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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I. Want. More. Well written and thought-provoking.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
beautiful.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes
<b>Original post, July 2021</b>
Beautiful and tragic, <i>The Deep</i> is based on African folklore that imagines a race of water-creatures who descended from the children of pregnant African women thrown overboard during the deadly Middle Passage. It's a gorgeous and moving read.
<b>Re-read, May 2025</b>
Still as powerful as when I first read this. I enjoyed reading of Yetu's role of the Historian,, holding the collective memories of her people and then sharing them during ceremonial rituals. I think I appreciated Ori's story more the second time as well.
Beautiful and tragic, <i>The Deep</i> is based on African folklore that imagines a race of water-creatures who descended from the children of pregnant African women thrown overboard during the deadly Middle Passage. It's a gorgeous and moving read.
<b>Re-read, May 2025</b>
Still as powerful as when I first read this. I enjoyed reading of Yetu's role of the Historian,, holding the collective memories of her people and then sharing them during ceremonial rituals. I think I appreciated Ori's story more the second time as well.
The afterword and audiobook presentation (both by Daveed Diggs) are 5 stars, the prose by Rivers Solomon is more like 3.5.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Forgetting was not the same as healing.” Rivers Solomon has a wonderful way of bringing to focus so many “uncomfortable” topics so head on. This novella brings to light how ignorance may be bliss, but that doesn’t make it helpful or healthy.
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
MS Pick. “How well do I even know my own history?” Is what kept running through my mind as I read this one. I don’t blame Yetu for wanting to escape. To be the sole person in charge of remembering how your people came to be, bad and good, is an incredible weight to bear. Her conversations with Oori had so many good moments. Oori who wants nothing more than to be connected with her history and where she comes from versus Yetu who is actively trying to escape those memories, made for a fascinating contrast. It reflects how society today falls into this “never forget vs. move on” mentality, and that ultimately it’s a balance between the two that’s needed.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I normally don't read Afterwards, but I feel like that one was really important (i.e. Collective trauma via the Telephone game). There were parts that I felt bored by because of the repetition of oh I imagine they are still suffering, will they be ok but I think that was one of the points? the repetitive-ness? idk.. this book was heavy and is going to take some time for me to digest. Didn't expect it to get a bit queer near the end though, I liked it. I enjoyed the overall story and this was my first experience of Rivers Solomon but it was just a lot to unpack for a 155 pg book. Again, still enjoyed and glad I read it at all.
emotional
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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:
No