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A review by bookmaddie
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a beautifully written book. Jones Jr.'s language is astounding and majestic. It is clear that so much thought and love went into crafting this story and bringing each character to life. This is definitely a book where you'll have to pause at times just to sit and languish in the beauty of a line. It's amazing.
The beauty of the writing carries over into the depiction of queer love. Isaiah and Samuel, both strong characters in their own right, come together to form such a quiet, strong, and loving relationship. It was really interesting how Isaiah fully embraces his queerness, yet throughout the book, Samuel struggles with his attraction to Isaiah, even while fully loving Isaiah and supporting him as a partner and friend.
Jones Jr. writes the interior of a character very well, and allows us to understand the multitude of perspectives on view on the plantation, Empty. There are those who accept Samuel and Isaiah's relationship and those who see it as a force that can only bring harm to the plantation and the way of life that has been established there. There are those who hold up traditional African beliefs that have been passed down for generations, and those who wish to move on. It was especially interesting to view this contrast while also getting a glimpse into the life of the Kosongo tribe and its members when they are first infiltrated and captured by white slave traders. Their belief system was really refreshing and so outside of Western, European/American conception. I loved how Jones Jr. gives this set of beliefs the important and authority that the racist chroniclers of the slave trade failed to provide then (and I'm sure even now, too).
While there were many parts of this book that I appreciated and valued, I did feel a bit afloat at times. Much of the story uses biblical references and themes, which I just did not understand as I've no familiarity with the Bible. I feel like a lot of important moments that would have been made more significant through the religious references were lost on me, which was unfortunate. I do also think that the pace really slowed down in the middle, almost to the point where I didn't want to pick the book up and keep reading. To this end, I think some of the chapters that follow secondary characters could have been shortened or even removed. Some chapters that followed the white slaveholders I found no real purpose in, other than to emphasize how racist and horrible these people were.
The ending of this book isn't anything radical or unexpected, but Jones Jr.'s writing breathes new life and vigor into an expected conclusion. This book is worth trying just to experience Jones Jr.'s masterful prose, and I am very curious to see what more he will write in the future.
The beauty of the writing carries over into the depiction of queer love. Isaiah and Samuel, both strong characters in their own right, come together to form such a quiet, strong, and loving relationship. It was really interesting how Isaiah fully embraces his queerness, yet throughout the book, Samuel struggles with his attraction to Isaiah, even while fully loving Isaiah and supporting him as a partner and friend.
Jones Jr. writes the interior of a character very well, and allows us to understand the multitude of perspectives on view on the plantation, Empty. There are those who accept Samuel and Isaiah's relationship and those who see it as a force that can only bring harm to the plantation and the way of life that has been established there. There are those who hold up traditional African beliefs that have been passed down for generations, and those who wish to move on. It was especially interesting to view this contrast while also getting a glimpse into the life of the Kosongo tribe and its members when they are first infiltrated and captured by white slave traders. Their belief system was really refreshing and so outside of Western, European/American conception. I loved how Jones Jr. gives this set of beliefs the important and authority that the racist chroniclers of the slave trade failed to provide then (and I'm sure even now, too).
While there were many parts of this book that I appreciated and valued, I did feel a bit afloat at times. Much of the story uses biblical references and themes, which I just did not understand as I've no familiarity with the Bible. I feel like a lot of important moments that would have been made more significant through the religious references were lost on me, which was unfortunate. I do also think that the pace really slowed down in the middle, almost to the point where I didn't want to pick the book up and keep reading. To this end, I think some of the chapters that follow secondary characters could have been shortened or even removed. Some chapters that followed the white slaveholders I found no real purpose in, other than to emphasize how racist and horrible these people were.
The ending of this book isn't anything radical or unexpected, but Jones Jr.'s writing breathes new life and vigor into an expected conclusion. This book is worth trying just to experience Jones Jr.'s masterful prose, and I am very curious to see what more he will write in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence