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tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Trafficking, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Outing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Excrement, Genocide, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion, Incest, Suicide, Mental illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, Transphobia, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use
Moderate: Religious trauma, Environmental degradationjesshindes's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Jones never shies away from the brutality and inhumanity of slavery, which meant that this was hard going in places; but he leavens the novel with language that is always thoughtful and often beautiful, and the narrative offers moments of peace, hope, and even triumph amongst the general misery of Elizabeth Plantation. Without spoiling too much, I loved the magical threads that wove through this story, which serve as a connection back to Africa and can be read as a way of maintaining humanity and power in a setting designed to deprive its inhabitants of both - without ever minimising or skirting the real horrors that are being described. 'The Prophets' is not a light read but it is a very good one.
Graphic: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Torture, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Murder, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Mental illness and Homophobia
tiogair_rioga's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Death of parent, Excrement, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Mental illness
katsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“Knowledge was a strength even when it hurt.”
“Our responsibility is to tell you the truth. But since you were never told the truth, you will believe it a lie. Lies are more affectionate than truth and embrace with both arms.”
"People liked pride. Mistook it for purpose.”
I totally get why people so frequently compare Jones to Toni Morrison. I could definitely sense the similarities in their prose. However, unlike Morrison, I found myself getting a little lost in the prose of this book. I'd alternate between struggling to follow the plot and being incredibly invested. I'm not sure if that's just one of the things that happen with debuts or if it is just that I don't love literary fiction. Despite those moments of confusion, I really enjoyed this novel. Samuel and Isaiah's relationship just lept off the page and being able to see the perspectives of most of the people on the plantation, enslaved and enslaver, alike was compelling. I found Maggie and Adam's perspectives incredible and would have read a book just about them. There are a lot deeper themes that I think I could articulate better when and if I reread this. This book definitely strikes me as one of those books that needs a reread or two to really appreciate all of the things it's trying to say. It will definitely not be forgettable, that's for sure. I would also add lots of content and trigger warnings for sensitive content. Obviously, this is a book about slavery so rape, sexual assualt, physical violence, racism and racial slurs are all prevalent throughout the book. If you are sensitive to any content, please look up the content warnings for this book so you can take care of yourself.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Torture
Minor: Incest and Pedophilia
jlsigman's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Genocide, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
davidrb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Torture, Violence, and Vomit