Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

33 reviews

bendercath's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This book’s lyrical writing feels like an epic poem that sears its way into the senses and deeply into the heart. It is haunting.

Jesmyn Ward’s artistry is remarkable. Stunning. I listened to the audiobook read by the author which felt like a privilege and an honor.

I will not forget this book. The parallels and references to Dante’s Inferno are brilliant. What I will not forget in particular is the brutality of this story. The moments of love and longing kept me reading but it was an incredibly difficult read. Painful. I almost gave up but felt that it was important not to look away … just as the author says: we must bear witness.

The relationship between Annis and her mother is so powerful — in that it gives Annis the strength to endure all that she faces. Really, all of the female relationships in the book have power.

I love historical fiction and often read this genre but I don’t know if I will be able to do so for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Slavery

shainabriley's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Death of parent

bluz19's review

challenging dark inspiring sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This story is categorized as literary fiction with the themes of being heavy, supernatural, cerebral, and have LGBTQ+ themes. Trigger Warning: rape, sexual assault, slavery and abuse. This is not a usual read, it is a hard truth, it is harsh and real but it is also lyrical and reads like a song. It is about a generational love and the trust of a daughter. Annis is the descendant of a West African warrior, she comes from so much strength. When her mom is sold in the slave market she is overtaken with grief. Then Annis is sold South, along the journey, a weather spirit using the namesake of Annis’ grandmother appears. She goes on a physical and spiritual journey to understand herself and her past.

It is a hard read because it is based in the time of American slavery, you experience the hard truth that is slavery. The ripping apart of families, the assault on black bodies and disregard for those lives. You also see the traditions of black families that still exist today. You see the strength and the culture. We so often talk about “we lost our history when they stole us” this is a book of transitioning and finding freedom in our current situation. This book by no means glorified slavery, instead it shows us the power that is ourselves and our choices. 

I think I originally picked up this book to just get the experience of the read. I think I would read again just because there is so much to unpack there and a lot of it is about finding the deeper meaning. There involved so many themes that I think could be flushed out more. Although this isn’t my usual read, I think it was definitely a story worth diving into to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Slavery, Violence, Rape, Racism, Death, and Sexual assault

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense 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

Like most books on slavery, this was emotionally hard to read. But it was beautifully written, and I loved Annis and even Aza. I have hope for Annis.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

josiebrown's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Slavery, and Physical abuse

beccacondon's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Torture, Rape, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Racism

useyourgoodeye's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.5

The book was very raw and the writing style put the reader in the story with stunning details. I just didn't care much for the mysticism and ethereal being aspects. I also felt as though the ending was too hasty and I would have liked to see more character storylines be fleshed out.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, Death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Racism, and Sexual assault

ka_cam's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? No

4.5

Brutal and lyrical, follows a young woman born into US slavery and sold down the river after her mother and with, though quickly separated from, her lover. Spirit-ful and spiritual reflections on grief, intergenerational trauma, mother’s love, the connections between people, places and times. Good, heartbreaking, read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, Confinement, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, and Sexism

mdinkle1's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

hannahmcmurphy's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Physical abuse and Rape