each of these siblings was so complex. Their personal growth is something I enjoyed so much in reading this. I loved them all. This was a powerful story that floored me, hooking me from the start. There is beauty in chaos. There is strength in family. Each of them are flawed, making dangerous decisions, or giving in to their struggles. But each were strong and I adored them!
Solomon King was a force among his children and when he died with his last words to one of them being a warning not to let the white man take the house, four siblings come back to their family home to save it.
Each of these four siblings have secrets and things going on in their lives that are holding them back, but through the genuine love they have for one another they manage to pull together and face the harrowing path ahead of them.
Their ancestral land is being sold out from under them and they need to collectively find a way to save that from happening.
Each of these siblings was so complex. Their personal growth is something I enjoyed so much in reading this. I loved them all. This was a powerful story that floored me, hooking me from the start. There is beauty in chaos. There is strength in family. Each of them are flawed, making dangerous decisions, or giving in to their struggles. But each were strong and I adored them!