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
I wished the book was written a little better. I loved Yetu’s and Oori’s storyline. The book was confusing at times but the concept was great.
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.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.