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The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
378 pages
What’s it about?
Samuel and Isaiah are slaves living on a plantation in Mississippi called Empty. As young men they are tasked with keeping the animals and the barn- a job that requires brawn and strong backs. As they grow into the job, they also grow into a romantic relationship. This relationship goes unremarked upon until another slave, Amos, decides to start preaching the white man's God on Sundays. Once Amos begins preaching, the other slaves realize that this relationship puts them all at risk.
What did it make me think about?
How our behaviors are shaped by our circumstances.
Should I read it?
Robert Jones Jr. is a beautiful storyteller. This book is told in many different voices- from slaves to slaveowners. It is heart wrenching and affirming at the same time. I was apprehensive about this book. I had heard it was a story of two gay lovers living in slavery in the South. I couldn't imagine it and I am amazed at what Robert Jones Jr. made me feel about this subject. To me- this novel was about having the courage to love, no matter your circumstances, rather than who you choose to love.
Quote-
"This is why Isiah and Samuel didn't care, why they clung to each other even when it was offensive to the people who had once shown them a kindness: it had to be know. And why would this be offensive? How could they hate the tiny bursts of light that shot through Isaiah's body every time he saw Samuel? Didn't everybody want somebody to glow like that? Even if it only last for never, it had to be known. That way, it could be mourned by somebody, thus remembered- and maybe, someday, repeated."
If you liked this try-
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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
378 pages
What’s it about?
Samuel and Isaiah are slaves living on a plantation in Mississippi called Empty. As young men they are tasked with keeping the animals and the barn- a job that requires brawn and strong backs. As they grow into the job, they also grow into a romantic relationship. This relationship goes unremarked upon until another slave, Amos, decides to start preaching the white man's God on Sundays. Once Amos begins preaching, the other slaves realize that this relationship puts them all at risk.
What did it make me think about?
How our behaviors are shaped by our circumstances.
Should I read it?
Robert Jones Jr. is a beautiful storyteller. This book is told in many different voices- from slaves to slaveowners. It is heart wrenching and affirming at the same time. I was apprehensive about this book. I had heard it was a story of two gay lovers living in slavery in the South. I couldn't imagine it and I am amazed at what Robert Jones Jr. made me feel about this subject. To me- this novel was about having the courage to love, no matter your circumstances, rather than who you choose to love.
Quote-
"This is why Isiah and Samuel didn't care, why they clung to each other even when it was offensive to the people who had once shown them a kindness: it had to be know. And why would this be offensive? How could they hate the tiny bursts of light that shot through Isaiah's body every time he saw Samuel? Didn't everybody want somebody to glow like that? Even if it only last for never, it had to be known. That way, it could be mourned by somebody, thus remembered- and maybe, someday, repeated."
If you liked this try-
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Memorial by Bryan Washington
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Content warning for violence, abuse, enslavement, sexual abuse, kidnapping, mass atrocities and related topics. I liked pieces of this novel, but on the whole it didn't come together for me. I liked the historical threads and the contemporary narrative, but the poetry and more fantastical elements detracted for the rest of the novel. The pace of the ending came out of nowhere, and I'm still not completely sure what happened (but part of me says that some uncertainty may be intentional?). I liked Maggie and the women in this story, but wish that the two main characters got more character development. They felt pretty consistent throughout the novel.
4.5 Stars
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how this book was going to read when first jumping into it, I knew the topics it would go over loosely, and what type of setting, etc.
After the first few chapters, I was basically hooked. The character introductions were to me, amazing! I quickly had a mental image of everyone in the story, what they would look like, their personalities and so much more.
The storytelling was, of course, the best part. The author obviously took his time to offer up the best details he could on not only the characters but their surroundings, their emotions, their outlook on life at the time even.
It would have been 5 stars, BUT, at times I feel like some of the details he provided were drawn out at times, and I was just anxious to get back to the action so to speak lol
Great, great read!!
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how this book was going to read when first jumping into it, I knew the topics it would go over loosely, and what type of setting, etc.
After the first few chapters, I was basically hooked. The character introductions were to me, amazing! I quickly had a mental image of everyone in the story, what they would look like, their personalities and so much more.
The storytelling was, of course, the best part. The author obviously took his time to offer up the best details he could on not only the characters but their surroundings, their emotions, their outlook on life at the time even.
It would have been 5 stars, BUT, at times I feel like some of the details he provided were drawn out at times, and I was just anxious to get back to the action so to speak lol
Great, great read!!
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