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jinmichae's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Listening to how this book came together helps it make more sense. Unfortunately, that explanation came at the end of the audiobook, so I didn't know what to expect coming into it.
I enjoyed the concept most of all, and the vignette of how they came together as a people. Unfortunately, I just didn't like the main character very much. She has reasons for being the way she is, but something about the way she was characterized made her not as sympathetic as she needed to be to explain her actions.
I also feel the overarching plot gets lost in vignettes which are more worldbuilding than progressing the narrative. I wish it was more focused on that main plot: I think it would be a better read as a short story instead of a novella. It also has a "woe is me" component that gets tiring.
I did appreciate that the main character is implied to have autism/gets overstimulated easily in a way that prevents her from doing her very important job. The depths of this discomfort isn't acknowledged by those around her though, which seems odd to me: she has family and friends who love her, and despite the plot important lack of long term memory, they *do* remember her sensitivities. I think that detail would have to be changed to make the way they treat her, and the way she reacts, make more sense.
I enjoyed the concept most of all, and the vignette of how they came together as a people. Unfortunately, I just didn't like the main character very much. She has reasons for being the way she is, but something about the way she was characterized made her not as sympathetic as she needed to be to explain her actions.
I also feel the overarching plot gets lost in vignettes which are more worldbuilding than progressing the narrative. I wish it was more focused on that main plot: I think it would be a better read as a short story instead of a novella. It also has a "woe is me" component that gets tiring.
I did appreciate that the main character is implied to have autism/gets overstimulated easily in a way that prevents her from doing her very important job. The depths of this discomfort isn't acknowledged by those around her though, which seems odd to me: she has family and friends who love her, and despite the plot important lack of long term memory, they *do* remember her sensitivities. I think that detail would have to be changed to make the way they treat her, and the way she reacts, make more sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Self harm, Racism, Abandonment, and Slavery
Moderate: Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
miss_elease's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
- most compelling intro to a book I've read in a long time
- fucking brilliant afterword that is all the more appreciated after reading Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures
- the juxtapositions and complications of one's relationship to time(s) is very well handled
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Grief, War, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
A beautifully rich and haunting setting. It's a short book but it packed one hell of a punch that I simultaneously believe it was perfect and also wish it was longer. The Deep takes on an incredibly traumatic real life situation and turns it into something with a sense of community. Such an impactful message behind it, I implore everyone to give this book a try. The narration is also done by Daveed Diggs and was chef's kiss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Pregnancy and Suicidal thoughts
smuttymcbookface's review against another edition
dark
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
4.5
This was a beautiful story of how to best handle a horrific and tragic past for a set of beings, the Wajinru.
The first Historian, in an attempt to save her people from knowing the truth of their births, kept the knowledge to themselves until nearing death, when they passed it on to the next Historian. Capable of taking the traumatic events from other Wajinru's, even when dead, the Historian's job within the community evolved into holding all harsh memories, and storing the collective pains of their people. The exception to this being the Rememberance, where the Historian shares the history with everyone for a few days, before reabsorbing them, allowing their people to understand the importance of their knowledge, but not requiring them to know the specifics once the ceremony is completed.
This story mostly follows Yetu, the latest Historian, as she struggles to live whilst carrying her people's traumas. Knowing that she'll likely die if she reabsorbs them at the end of the Rememberance, she flees to land, where she meets Oori. A relationship slowly forms where Yetu learns that Oori has lost all of her own people's history when everyone but her was wiped out from an illness. This leaves Yetu wondering if her people were then correct to sacrifice one Wajinru's life and identity, the Historian, so that the remaining Wajinru can live unburdened.
This is a beautiful story with very little plot; mostly exploring feelings of belonging and self-identity. It was both beautiful and difficult to read, and despite being a novella, perfectly built this world where the ocean returned life where humans destroyed it. It was also refreshing to read of love and identity being unquestioned and just a way of existing.
The first Historian, in an attempt to save her people from knowing the truth of their births, kept the knowledge to themselves until nearing death, when they passed it on to the next Historian. Capable of taking the traumatic events from other Wajinru's, even when dead, the Historian's job within the community evolved into holding all harsh memories, and storing the collective pains of their people. The exception to this being the Rememberance, where the Historian shares the history with everyone for a few days, before reabsorbing them, allowing their people to understand the importance of their knowledge, but not requiring them to know the specifics once the ceremony is completed.
This story mostly follows Yetu, the latest Historian, as she struggles to live whilst carrying her people's traumas. Knowing that she'll likely die if she reabsorbs them at the end of the Rememberance, she flees to land, where she meets Oori. A relationship slowly forms where Yetu learns that Oori has lost all of her own people's history when everyone but her was wiped out from an illness. This leaves Yetu wondering if her people were then correct to sacrifice one Wajinru's life and identity, the Historian, so that the remaining Wajinru can live unburdened.
This is a beautiful story with very little plot; mostly exploring feelings of belonging and self-identity. It was both beautiful and difficult to read, and despite being a novella, perfectly built this world where the ocean returned life where humans destroyed it. It was also refreshing to read of love and identity being unquestioned and just a way of existing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Slavery
Minor: Sexual content
foxwish's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Ableism
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
bkwrm1317's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
3.5
Style was very interesting. I’d like to read more Solomon that’s from a different project. Was unaware of the tie ins with music etc prior to reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, and Slavery
Minor: Suicide attempt
alicelalicon's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Self harm, Pregnancy, Racism, Blood, and Death
savvylit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solomon's writing throughout The Deep is evocative and rhythmic. It's no wonder that this whole story is based on a song of the same name by clipping. The concept at this book's core, that merpeople were born of pregnant women thrown overboard on slave ships, is so haunting and poignant. I loved the lore that Solomon built around the wajinru and their culture: The Remembering, the relationships with land dwelling humans, the connections with whales... The Deep contains such a beautiful and rugged undersea world.
The Deep is a truly stunning novella. My only complaint is that the length of the story left me wanting more. I wanted more info on the Tidal Wars or Oori's family. The Deep was so immersive that I would have gladly stayed in its world for many more hours. Alas!
The Deep is a truly stunning novella. My only complaint is that the length of the story left me wanting more. I wanted more info on the Tidal Wars or Oori's family. The Deep was so immersive that I would have gladly stayed in its world for many more hours. Alas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Pregnancy, Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, Grief, and Death
starglitters's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Pregnancy, and Slavery
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts