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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
slow-paced
Wasn’t in the right mood to read. Would probably like more otherwise.
dark
emotional
sad
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
Not exactly what I expected.
The story itself is harrowing and Ward’s imagery is powerful. A lot of the story is told using earthy descriptors and I found that interesting considering how much the protagonist, Annis, is forced to interact with the earth.
The spirits were interesting. I really enjoy the idea that Annis, through the stories her mother told her, holds Aza close throughout these horrific experiences while also criticizing the spirits and how much they demand of her.
I can’t tell if I wanted more or less magical realism. I like the idea of the spirits and how they’re incorporated into the world and story, but I also feel like we simultaneously saw them too often and too little.
Overall a good read. I feel this is one of those books where the reader benefits more if they discuss with other readers or if this book is taught in a class setting. A critical analysis of this book does feel required to enjoy it to the fullest.
The story itself is harrowing and Ward’s imagery is powerful. A lot of the story is told using earthy descriptors and I found that interesting considering how much the protagonist, Annis, is forced to interact with the earth.
The spirits were interesting. I really enjoy the idea that Annis, through the stories her mother told her, holds Aza close throughout these horrific experiences while also criticizing the spirits and how much they demand of her.
I can’t tell if I wanted more or less magical realism. I like the idea of the spirits and how they’re incorporated into the world and story, but I also feel like we simultaneously saw them too often and too little.
Overall a good read. I feel this is one of those books where the reader benefits more if they discuss with other readers or if this book is taught in a class setting. A critical analysis of this book does feel required to enjoy it to the fullest.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
Jesmyn Ward is such an excellent stylist. <i>Let Us Descend</i> tells the story of an enslaved girl, Annis, as she loses touch with her mother and instead comes to rely on her mother's stories to empower her. The story is very much about spirits, myths, and the power of narrative.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
No
Heart-rending story about love, grief, and the bottomless toll that this life extracts from some. Absolutely beautiful prose. A brief glimpse at a woman whose generational grief and loss nourish the spirits around her. Arese's descent into hell and her journey to rise again.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes