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Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward - 3* - My Review

Set in pre-Civil War US, this book tells the story of Arese (also called Annis) who is born into slavery. She is the daughter of a slave and her owner. She is sent away to be sold, like her mother before her. The majority of the storyline occurs during her journey on foot from rural North Carolina to New Orleans, while chained to other slaves on their way to the slave market. Her harrowing journey eventually leads her to feel she is being accompanied by spiritual presences, which sometimes bring her comfort, but are capricious and do not always show up when called upon.

This is an uncomfortable read in many ways. It does not shy from describing the physical, psychological, and sexual violence that were ever-present in the lives of slaves, especially women. These horrors are recounted in meticulous detail. I think the magical realist elements of spiritual presences were intended to offset some of the misery, which helps the modern reader, while it also reinforces the reality that the actual slaves had no way to deflect these brutalities. On that level, it succeeds. Personally, though, these stories of supernatural elements and magical realism do not always work for me. They tend to remove me from the immersive experience I seek in my reading, and I felt that disconnection here.

This has been on my radar. I really like Ward's writing.

Joy D - I agree with you- you put it better than I did. The supernatural detracted from the novel and I always rushed over it. I was grateful for the very expressive points about the evil actions and attitudes toward the slaves (expecially women), that they had to endure. Not her best, but worth reading. peace, janz

Peacejanz wrote: "Joy D - I agree with you- you put it better than I did. The supernatural detracted from the novel and I always rushed over it. I was grateful for the very expressive points about the evil actions a..."
Thanks, Janz, I agree it's worth reading,

Booknblues wrote: "This has been on my radar. I really like Ward's writing."
If you enjoy her writing, I'm sure you will like this one. It's got her same style, with a little more magical realism than her others (at least the ones I've read).