Scan barcode
_clawx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
rjsthumbelina's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Beautiful meditation on the intersection of racism and toxic masculinity and family. Parenthood. On the grief of failing those you love, not bc you didn't try, but bc you didn't know any different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cancer, Violence, Miscarriage, Slavery, and Racism
brokenspine's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Abortion, Alcoholism, and Bullying
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- 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
4.5
Don’t Cry For Me is an epistolary novel, a series of letters written over four months from Jacob to his estranged son Isaac. Jacob is dying and knows this is his last chance to apologise to Isaac for all that he did wrong and to pass on what he has to offer - stories from his past, his cultural legacy. It would be easy to judge Jacob harshly, especially for incidences of domestic violence and for his inability to love and accept Isaac for who he was rather than trying to force him to conform and then rejecting him when he could not. However, this book forces the reader into a more balanced and nuanced position. Not by attempting to excuse Jacob - and he certainly doesn’t attempt to excuse himself - but by offering up Jacob’s life story as a way of providing context. This allows us to see Jacob sometimes doing the wrong thing for a good reason, sometimes trying to do the right thing but coming up short, and sometimes just doing the wrong thing because he was flawed and hurting.
As a parent this book really hit home I think it is impossible to raise children to adulthood and not have made mistakes, to not have regrets, to not wish you’d done some things differently or not done them at all. It’s a reminder to love and accept your kids as they are. And also to try and deal with regrets whatever the may be, whoever they involve. Apologise and atone if relevant, before it is to late.
The lack of resolution at the end may bother some readers but I think knowing whether or not father and son reconciled is beside the point. This is a poignant and heartfelt character study, a look at regret and self-reckoning. It’s a book that quickly grabbed my attention and never let go, and one that offers some important insights about the realities of being a Black man in America.
As a parent this book really hit home I think it is impossible to raise children to adulthood and not have made mistakes, to not have regrets, to not wish you’d done some things differently or not done them at all. It’s a reminder to love and accept your kids as they are. And also to try and deal with regrets whatever the may be, whoever they involve. Apologise and atone if relevant, before it is to late.
The lack of resolution at the end may bother some readers but I think knowing whether or not father and son reconciled is beside the point. This is a poignant and heartfelt character study, a look at regret and self-reckoning. It’s a book that quickly grabbed my attention and never let go, and one that offers some important insights about the realities of being a Black man in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, and Racism
kassfromtheinternet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Murder, and Sexual content
shoohoob's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Ironic that a book titled Don’t Cry For Me made me sob, but it really did. This book hurt to read. As a queer person with an estranged father, I saw myself in Isaac, and often wondered how he would react to the letters. I found myself wanting to feel for Jacob and hoping my own father would do this. I definitely think I’ll remember this book for the rest of my life. Thank you, Daniel Black.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism and Cancer
Minor: Hate crime and Slavery
More...