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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. I'm a little unsure of star rating for this book, mostly because it's just so long and I wasn't quite as compelled to get through it as I have been with other favorite but very long books. But looking back, the sweeping history of a family over more than 200 years, starting with members of a Native American tribe, through slaves and slave owners, and through to near present day was pretty remarkable. The characters, their struggles, and the uncovering of the family history weaves a great story that I think will stay with me.
“The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois” by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers is a rich, engaging and fulfilling book. The way the author weaved in the ancestral stories of Ailey’s family while also carrying us along for the coming of age experiences of Ailey, kept my head in the book. This book is the history lesson of all history lessons. The historic accounts, excerpts from W.E.B DuBois, and Ailey’s story were beautifully linked together. I finished the book recognizing that we must have reverence for our ancestors and learn their stories. This is a phenomenal text!
A beautiful read. Worth every word on all 816 pages. Epic and endearing.
Loved this book about the history of a black family with roots in Georgia. An amazing family saga that really hooked me. Ailey Pearl Garfield, born in the early 70's, youngest of 3 sisters (Coco & Lydia) becomes a researcher and explores her family history. Heart wrenching sad & horrific at times but a strong sense of family love woven through. I loved the characters - Ailey, Pop George, Uncle Root, Ailey's mother Belle. Long read but felt like it was a good education of black feminism for me.
An amazing piece of work. Extremely long but necessary. I strongly believe this should be required reading for all. I admire this historical fiction and will likely return to it throughout my lifetime.
trigger warning
i just came here to warn potential readers that there is A LOT, A LOT, A LOT of rape and sexual abuse of children and women described in this book. i know it was real and happened often, so often that today it seems we are numb to it and it’s effects. but as a woman who was raped and abused as a child, it was a lot to endure in reading and i had to skip large chunks after i realized how much it was showing up and i was being triggered.
but it is a good book and beautifully (and long) written story.
i just came here to warn potential readers that there is A LOT, A LOT, A LOT of rape and sexual abuse of children and women described in this book. i know it was real and happened often, so often that today it seems we are numb to it and it’s effects. but as a woman who was raped and abused as a child, it was a lot to endure in reading and i had to skip large chunks after i realized how much it was showing up and i was being triggered.
but it is a good book and beautifully (and long) written story.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation
slow-paced
First, it was very long, 31 hours of audiobook. But also, I took many long breaks because of the trauma. I knew there would be a lot of trauma just based on the coverage of slavery and Jim Crow and coming of age being black and in the South…. But it was still a lot to get through. It’s well-crafted and well-written, but difficult to get through so much abuse.
Favorite book of the year so far. So much heartbreak and love in this tale of family and trauma. If you like Homegoing, read this.