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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
I didn’t think I would love this book. I didn’t want to empathize with a man who pushed away his son because his son was gay. I ended up loving it though. I had a knot in my throat the whole time and just couldn’t put it down.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don’t Cry for Me was poignant. It said what I feel like so many want to say, but fear, shame, regret stop us from saying. This was a beautiful imagining and gives I sight to what I think we’ve all wondered our parents were like. Beautifully written.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the most moving book I have ever read. Giving it a 5.75 because it has surpassed everything else.
Don't Cry For Me is written through letters that Jacob writes to his son, Isaac, as he is reaching the end of his life. Isaac is a black, gay man and his father was never supportive of his sexuality when he was growing up, which causes them to be estranged.
Throughout these letters that make up the book, we see Jacob's entire life, and how he came to be the man that he is. We see through his recounting of his past, that masculinity was an important part of being a man, so when his son showcases more "feminine" characteristics as he is growing up, Jacob sees this as something "wrong" with him.
Jacob is writing these letters to make amends with Isaac for how he treated him, and to let him know that he loves him before his passing.
When I picked up this book, I was excited by the plot, but I was a little let down. I think there was something left to be desired by the writing. I also felt like Jacob was making excuses for the reasons he acted the way he did, rather than apologizing for his actions, which was irritating to me, even if it is (sadly) more realistic. I still enjoyed reading this book and it was definitely a quick read!
Throughout these letters that make up the book, we see Jacob's entire life, and how he came to be the man that he is. We see through his recounting of his past, that masculinity was an important part of being a man, so when his son showcases more "feminine" characteristics as he is growing up, Jacob sees this as something "wrong" with him.
Jacob is writing these letters to make amends with Isaac for how he treated him, and to let him know that he loves him before his passing.
When I picked up this book, I was excited by the plot, but I was a little let down. I think there was something left to be desired by the writing. I also felt like Jacob was making excuses for the reasons he acted the way he did, rather than apologizing for his actions, which was irritating to me, even if it is (sadly) more realistic. I still enjoyed reading this book and it was definitely a quick read!
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second book I’ve read this year, and I know it will be top 5. I loved the writing style, as well as the characters growth. The MC gave reasons for his selfish behavior towards his wife & son , including nuance, but without it feeling like an excuse or a pity party. I felt emotionally connected to story, but I would’ve liked to the MC make it to Chicago.
This was such a beautiful read! And I mean absolutely beautiful! I have never read a book so introspective and raw. I listed some of my favorite parts in the post, but I really enjoyed the character development in this novel. Jacob and Rachel had completely different character arcs, yet seemed to end up in the same place by the end. Their family roots were so relatable, especially since my family is from the Deep South. I felt directly impacted by the way Jacob told his story, and felt it resonating with some of my own family members. Every now and then, I wondered if this would be a letter one of my great uncles or grandfather could write.
I also loved how this book could potentially open a HUGE conversation for the Black community about the expectations placed on Black men from such an early age. It’s such a shame because homophobia and misogynoir within the Black community is just another side affect of slavery and the antebellum era. So many harmful thought processes were passed down for Black men to inherit, but it was taken to another level because of race. I would love to have a conversation about this in detail in my DMs if anyone is open to having it
I also loved how this book could potentially open a HUGE conversation for the Black community about the expectations placed on Black men from such an early age. It’s such a shame because homophobia and misogynoir within the Black community is just another side affect of slavery and the antebellum era. So many harmful thought processes were passed down for Black men to inherit, but it was taken to another level because of race. I would love to have a conversation about this in detail in my DMs if anyone is open to having it