The Deep
Octavia E. Butler meets Marvel's Black Panther in The Deep, a story rich with Afrofuturism, folklore, and the power of memory, inspired by the Hugo Award-nominated song "The Deep" from Daveed Diggs's rap group Clipping. Yetu holds the memories for her people--water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners--who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly is forgotten by everyone, save one--the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu. Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities--and discovers a world her people left behind long ago. Yetu will learn more than she ever expected about her own past--and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they'll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity--and own who they really are. The Deep is "a tour de force reorientation of the storytelling gaze...a superb, multilayered work," (Publishers Weekly, starred review) and a vividly original and uniquely affecting story inspired by a song produced by the rap group Clipping.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
This book is based on a Clipping song by the same name which is based on oral mythology. I don’t know if it’s better to hear the song or the book first. But I do recommend if you can listen to the book if nothing more than to listen to something read by Daveed Diggs. I learned from this. I enjoyed this.
This is definitely worth a read/listen. It’s beautiful, atmospheric, and thought-provoking. It’s a work of art!
There was one dialogue that I had to question if it should have been included. I felt this part was trying to make commentary on the social construct between partners but it ended up not making a point and just felt thrown in there.
I listened to the audiobook and I think that had a positive influence on my overall enjoyment. It’s narrated by Daveed Diggs and he does a great job setting the tone. I would recommend the audiobook to everyone, but especially those who usually have difficulty with flowery language.
There was one dialogue that I had to question if it should have been included. I felt this part was trying to make commentary on the social construct between partners but it ended up not making a point and just felt thrown in there.
I listened to the audiobook and I think that had a positive influence on my overall enjoyment. It’s narrated by Daveed Diggs and he does a great job setting the tone. I would recommend the audiobook to everyone, but especially those who usually have difficulty with flowery language.
Yetu is the current historian of her people, and all of the memories she has to hold have become so painful that she only thinks about escaping them. Her people have forgotten the past and go about their days, relying on her to hold their entire history for them. Each year, on the day of the Remembering, she gives the memories back and is finally empty. At least for 3 days.
During this time, Yetu escapes and meets some humans in the shallows of the ocean. She finally realizes what it means to have a history, have a past, even if it’s painful. She needs to go back and save her people from the heavy burden she put upon them.
It’s interesting. After I finished this, I thought about my history. And there isn’t much that I know of. My history doesn’t weigh me down but I also recognize I don’t know enough. Close family is scarce and not a lot was brought through the generations, and I know there were secrets. I doubt I'll get to know much of my history and it will end with me.
During this time, Yetu escapes and meets some humans in the shallows of the ocean. She finally realizes what it means to have a history, have a past, even if it’s painful. She needs to go back and save her people from the heavy burden she put upon them.
It’s interesting. After I finished this, I thought about my history. And there isn’t much that I know of. My history doesn’t weigh me down but I also recognize I don’t know enough. Close family is scarce and not a lot was brought through the generations, and I know there were secrets. I doubt I'll get to know much of my history and it will end with me.
It is going to be hard to put my thoughts into words on this book. I loved this book. I got so into it, I had no idea that time even passed. The narration was very good as well.
The African slaves thrown overboard getting revenge by becoming 'mermaids' is what drew me in. I was hoping for vengeance. When I think of mermaids it is NOT cute, pretty, Disney-fied mermaids. They are pretty much as described in this book. I was glad I was wrong about the vengeance. This story was good, considering it based off a song.
This book is not just a fantastical mermaid story you may think it is. It is a story of the person forced into keeping the history of their people finally understanding that the history must be shared. It can't be left to one person. How will we learn? Why can they not be her own person like everyone else? The sacrifice of one so the others live in peace isn't always the best course of action. I also see this as the pressure from generation traditions, trauma, and expectations (I had so much of that due to the religion I was raised in as well as my German heritage). I would also love to know how Yuri influenced everyone once she could breathe underwater.
If folks where not so uptight in the American school system, I would say this would be a good book for Seniors (last year students) to read if it isn't already (I thankfully haven't had to deal with that trauma/drama in 20 years). It is thought provoking while teaching a couple lessons along the way - if your mind is open that is.
The African slaves thrown overboard getting revenge by becoming 'mermaids' is what drew me in. I was hoping for vengeance. When I think of mermaids it is NOT cute, pretty, Disney-fied mermaids. They are pretty much as described in this book. I was glad I was wrong about the vengeance. This story was good, considering it based off a song.
This book is not just a fantastical mermaid story you may think it is. It is a story of the person forced into keeping the history of their people finally understanding that the history must be shared. It can't be left to one person. How will we learn? Why can they not be her own person like everyone else? The sacrifice of one so the others live in peace isn't always the best course of action. I also see this as the pressure from generation traditions, trauma, and expectations (I had so much of that due to the religion I was raised in as well as my German heritage). I would also love to know how Yuri influenced everyone once she could breathe underwater.
If folks where not so uptight in the American school system, I would say this would be a good book for Seniors (last year students) to read if it isn't already (I thankfully haven't had to deal with that trauma/drama in 20 years). It is thought provoking while teaching a couple lessons along the way - if your mind is open that is.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.