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Yonder
The Water Dancer
meets The Prophets in this spare, gripping, and beautifully rendered novel exploring love and friendship among a group of enslaved Black strivers in the mid-19th century.
They call themselves the Stolen. Their owners call them captives. They are taught their captors’ tongues and their beliefs but they have a language and rituals all their own.
In a world that would be allegorical if it weren’t saturated in harsh truths, Cato and William meet at Placid Hall, a plantation in an unspecified part of the American South. Subject to the whims of their tyrannical and eccentric captor, Cannonball Greene, they never know what harm may befall them: inhumane physical toil in the plantation’s quarry by day, a beating by night, or the sale of a loved one at any moment. It’s that cruel practice—the wanton destruction of love, the belief that Black people aren’t even capable of loving—that hurts the most.
It hurts the reserved and stubborn William, who finds himself falling for Margaret, a small but mighty woman with self-possession beyond her years. And it hurts Cato, whose first love, Iris, was sold off with no forewarning. He now finds solace in his hearty band of friends, including William, who is like a brother; Margaret; Little Zander; and Milton, a gifted artist. There is also Pandora, with thick braids and long limbs, whose beauty calls to him.
Their relationships begin to fray when a visiting minister with a mysterious past starts to fill their heads with ideas about independence. He tells them that with freedom comes the right to choose the small things—when to dine, when to begin and end work—as well as the big things, such as whom and how to love. Do they follow the preacher and pursue the unknown? Confined in a landscape marked by deceit and uncertainty, who can they trust?
In an elegant work of monumental imagination that will reorient how we think of the legacy of America’s shameful past, Jabari Asim presents a beautiful, powerful, and elegiac novel that examines intimacy and longing in the quarters while asking a vital question: What would happen if an enslaved person risked everything for love?
They call themselves the Stolen. Their owners call them captives. They are taught their captors’ tongues and their beliefs but they have a language and rituals all their own.
In a world that would be allegorical if it weren’t saturated in harsh truths, Cato and William meet at Placid Hall, a plantation in an unspecified part of the American South. Subject to the whims of their tyrannical and eccentric captor, Cannonball Greene, they never know what harm may befall them: inhumane physical toil in the plantation’s quarry by day, a beating by night, or the sale of a loved one at any moment. It’s that cruel practice—the wanton destruction of love, the belief that Black people aren’t even capable of loving—that hurts the most.
It hurts the reserved and stubborn William, who finds himself falling for Margaret, a small but mighty woman with self-possession beyond her years. And it hurts Cato, whose first love, Iris, was sold off with no forewarning. He now finds solace in his hearty band of friends, including William, who is like a brother; Margaret; Little Zander; and Milton, a gifted artist. There is also Pandora, with thick braids and long limbs, whose beauty calls to him.
Their relationships begin to fray when a visiting minister with a mysterious past starts to fill their heads with ideas about independence. He tells them that with freedom comes the right to choose the small things—when to dine, when to begin and end work—as well as the big things, such as whom and how to love. Do they follow the preacher and pursue the unknown? Confined in a landscape marked by deceit and uncertainty, who can they trust?
In an elegant work of monumental imagination that will reorient how we think of the legacy of America’s shameful past, Jabari Asim presents a beautiful, powerful, and elegiac novel that examines intimacy and longing in the quarters while asking a vital question: What would happen if an enslaved person risked everything for love?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 11, 2022
166 people are currently reading
17822 people want to read
About the author
Jabari Asim
33 books347 followers
Praise for Only The Strong
"Jabari Asim is such an elegant writer that you won't realize how smoothly he drew you in until you're halfway through this book. Humane and humorous, compassionate and willing to get a little rough, this describes both the writer and the novel. Only The Strong does for St. Louis what Edward P. Jones has done for Washington D.C., Raymond Chandler for Los Angeles---marked it as place on the literary map where you'll want to stay for a long while. A riveting novel." --Victor LaValle, author of The Devil in Silver
“Only the Strong is a lushly atmospheric and passionately written piece of work, bursting with colorful characters that shine on every page.” ---Bernice L. McFadden, author of Gathering of Waters
"Only the Strong effortlessly transmits Jabari Asim’s profound affection for this book's charismatic and varied characters. This is a vivid, revelatory portrait of 1970s America in the disheartened aftermath of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death." —Rafael Yglesias, author of The Wisdom of Perversity
"There's an eerie timeliness to the publication of this fictional study of Saint Louis black communities of the 1970s. Only the Strong reminds me of Chester Himes’ Harlem entertainments—in its deceptively light handling of desperately serious subject matter. Jabari Asim is a writer to watch, and to listen to closely, in these difficult times." —Madison Smartt Bell, author of All Souls’ Rising and Zig Zag Wanderer
"It is like stepping into a time capsule of my old neighborhood in the 1970s...to read about Gateway City, Jabari Asim’s fascinating rendition of St. Louis, as an adult brings back memories of time and place, and also admiration for his storytelling." —Susan Straight, author of Between Heaven and Here and A Million Nightingales
Praise for A Taste Of Honey
"A Taste of Honey has the power of memoir and the poetry of fiction. Suddenly, it is 1968 once more, with all of the hope and violence and seismic change that rocked the cities that summer. It's all here and it's all beautifully rendered. This books is a gem."
—Chris Bohjalian, author of Secrets of Eden
"Jabari Asim has written a brilliant coming-of-age tale filled with compelling characters navigating race relations in 1968, navigating familial and neighborhood demands, and triumphantly reaffirming what it means to be human. A lovely, lyrical collection of connected stories that will leave readers breathless and ecstatic with passion and joy."
—Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Yellow Moon
"Offering the bitter with the sweet, Jabari Asim's first collection of stories, A Taste Of Honey, serves up a multilayered dish. Asim ranges through and across a Midwestern African American community in the wake of the civil rights movement and the social changes of the last forty years, writing from the inside out and unforgettably bringing to life a world that still is too seldom seen in American fiction."
—John Keene, author of Annotations
"Jabari Asim's rich short stories read like a novel . . . full of people we love getting to know—Rose, Gabriel, Pristine, Ed, Reuben, and Guts. I particularly loved the male characters in these pages . . . men who live by their brains and their brawn, shelter their children, their community. They embrace their wives. They love hard, laugh deep, and cry inside."
—Denise Nicholas, author of Freshwater Road
"Asim successfully delves into politics, domestic violence, racial identity, young love, and more in this humorous and poignant collection..."
—Publishers Weekly
"With his debut work of fiction, the Guggenheim Fellow proves himself to be a promising storyteller." -Library Journal
"This fiction rings true." -Kirkus Reviews
More about Jabari Asim
He is the author of What Obama Means . . . For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future,, The N Word
"Jabari Asim is such an elegant writer that you won't realize how smoothly he drew you in until you're halfway through this book. Humane and humorous, compassionate and willing to get a little rough, this describes both the writer and the novel. Only The Strong does for St. Louis what Edward P. Jones has done for Washington D.C., Raymond Chandler for Los Angeles---marked it as place on the literary map where you'll want to stay for a long while. A riveting novel." --Victor LaValle, author of The Devil in Silver
“Only the Strong is a lushly atmospheric and passionately written piece of work, bursting with colorful characters that shine on every page.” ---Bernice L. McFadden, author of Gathering of Waters
"Only the Strong effortlessly transmits Jabari Asim’s profound affection for this book's charismatic and varied characters. This is a vivid, revelatory portrait of 1970s America in the disheartened aftermath of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death." —Rafael Yglesias, author of The Wisdom of Perversity
"There's an eerie timeliness to the publication of this fictional study of Saint Louis black communities of the 1970s. Only the Strong reminds me of Chester Himes’ Harlem entertainments—in its deceptively light handling of desperately serious subject matter. Jabari Asim is a writer to watch, and to listen to closely, in these difficult times." —Madison Smartt Bell, author of All Souls’ Rising and Zig Zag Wanderer
"It is like stepping into a time capsule of my old neighborhood in the 1970s...to read about Gateway City, Jabari Asim’s fascinating rendition of St. Louis, as an adult brings back memories of time and place, and also admiration for his storytelling." —Susan Straight, author of Between Heaven and Here and A Million Nightingales
Praise for A Taste Of Honey
"A Taste of Honey has the power of memoir and the poetry of fiction. Suddenly, it is 1968 once more, with all of the hope and violence and seismic change that rocked the cities that summer. It's all here and it's all beautifully rendered. This books is a gem."
—Chris Bohjalian, author of Secrets of Eden
"Jabari Asim has written a brilliant coming-of-age tale filled with compelling characters navigating race relations in 1968, navigating familial and neighborhood demands, and triumphantly reaffirming what it means to be human. A lovely, lyrical collection of connected stories that will leave readers breathless and ecstatic with passion and joy."
—Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Yellow Moon
"Offering the bitter with the sweet, Jabari Asim's first collection of stories, A Taste Of Honey, serves up a multilayered dish. Asim ranges through and across a Midwestern African American community in the wake of the civil rights movement and the social changes of the last forty years, writing from the inside out and unforgettably bringing to life a world that still is too seldom seen in American fiction."
—John Keene, author of Annotations
"Jabari Asim's rich short stories read like a novel . . . full of people we love getting to know—Rose, Gabriel, Pristine, Ed, Reuben, and Guts. I particularly loved the male characters in these pages . . . men who live by their brains and their brawn, shelter their children, their community. They embrace their wives. They love hard, laugh deep, and cry inside."
—Denise Nicholas, author of Freshwater Road
"Asim successfully delves into politics, domestic violence, racial identity, young love, and more in this humorous and poignant collection..."
—Publishers Weekly
"With his debut work of fiction, the Guggenheim Fellow proves himself to be a promising storyteller." -Library Journal
"This fiction rings true." -Kirkus Reviews
More about Jabari Asim
He is the author of What Obama Means . . . For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future,, The N Word
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 320 reviews
February 7, 2022
This book is about a group of slaves on the Placid Hall plantation, owned by Cannonball Greene and his wife known as Screech Owl. There are some touching depictions of love and loyalty among the slaves, but there is nothing really new here. The slaves are called Stolen People and their owners are called Thieves, there is a Chariot instead of the Underground Railroad and there was a little magical realism in the way ancestors were introduced. However, these changes didn’t do anything to cast a new light on a story that has been told many times. The Thieves and the Stolen People behave exactly like they do in every other book about slavery. The changes just felt like a way to avoid having to be historically accurate. Maybe if you haven’t read anything else about slavery you might find this more moving than I did. The writing was ok and I might read more by this author, depending upon the subject, so I am rounding my rating up. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
March 4, 2022
This is phenomenal. Jabari Asim has indeed created a language all his own. I went into this not expecting to find what I did. It’s rare to discover a book so completely different from others on this time in our history. The author has etched his own fresh perspective into this beautifully told story. It’s gut wrenching, graphic at times, steeped in folklore, history and spiritualism, and is by no means an easy read. I felt their despair, fears, and anger. Their strengths of hope and love. Told by multiple narrators, it follows their journey from plantation life at Placid Hall as a Stolen, their tragedies through the Underground Railroad, to Yonder (freedom).
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
January 13, 2022
“We called them Thieves; they called themselves God’s Children. We called ourselves Stolen; they called us niggas.” -- William
Cannonball Greene is a self-professed “academic” planter who seeks notoriety as an expert in the field of chattel slavery management. He concocts various experiments involving the Stolen and documents the outcome in hopes of publishing his work to shed light on the enigmas surrounding the handling, behavior, and mindset of the enslaved/Stolen. As with many of the time, he incorrectly believed the African/Negro was not human and therefore did not reason, feel, or possess the same aptitude for learning, advanced thinking, emotional bonding, etc. as Whites. He believed their behavior was controllable and predictable; that they possessed an innate inclination of deference toward a superior being (Whites).
It is in this flawed, cruel universe where Yonder dwells. While the author does not spare the reader the brutality and ugliness of the era, it is nonetheless a beautifully demonstrative tale set in the antebellum South across three neighboring plantations. It shows how families were built from the orphaned, the widowed, the broken-hearted, and the lost. It reveals how bonds formed under duress and desperate circumstances rival those formed by blood.
For example, at one point in the novel, an emotionally damaged, heartless Stolen man ironically named Cupid spews, “Lovesick niggas don’t do nobody no good. Love will spoil a nigga for certain.” Asim’s characters witness and endure atrocities such that it is totally understandable why some would opt to guard their hearts by choosing not to care because loved ones could be sold, killed, or removed at the whim of the Thieves/Owners at any time without warning. However, many opted to love regardless of the circumstances. Asim layers the various facets of love in the inner and inter-relationships of the characters - we see that love is a balm; it heals. Love is patient; it waits and endures. Love inspires, motivates, and propels. Love is kind and thoughtful. Love is magical.
I enjoyed my time with William, a naturally fearless, reserved leader, and his outgoing, outspoken soulmate, Margaret. Cato, “brother” to William, a stoic thinker who craves freedom and a chance at love with Pandora, a courageous dreamer in her own right. The supporting characters were well-crafted with backstories steeped in folklore and history -- Zander, a boy who sees angels and believes he will grow wings and fly; Ransom, a freedman preacher who visits the plantations to openly spread the “Good Word” from the Thieves’ god, yet clandestinely calls for inspiration and hope from their Ancestors. He talks of freedom over yonder for those brave and strong enough to pursue it.
There are aspects of magical realism (some readers may not care for it; I didn’t mind), use of the “n-word,” and as mentioned before emotional abuse, graphic violence, including mention and references of sexual abuse/rape.
A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review in exchange for a review.
Cannonball Greene is a self-professed “academic” planter who seeks notoriety as an expert in the field of chattel slavery management. He concocts various experiments involving the Stolen and documents the outcome in hopes of publishing his work to shed light on the enigmas surrounding the handling, behavior, and mindset of the enslaved/Stolen. As with many of the time, he incorrectly believed the African/Negro was not human and therefore did not reason, feel, or possess the same aptitude for learning, advanced thinking, emotional bonding, etc. as Whites. He believed their behavior was controllable and predictable; that they possessed an innate inclination of deference toward a superior being (Whites).
It is in this flawed, cruel universe where Yonder dwells. While the author does not spare the reader the brutality and ugliness of the era, it is nonetheless a beautifully demonstrative tale set in the antebellum South across three neighboring plantations. It shows how families were built from the orphaned, the widowed, the broken-hearted, and the lost. It reveals how bonds formed under duress and desperate circumstances rival those formed by blood.
For example, at one point in the novel, an emotionally damaged, heartless Stolen man ironically named Cupid spews, “Lovesick niggas don’t do nobody no good. Love will spoil a nigga for certain.” Asim’s characters witness and endure atrocities such that it is totally understandable why some would opt to guard their hearts by choosing not to care because loved ones could be sold, killed, or removed at the whim of the Thieves/Owners at any time without warning. However, many opted to love regardless of the circumstances. Asim layers the various facets of love in the inner and inter-relationships of the characters - we see that love is a balm; it heals. Love is patient; it waits and endures. Love inspires, motivates, and propels. Love is kind and thoughtful. Love is magical.
I enjoyed my time with William, a naturally fearless, reserved leader, and his outgoing, outspoken soulmate, Margaret. Cato, “brother” to William, a stoic thinker who craves freedom and a chance at love with Pandora, a courageous dreamer in her own right. The supporting characters were well-crafted with backstories steeped in folklore and history -- Zander, a boy who sees angels and believes he will grow wings and fly; Ransom, a freedman preacher who visits the plantations to openly spread the “Good Word” from the Thieves’ god, yet clandestinely calls for inspiration and hope from their Ancestors. He talks of freedom over yonder for those brave and strong enough to pursue it.
There are aspects of magical realism (some readers may not care for it; I didn’t mind), use of the “n-word,” and as mentioned before emotional abuse, graphic violence, including mention and references of sexual abuse/rape.
A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review in exchange for a review.
December 29, 2021
Jabari Asim's Yonder is the story of five Stolen escaping from the plantation of the Thief who claims to own them. Putting it in language we hear more often, it's the story of a group of runaway slaves fleeing their master. See what difference the language makes?
The story Yonder relates, narrated by multiple Stolen, is deeply engaging. What I want to focus on, however, is the power of language that runs throughout the novel. It's not just the Stolen/Thief labels. Cannonball Greene, owner of the plantation, has convinced himself he is engaged in a scientific study of the soulless beings his god has seen fit to bless him with, coining new terms for their various forms of inferiority. The Stolen, each given seven words at birth from seven different Stolen, recite those words at the beginning and end of each day and at times of crisis. They don't tell themselves they come from Africa—in their wording they come from Strength. And when—if—they reach Yonder (Canada) they will rename themselves.
Changing the language with which a story is told, as Asim does, can make that story new, can make that story truer, can flip the perspective through which that story is experienced by readers. I'm still searching for my own language to discuss Yonder, but this is the point I'm currently at. When I find better words, I'll come back to revise.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
The story Yonder relates, narrated by multiple Stolen, is deeply engaging. What I want to focus on, however, is the power of language that runs throughout the novel. It's not just the Stolen/Thief labels. Cannonball Greene, owner of the plantation, has convinced himself he is engaged in a scientific study of the soulless beings his god has seen fit to bless him with, coining new terms for their various forms of inferiority. The Stolen, each given seven words at birth from seven different Stolen, recite those words at the beginning and end of each day and at times of crisis. They don't tell themselves they come from Africa—in their wording they come from Strength. And when—if—they reach Yonder (Canada) they will rename themselves.
Changing the language with which a story is told, as Asim does, can make that story new, can make that story truer, can flip the perspective through which that story is experienced by readers. I'm still searching for my own language to discuss Yonder, but this is the point I'm currently at. When I find better words, I'll come back to revise.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
February 1, 2022
Jabari Asim did the damn thing! It’s far too early to talk about best books of the year, but trust me, Yonder will surely land on many a year-end list. The business of bondage. Ahh, it’s a difficult thing to write about, especially when you want to amplify love and tenderness in the face of inscrutable odds.
But Jabari Asim has done the impossible and created memorable, easy to root for characters. And in a nod to scholars who have schooled us over the years about language and labels around slavery, we don’t get slaves and masters here. Jabari gives us the Stolen and the Thieves.
The Stolen long for freedom and wonder what’s over Yonder? It has to be better than what they are currently experiencing, yes? Well with four main characters who take turns filling first person voice, we get a well paced story easy to see from different angles because of the shifting voices.
I believe one of the special things about this work is the centering of African spirituality and its power to sustain the Stolen to endure the hurt and pain, but still be able to express love and desire. Often African spiritual beliefs and practices are given short shrift in fiction and are frequently points of ridicule.
Jabari deftly eschewed that trope and bravely, boldly and belovedly gave the Ancestors a place of honor. As the novel moves toward the denouement, your heart will quicken and all your emotions will be engaged as the Stolen make their bid for freedom.
But Jabari Asim has done the impossible and created memorable, easy to root for characters. And in a nod to scholars who have schooled us over the years about language and labels around slavery, we don’t get slaves and masters here. Jabari gives us the Stolen and the Thieves.
The Stolen long for freedom and wonder what’s over Yonder? It has to be better than what they are currently experiencing, yes? Well with four main characters who take turns filling first person voice, we get a well paced story easy to see from different angles because of the shifting voices.
I believe one of the special things about this work is the centering of African spirituality and its power to sustain the Stolen to endure the hurt and pain, but still be able to express love and desire. Often African spiritual beliefs and practices are given short shrift in fiction and are frequently points of ridicule.
Jabari deftly eschewed that trope and bravely, boldly and belovedly gave the Ancestors a place of honor. As the novel moves toward the denouement, your heart will quicken and all your emotions will be engaged as the Stolen make their bid for freedom.
February 18, 2022
I am a sucker for books with a distinctive voice and for that reason alone, this would have been a winner. But this book is so much more. I have read many a novel based in the era of slavery, but few told with the bravery or beauty of this one. From it's opening descriptions of Thieves and Stolen I was hooked. Asim then goes on to draw portraits of such distinct and complex characters - no stereotypes here. Just when I thought I loved one the most, he would open the heart of another.
All of the brutality and ugliness of slavery is present, but few authors have the gift of also bringing the beauty and lyricism to light under that harsh reality. Not at all the same topic, but I was reminded of my love and admiration for The Enchanted and Rene Denfeld. That combination of despair and hope in just the right proportions isn't easy, but when it works, as it does with Asim, it's brilliant.
An excellent choice for Black History Month.
For fellow fans of Rene Denfeld, Wiley Cash, Toni Morrison, Ta-Nehisi Coates ... add Jabari Asim to your list.
“You’re supposed to have all the answers,” he said. It felt like an accusation.
I chuckled and strapped my pouch across my shoulder. “I wish it were only that,” I told him. “I don’t even have all the questions.”
All of the brutality and ugliness of slavery is present, but few authors have the gift of also bringing the beauty and lyricism to light under that harsh reality. Not at all the same topic, but I was reminded of my love and admiration for The Enchanted and Rene Denfeld. That combination of despair and hope in just the right proportions isn't easy, but when it works, as it does with Asim, it's brilliant.
As my William has said to me more that once, a story depends on who’s telling it, what they choose to mention, and what they leave out. There’s also the way they tell it, and the way they tell it has been shaped by everything that’s happened to them.
An excellent choice for Black History Month.
For fellow fans of Rene Denfeld, Wiley Cash, Toni Morrison, Ta-Nehisi Coates ... add Jabari Asim to your list.
January 16, 2022
Shock. Horror. Belief. Love.
**Warning - this book may have some triggers for some and may not be suitable for others.
I have never read or experienced a story about slavery told in this way. I really had to concentrate on the words of the book. Several times I had to look up meanings of certain phrases. The story broke my heart and then made it whole again. I just loved it.
The brutal honesty and cruelty of this book is gut wrenching. Just horrible circumstances, but Cato, Pandora, Margaret and William find love above all. Even Zander-Fly High.
But Please Mr. Jabari Asim tell me what Margaret she chose! I know Pandora will be mad at Cato for a long time choosing Prissy for her. Ha!
**Warning - this book may have some triggers for some and may not be suitable for others.
I have never read or experienced a story about slavery told in this way. I really had to concentrate on the words of the book. Several times I had to look up meanings of certain phrases. The story broke my heart and then made it whole again. I just loved it.
The brutal honesty and cruelty of this book is gut wrenching. Just horrible circumstances, but Cato, Pandora, Margaret and William find love above all. Even Zander-Fly High.
But Please Mr. Jabari Asim tell me what Margaret she chose! I know Pandora will be mad at Cato for a long time choosing Prissy for her. Ha!
February 1, 2022
thoughts coming shortly
February 21, 2022
A story that's been told before and will be told again, about slaves in the South seeking their freedom. The main characters here were solid, with four POVs. I liked Asim's nomenclature: slaves were the Stolen, slaveowners were the Thieves, and the Ancestors. And the run to freedom called Yonder. The theme of spirituality and spirits was very strong, imparting wisdom and fortitude to the runners, for whom the readers will be rooting. The plantation owner's wife's nickname of the Screech Owl was also a hoot.
August 1, 2023
A gorgeously crafted ode to language and human connection. Yonder is a magical novel that illuminates the dark truths of slavery in a new way- it directs the narrative to The Stolen, who were devoted to one another, to faith, to the power of storytelling and words. It is a story that does not shy away from the raw brutality of this period in history, but does not overshadow the love and resilience that existed between The Stolen- it is a story of hope, of love, of resourcefulness. The prose is captivating, heart piercing, and entirely memorable. A precious novel with an incredibly impactful and important perspective.
May 2, 2022
Yonder is a book about stolen people trying to survive the maltreatment of thieves. Despite their mistreatment and tragedies they witness they strive to find meaning in their life and spiritual beliefs. Compelling and insightful, it reads like a oral history being passed on to a new generation.
I'm glad I decided to listen to this on audio, the story does contain graphic scenes of torture, rape and death. It was hard to keep reading at times, and I had to take breaks because I was overwhelmed with emotion thinking of my ancestors. Through my ancestry I know that my distant relatives were slaves in South Carolina. Although this is fiction, it was a refreshing reminder that I come from strong too.
I would recommend this book to readers who:
-enjoy multilayered stories of people going through impossibly hard things
-want to learn more about African American slaves beliefs and experiences
-can deal with triggering descriptions of humans being treated in the most inhumane ways possible
I'm glad I decided to listen to this on audio, the story does contain graphic scenes of torture, rape and death. It was hard to keep reading at times, and I had to take breaks because I was overwhelmed with emotion thinking of my ancestors. Through my ancestry I know that my distant relatives were slaves in South Carolina. Although this is fiction, it was a refreshing reminder that I come from strong too.
I would recommend this book to readers who:
-enjoy multilayered stories of people going through impossibly hard things
-want to learn more about African American slaves beliefs and experiences
-can deal with triggering descriptions of humans being treated in the most inhumane ways possible
April 30, 2023
What a book. Tough to read, but so well written. I went in blind and I do not regret it. Magical realism, folklore and historical— count me in! I could feel the emotions from the heartache, emotional pain and physical abuse. This is a Harriet Tubman story, through the a Underground Railroad. Imprinted in my heart.
dnf
October 8, 2022dnf @ 23%
I just wasn’t feeling it at the moment tbh
I just wasn’t feeling it at the moment tbh
May 31, 2023
* Wish I Could Give This Novel 10 Stars! **
"May it suffice to say that she created in me a lightness of heart of which I had not thought myself capable. Our interludes provided me with a glimpse of marvels I'd yet to know, treasures I could claim for my own in another place, somewhere yonder."
- Cato
Jabari Asim's novel, "Yonder" explores the lives of a group of enslaved people known as "The Stolen." And, their owners which are called 'The Theives." This Group is formed at a plantation called Placid Hall owned by the very cruel Cannonball Greene and his wife (Screech Owl). Living day by day, the Stolen will encounter many Heartwrenching and vile situations that Truly Keep Them Believing & Seeking Yonder!
This author will literally take you on a Rites of Passage with One. Most Readers will not Understand this one because you have a Spiritual Awakening or You WILL Rejoice at the End of this Novel! With each chapter, readers will not only learn about the characters. But, the expressive, rhythmic words allow readers to actually feel the characters' Love. There is no doubt that the author meditated, deeply even down to the names Mr. Asim choose for the characters: Cato, Pandora, William, Margaret, Little Zander, Ransom. The meaning of their names signified so much of there entire Being. The Ancestoral Insights is Magnificent within these pages as well. This authors delivers, impeccably! After all this Group of People went through, they never lost sight of Who they Were. And, the Things that were Created in Them.
This is such a Compelling Book for so many reasons!! It took me some time to get into the flow of this novel, initially. Yet, realizing how much WISDOM this novel was Graced with from beginning to end. It had the feel of my favorite book by The Lovely Ms. Zora Neale Hurston's "Moses, Man of the Mountain." Just like her books, I had to take my time reading this one; making sure to grasp and RECEIVE everything from this Masterpiece!
"May it suffice to say that she created in me a lightness of heart of which I had not thought myself capable. Our interludes provided me with a glimpse of marvels I'd yet to know, treasures I could claim for my own in another place, somewhere yonder."
- Cato
Jabari Asim's novel, "Yonder" explores the lives of a group of enslaved people known as "The Stolen." And, their owners which are called 'The Theives." This Group is formed at a plantation called Placid Hall owned by the very cruel Cannonball Greene and his wife (Screech Owl). Living day by day, the Stolen will encounter many Heartwrenching and vile situations that Truly Keep Them Believing & Seeking Yonder!
This author will literally take you on a Rites of Passage with One. Most Readers will not Understand this one because you have a Spiritual Awakening or You WILL Rejoice at the End of this Novel! With each chapter, readers will not only learn about the characters. But, the expressive, rhythmic words allow readers to actually feel the characters' Love. There is no doubt that the author meditated, deeply even down to the names Mr. Asim choose for the characters: Cato, Pandora, William, Margaret, Little Zander, Ransom. The meaning of their names signified so much of there entire Being. The Ancestoral Insights is Magnificent within these pages as well. This authors delivers, impeccably! After all this Group of People went through, they never lost sight of Who they Were. And, the Things that were Created in Them.
This is such a Compelling Book for so many reasons!! It took me some time to get into the flow of this novel, initially. Yet, realizing how much WISDOM this novel was Graced with from beginning to end. It had the feel of my favorite book by The Lovely Ms. Zora Neale Hurston's "Moses, Man of the Mountain." Just like her books, I had to take my time reading this one; making sure to grasp and RECEIVE everything from this Masterpiece!
July 14, 2022
dang, that was very good
October 4, 2021
“We called them Thieves; they called themselves God’s Children. We called ourselves Stolen; they called us niggas.” I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. An allegorical tale of slavery written beautifully. While the story is not new, this telling is focused on intimacy and love while a slave. So often it seems as if "slaves" have been used as a conduit to tell the slave story without really touching the hearts of those involved....that black people were not capable of loving or any emotion. That is a hard history to ignore.
5*
5*
November 11, 2021
This book cracked my reading draught. Couldn't put it down!
March 28, 2022
Jabari Asim has written a phenomenal book, using different terminology that was brilliant. Instead of slaves and masters, we have the Stolen and the Thieves. The writing here is absolutely exquisite, it draws you in and captivates you, and combined with a touch of magical realism throughout, this really came together and worked so well as a whole. The core of the story is about slavery, but it is also about love and what an enslaved person is willing to sacrifice for it. It is told from several of the slaves’ POV’s, each adding a different perspective to the story. This is beautiful, heartbreaking, and amazing, I loved it.
TW should be a given, but just in case I am noting, as it does get graphic at times. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy to review.
TW should be a given, but just in case I am noting, as it does get graphic at times. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy to review.
April 26, 2022
What a ride!
This is a book that tempted me mightily to keep reading after my bedtime. Many nights, I looked forward to jumping back into this story...these Stories. And of course I thought about "Feminist Rehearsal."
The storycrafting has intricate plotting, beautiful writing, and deep characterizations. All the key characters have a background that explains who they are and how they arrived or came to be. A whole world is created here. The multiple perspectives shed light on how William and Cato survived on a plantation. I can't help but think about how the sacrifices continue and about how each choice is made to survive.
Please see my many "highlights." I think I could have easily highlighted more passages as the book is just filled with gorgeous language.
I'd definitely read more from Asim.
This is a book that tempted me mightily to keep reading after my bedtime. Many nights, I looked forward to jumping back into this story...these Stories. And of course I thought about "Feminist Rehearsal."
The storycrafting has intricate plotting, beautiful writing, and deep characterizations. All the key characters have a background that explains who they are and how they arrived or came to be. A whole world is created here. The multiple perspectives shed light on how William and Cato survived on a plantation. I can't help but think about how the sacrifices continue and about how each choice is made to survive.
Please see my many "highlights." I think I could have easily highlighted more passages as the book is just filled with gorgeous language.
I'd definitely read more from Asim.
January 26, 2022
This book was unfathomable. Not as it did not happen...more like how horrific slavery was. And all of the danger that the Underground Railroad was fraught with. It was so frightening. The things that kept the characters going…their ancestors and a view to their descendants; the power of words—the seven words that they were given when they were born; a belief and understanding that they were coming from STRONG; the network among themselves to learn from one another such as learning from Silent Mary about medicinals. The most horrific practice that I ever heard of, pickling a person, really happened. How could a human survive such a thing? And, of course, punishing slaves at the whipping post was a common practice. The owner taking notes while observing his slaves was very uncomfortable and disturbing. Also, pairing off slaves as another form of experimentation. Just so much dysfunction and trauma! Two thirds of the book are about living on the plantation and the final third is about escaping from it. The names: White People=thieves; Black People=stolen, very fitting. Elements of fantasy and imagination were sprinkled in the book. I really liked this because how else would you cope? Telling of fairy tales, imagining flying, shift shaping people called “The People” (who BTW had power from the ability to read & write) and spirits presenting themselves, very cool.
This was a good refresher for me about history and the novel had a hopeful ending. I heard the author speak on NPR and I am glad I sought out this book and read it.
This was a good refresher for me about history and the novel had a hopeful ending. I heard the author speak on NPR and I am glad I sought out this book and read it.
February 20, 2023
‘Way over yonder
Is a place that I know
Where I can find shelter
From a hunger and cold
And the sweet tasting’ good life
Is so easily found
A way over yonder, that’s where I’m bound.’
-Carole King
Perhaps because it’s one of the only songs I know that contains the word yonder in it, but these lyrics/refrain/melody were stuck in my head while reading this fantastic book. Part allegory, part magical realism, but all rooted in a too real past, Jabari Asim lyrically writes about a group of slaves,who refer to themselves as the Stolen. Asim takes us in their minds and hearts as this group of roughly six characters persevere against relentless brutalities committed against their bodies and minds. But when a preacher shows up, he begins to whisper in their ears about the chance for freedom if only they can truly believe his intentions are pure.
I loved these characters so much:
Powerful, thoughtful William, sweet earnest Cato, ebullient Little Zander, and even more so the two women who counterbalance the men, strong, driven Margaret and one of my favorites, the beautiful iron willed Pandora. I listened to this on audio and with a full amazing cast this made an incredibly powerful and moving book even more so. Highly recommended.
Is a place that I know
Where I can find shelter
From a hunger and cold
And the sweet tasting’ good life
Is so easily found
A way over yonder, that’s where I’m bound.’
-Carole King
Perhaps because it’s one of the only songs I know that contains the word yonder in it, but these lyrics/refrain/melody were stuck in my head while reading this fantastic book. Part allegory, part magical realism, but all rooted in a too real past, Jabari Asim lyrically writes about a group of slaves,who refer to themselves as the Stolen. Asim takes us in their minds and hearts as this group of roughly six characters persevere against relentless brutalities committed against their bodies and minds. But when a preacher shows up, he begins to whisper in their ears about the chance for freedom if only they can truly believe his intentions are pure.
I loved these characters so much:
Powerful, thoughtful William, sweet earnest Cato, ebullient Little Zander, and even more so the two women who counterbalance the men, strong, driven Margaret and one of my favorites, the beautiful iron willed Pandora. I listened to this on audio and with a full amazing cast this made an incredibly powerful and moving book even more so. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2022
Man… I really enjoyed this. I am inclined to go with 5 stars but lemme think about it because I get real EMOTIONAL about a five star review. I love that this was vivid without being gory. Loved this author’s use of language and the story clipped along at a good pace.
I have not yet read The Prophets, but it’s def on the ‘PUT IT IN YOUR FACE’ list. I did not finish Water Dancer but now I can imagine what Coates’ vision for that book was. I loved “the 7”, the idea of the Swing Low, the change of the name from Master to Thief, from Enslaved to Stolen and the ribbon of the love story that flows throughout.
If I think about it longer I could go all day.
Can’t wait to discuss this and glean insight from others on this work. Hope it launches well.
I have not yet read The Prophets, but it’s def on the ‘PUT IT IN YOUR FACE’ list. I did not finish Water Dancer but now I can imagine what Coates’ vision for that book was. I loved “the 7”, the idea of the Swing Low, the change of the name from Master to Thief, from Enslaved to Stolen and the ribbon of the love story that flows throughout.
If I think about it longer I could go all day.
Can’t wait to discuss this and glean insight from others on this work. Hope it launches well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
new rating/review: 1.25 stars
sorry everyone i keep changing my mind about my ratings but it just goes to show how the books age in my mind y’know?
anyway, yeah i don’t think about this at all.
original review: 3 stars
( my book review in video )
"I wanted to belong to Iris when I didn't even belong to myself."
This is a solid 3 for me. It was thought-provoking at times but in my opinion, didn't offer anything new... I found the fictional parts of the book interesting, but also an excuse to avoid historical accuracy. I don't have many complaints nor do I have many compliments for this book. But overall, it was a nice read.
sorry everyone i keep changing my mind about my ratings but it just goes to show how the books age in my mind y’know?
anyway, yeah i don’t think about this at all.
original review: 3 stars
( my book review in video )
"I wanted to belong to Iris when I didn't even belong to myself."
This is a solid 3 for me. It was thought-provoking at times but in my opinion, didn't offer anything new... I found the fictional parts of the book interesting, but also an excuse to avoid historical accuracy. I don't have many complaints nor do I have many compliments for this book. But overall, it was a nice read.
January 7, 2022
Wow. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time. The writing is breathtaking and does not hesitate in describing the horror and inhumane conditions the Stolen (slaves) endured from the Thieves. Every word felt intentional and needed. I loved some of the characters in the book while I feared others. This is writing at its best and I highly recommend. Take your time with this deceptively-short book. It’s full and deep and I hope you give it the time and pace and attention it deserves. Heartfelt thanks to Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy.
July 2, 2022
4 stars.
May 2, 2025
Gorgeous, assured prose. I will definitely be reading more of Asim.
January 14, 2022
I normally do not like reading fiction books about slavery. Knowing that it existed and that white people still benefit from it to this day is enough. But I am glad I read this one. Yonder is extraordinary.
The book follows several characters all from the same plantation. Each are different and the same. The same because they are all enslaved and have had horrors in their lives that would keep even the most hardened person awake at night. Bu they are different because of their hopes, their dreams and what they will do to be free. The same because even while living in a Hell created by white people, these characters feel pain, loss and love.
I enjoyed this book so much because the author used language that made me relate to the characters in a different way than I have reading other fiction books depicting slavery. The slave owners are Thieves (rightfully so) and those enslaved are the Stolen, which is accurate. Thieves, both men and women, are written like the monsters they were. But the author does not write these horrors for shock value. He writes them more so that readers understand what happened to these PEOPLE, something white people today still can't come to grips with (or won't). The Stolen were human beings who were treated like animals. No, less than animals. But had they continued to believe they were, we would still be in bondage.
I definitely plan to purchase this book so I have a finished copy in my library. I can see myself reading this book again and again.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book follows several characters all from the same plantation. Each are different and the same. The same because they are all enslaved and have had horrors in their lives that would keep even the most hardened person awake at night. Bu they are different because of their hopes, their dreams and what they will do to be free. The same because even while living in a Hell created by white people, these characters feel pain, loss and love.
I enjoyed this book so much because the author used language that made me relate to the characters in a different way than I have reading other fiction books depicting slavery. The slave owners are Thieves (rightfully so) and those enslaved are the Stolen, which is accurate. Thieves, both men and women, are written like the monsters they were. But the author does not write these horrors for shock value. He writes them more so that readers understand what happened to these PEOPLE, something white people today still can't come to grips with (or won't). The Stolen were human beings who were treated like animals. No, less than animals. But had they continued to believe they were, we would still be in bondage.
I definitely plan to purchase this book so I have a finished copy in my library. I can see myself reading this book again and again.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2022
I only made it to page 92. There really isn't a story here; it's just rape, sexual perversion, and mutilation. I kept waiting for the point of the story to be revealed, but it was just one horrible sexual or physical abuse encounter after another. There are definitely better books about slavery, so I would recommend skipping this one.
January 30, 2023
Jabari Asim's novel re-creates the world of enslaved people in the American South in the years prior to the Civil War with startling immediacy and powerfully-drawn characters. The enslaved call themselves "Stolen", while their white enslavers are called "Thieves", clearly expressing the true nature of the relationship between the two groups. The Stolen in Asim's novel suffer brutal treatment, physical punishments that rise to the level of torture, and the ever-present fear of losing a loved-one who is sold to another Thief and taken to a far off location.An element of magical realism is woven into the story by the presence of Ancestors who encourage and guide some of the Stolen, appearing especially during times of greatest hardship and stress. I especially loved the strong Black women Asim included in his novel, women who protected and supported each other, and often prevented the men around them from acting on impulses that would further jeopardize themselves or their community.
July 14, 2022
I appreciated the language of the book -- the seven words, Stolen, People, Thieves, the Strong, the Chariot, Swing Low...all of those things were novel and great. I thought the Ancestors were interesting, especially how they were used.
HOWEVER
Basically everything else about this book felt like well-trod territory. Stop me if you've heard the one about the slaves and the awful shit their masters did, or , etc. This is just...not an interesting story, IMO, and not really a particularly novel view/voice about the subject matter. And as a result, the plantation stuff...kind of felt a little tortured. Like, yeah, we are reliving this...but do we need to?
I also was surprised to see how much the author has written, though maybe because most of it is non-fiction the point stands, but I thought that while the idea of how perspective is used was a good one (third person voice for slavemaster, first-person for slave, which helps center the Black perspective), the individuals themselves sounded too similar -- the stories for the characters were each different, but the personalities and voice really didn't come through all that well or consistently.
I also was surprised at how little was actually done with the more fantastical stuff that is hinted at, apart from the ancestors. Maybe the author wanted it to feel like a true tale as opposed to something fantastic? But it was a little strange how those elements are used in the beginning to create ideas of faith amongst the Stolen, etc., but then just kind of dropped apart from the Ancestors. I guess I expected something a bit more from Zander's story and that direction.
It wasn't a bad book, and I guess I enjoyed it well enough from a "believable story with some occasional gut punches", so it's probably a 2.5 I'm rounding up to 3, but I can't say this felt like something aspirational that missed but rather something middling that lived up to it, so it's not really something I'd be recommending to folks, even if it was totally fine.
HOWEVER
Basically everything else about this book felt like well-trod territory. Stop me if you've heard the one about the slaves and the awful shit their masters did, or , etc. This is just...not an interesting story, IMO, and not really a particularly novel view/voice about the subject matter. And as a result, the plantation stuff...kind of felt a little tortured. Like, yeah, we are reliving this...but do we need to?
I also was surprised to see how much the author has written, though maybe because most of it is non-fiction the point stands, but I thought that while the idea of how perspective is used was a good one (third person voice for slavemaster, first-person for slave, which helps center the Black perspective), the individuals themselves sounded too similar -- the stories for the characters were each different, but the personalities and voice really didn't come through all that well or consistently.
I also was surprised at how little was actually done with the more fantastical stuff that is hinted at, apart from the ancestors. Maybe the author wanted it to feel like a true tale as opposed to something fantastic? But it was a little strange how those elements are used in the beginning to create ideas of faith amongst the Stolen, etc., but then just kind of dropped apart from the Ancestors. I guess I expected something a bit more from Zander's story and that direction.
It wasn't a bad book, and I guess I enjoyed it well enough from a "believable story with some occasional gut punches", so it's probably a 2.5 I'm rounding up to 3, but I can't say this felt like something aspirational that missed but rather something middling that lived up to it, so it's not really something I'd be recommending to folks, even if it was totally fine.
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