A review by katreadstoomanybooks
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers

emotional inspiring 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

5.0

This beautifully written saga definitely lived up to the hype!  A mix of Roots and Homegoing, Love Songs tells a multigenerational story of one Black family from the colonial slave trade to present day.  What set this book apart for me was the use of indigenous and Afro-indigenous lenses, something that is sorely lacking in many books today.

While the infamous Du Bois makes a fictional appearance, Jeffers explains that she chose the title based on the term Du Bois coined, “sorrow songs,” to describe the gospel and folk music sung by enslaved Black people to express their suffering.  I loved that Jeffers renamed it to “love songs,” alluding to the inspiration given to Black Americans.

This book is a whopping 816 pages, so I suggest taking it slow, reading something light at the same time, and just enjoy the experience.  Jeffers crafts so many small details throughout the novel that I found myself flipping back and forth numerous times while connecting the dots.  I am planning to buy my own copy and reread this masterpiece again.
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