Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

72 reviews

trippalli's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

A challenging but important read in the history of the black experience in the United States in this historic fiction. The violence in women and overt violence and abuse of humans. Numerous rapes, child sexual abuse murders, racism of course, slavery.. It's all very difficult to listen to on an audio book or read in this 600+ pages tome.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

callikat's review against another edition

challenging 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

An amazing book! And like other reviews said, do not be intimidated by the size of the book. The writing is beautiful and flows so well. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Grief

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective 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: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

thrillofthepage's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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

 Today’s #HistoricalFictionFriday is for a book that might be one of the best books I’ve ever read and will definitely be in my top books of 2022.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by @honoree_jeffers is a generational saga that spans hundreds of years. I was intimidated by this chunk of a book, as well as the pages long family tree at the beginning. However, I’ve learned to take these books slow and steady to allow myself time to savor each page. I tackled this book in 25-30 page increments daily and recommend you do the same.

First, the writing in this novel is indescribable because it’s so many things! It’s powerful, emotional, raw, moving, compelling, and I could go on listing adjectives that would never do it justice. Jeffers weaves together centuries of history and families in such a seamless and effortless way that an 800 page book read like a short story.

Second, the characters are memorable and authentic and I find myself continuing to think of them daily. I hesitate to even call them characters because they are so real and mirror the experiences of so many. Ailey and her independent, ambitious, take no BS attitude was inspiring. I loved watching her discover herself and felt her struggles on a molecular level. Lydia was tragic and her entire arc moved me to tears multiple times. Uncle Root has my heart. This man was the common thread connecting the past and the present and the best way to describe him is as the trunk of the family tree. I loved him more than words can say and he will go down as one of my favorite characters of all time.

Lastly, the impact this story had on me was profound. I felt emotionally connected to these characters and their stories. There is a reason this book has received mountains of praise and accolades. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is a masterpiece, a modern classic, and everyone should read it ASAP. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

maevebm's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

One of the most beautiful and moving stories I have ever read. Fanonne Jeffers creates a complex and rich family with remarkable flaws, joys, tragedies, and identities. The reader watches Ailey as she grows and learns about her history and the history of her community. The reader also hears the voices of the past, who provide an added layer of characters and settings. 

I loved so much about this story, but the writing flowed unlike any other. It progressed naturally and each character’s voice was their own. It made reading their hurts that much more difficult.

I am so grateful to have picked up this book and read it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Miscarriage, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

jcargabr's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder

kah296's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

Definitely the best book I’ve read in a long time, maybe ever. I absolutely loved it. It is beautiful and expansive and evident that so much love and care went into it. I loved the characters, the story, and the writing. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Incest, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Grief

blondereader's review against another edition

informative reflective sad 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

4.5

A long book but worth reading. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Minor: Abortion

Not recommended for anyone triggered by reading about sexual crimes. This is a tough book, but again, worth reading.

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 - There's no way I can cover everything THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DuBOIS encompasses in a measly Instagram caption, so the main takeaway here is that if you are up for it, this book is a must.
- Ailey and her family are both specific and universal (and in many ways, that universality is deeply tragic). At times this book feels like it could be nonfiction, until you get to a particularly stunning turn of phrase (honestly, more poets should write literary fiction, it's always incredible).
- Don't let the 800 pages deter you. LOVE SONGS is completely engulfing, intense and heartfelt. Do take the content warnings seriously though, and proceed with caution if needed. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Colonisation

Moderate: Homophobia and Antisemitism

ebonyrose's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This novel is a magnificent feat, an incredible journey, and a gift to modern American literature.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation