A review by mamiep
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

challenging dark emotional inspiring tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 Robert Jones saw something missing in the novels of slavery that pepper the shelves: There were no accounts of homosexuality on the plantation. He started hearing voices, and after convincing himself he wasn’t crazy, began listening. Then he put pen to paper and came up with The Prophets, the magnificent story of two gay men on a plantation in the South. As he wrote, Jones added a story line about an African village where a woman is king and her wives are men, where two people in love, regardless of their sex, are celebrated, and another about people on a slave ship to America. This complex and beautifully written novel is like no other about this dark and desperate period of American history. Strong, supportive female characters abound. It is easy to see that Toni Morrison is one of the writers Jones respects; she would be a champion of The Prophets. I hope you will not only read this important book but attend one of his readings. His is a voice that we need to listen to. 

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