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Don't Cry for Me
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
"Don't Cry for Me is a perfect song."--Jesmyn Ward A Black father makes amends with his gay son through letters written on his deathbed in this wise and penetrating novel of empathy and forgiveness, for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates, Robert Jones Jr. and Alice Walker As Jacob lies dying, he begins to write a letter to his only son, Isaac. They have not met or spoken in many years, and there are things that Isaac must know. Stories about his ancestral legacy in rural Arkansas that extend back to slavery. Secrets from Jacob's tumultuous relationship with Isaac's mother and the shame he carries from the dissolution of their family. Tragedies that informed Jacob's role as a father and his reaction to Isaac's being gay. But most of all, Jacob must share with Isaac the unspoken truths that reside in his heart. He must give voice to the trauma that Isaac has inherited. And he must create a space for the two to find peace. With piercing insight and profound empathy, acclaimed author Daniel Black illuminates the lived experiences of Black fathers and queer sons, offering an authentic and ultimately hopeful portrait of reckoning and reconciliation. Spare as it is sweeping, poetic as it is compulsively readable, Don't Cry for Me is a monumental novel about one family grappling with love's hard edges and the unexpected places where hope and healing take flight.
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Bwill910
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Idk, but the title of this book felt like autumn. 🍂Hopefully, it‘s a good read.

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licia.reads
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

Daniel Black put into words the weight black men and women carry, the burden to conform to strict gender roles, and the fear that is felt when someone steps outside of those roles. He also shows the hope for freedom from this burden and fear. #blitsy #lgbtq #queer #family #epistolary

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Tamra
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

A necessary and long awaited message of love, acceptance, and atonement by a father for his son.

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Evita
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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4 out of 5

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Kristy_K
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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“A man‘s history is all he has.”

A father writes a memoir addressed to his son explaining his life and navigating through their family‘s history. It started off a little slow for me, but eventually this poignant novel reeled me in.

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CollapsingLibrary
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

I devoured this book. I read 2/3 in one day and finished it as soon as I could reasonable pick it up again. Don‘t Cry For Me is a story told as a series of letters a man writes his estranged son while on his death bed, trying to explain their history, why he wasn‘t the father the father he wanted to be, and all the things he wish he could say. Well written and reminded me of Red at the Bone by Woodson, this is a gorgeous story on generational ⬇️

CollapsingLibrary (Cont) trauma, love and masculinity. CW for domestic abuse and homophobia. (edited) 11mo
72 likes1 comment
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CollapsingLibrary
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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“It was a strange thing, sitting next to people you love but being unable to love them.” Pg 170

I have always found quotes on love fascinating because we have been writing about love for hundreds of years and we‘re still trying to find the right words to explain all its intricacies.

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CollapsingLibrary
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Starting my #bookspin book and I‘m already tearing up at the authors note so I can tell it‘s going to be an emotional ride for me!

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TrishB
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Ok yes, more #bookmail

Megabooks Three fantastic books! I especially loved the Ozeki and Don‘t Cry. 1y
squirrelbrain Ooh! ❤️ 1y
TrishB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain just need a month off now! 1y
See All 10 Comments
LeahBergen Nice! 👍 1y
Suet624 Oseki. ❤️❤️ 1y
Rissreads Lucky 🍀 1y
BarbaraBB Great haul. I still need to read Don‘t Cry for me 1y
Cathythoughts Very nice ❤️ 1y
TrishB @BarbaraBB it gets very good reviews. 1y
89 likes10 comments
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Cinfhen
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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#12BooksOf2022 - February @Andrew65 Phenomenal and powerful. Perfect pacing and audio narration. A black father‘s gift of a letter to his gay son. Similar in feels to On Earth We‘re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.

TrishB Been on my list since you first reviewed! Must get to. 1y
Cinfhen I definitely think you‘d appreciate this gorgeous piece of literature @TrishB 1y
TrishB I have vouchers and I‘m making myself a must buy list now, because, you know we always need more of the books! 1y
See All 7 Comments
Cinfhen Excellent idea 💡 @TrishB 😘 1y
BarbaraBB This one has been on my TBR ever since you and @Megabooks read it! 1y
Andrew65 This looks a fabulous read. 1y
Cinfhen It‘s highly recommended @Andrew65 @BarbaraBB 1y
64 likes1 stack add7 comments
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paigemmo
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
Pickpick

I absolutely loved this book. It‘s written in letter style which made it a page turner for me. A complex and heart-wrenching yet warming story. I will be looking for more books from Daniel Black for sure!

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marleed
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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My reading goal for the remainder of the year, because I want to read from everywhere, is at least one book from my physical shelves for every library or e-book read. So far I‘m on target. Tagged was my favorite!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Megabooks I bailed on The Retreat. 👎🏻👎🏻 2y
marleed @Megabooks I get that. I think it one of the first times I realized while reading that I was being told the mystery rather than reading it unfold. I doubt I‘ll keep up with the series assuming it‘s at least a trilogy. 2y
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marleed
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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This little book has so much to say. The primary message is about the regrets of a man believing a good father had a responsibility to raise a ‘masculine‘ son. But the sub story of this aging father finally discovering black men proud of their blackness through the discovering of reading books is equally powerful - especially in today‘s environment.

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Victoriahoperose
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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I‘m very surprised that I haven‘t heard more about this book. The writing is exceptional and the story is so heartfelt it almost felt like reading nonfiction. This is a beautiful book about a father and his relationship with his son and I feel like anyone can appreciate the story that is told. I would love to have read more but I think it ended well and it left me wanting more.

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FelinesAndFelonies
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

This was my #bookspin or my #doublebookspin @TheAromaofBooks. This is a really tender story. I was absolutely moved by the writing. The story is about family, intergenerational trauma, love, regrets, & acceptance. Black did a masterful job writing a story that broke my heart. The heaviness of missed chances & miscommunication hurt my chest. In the end, we love our children for who they are & not who we thought they would be. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Megabooks Great review! 2y
56 likes2 comments
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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

Such an excellent and insightful story! A dying black man writes to his estranged gay son, telling him about his childhood, how it influenced him as a father, telling him how he feels as a dad, what he wishes he had done, his regrets, etc. Very well written, definitely a book worth reading.

NeorahGarcia I loved this book. So thought provoking. It will stay with me for a long time. 2y
25 likes1 comment
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Hooked_on_books
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Jacob and Isaac are an estranged father and son and Jacob has always been a hard man. But now he is dying, and wants to reach out to Isaac to try to make a connection, so this is told as a long letter to Isaac. I found this a tough read, as there are some seriously deplorable things about Jacob, but it‘s quite good.

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Lizthewiz
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

This was a heartfelt letter from a father to his son. It was an emotional read as they had an estranged relationship. The author writes this book as if it was his father writing to him. It‘s how he imagined his father would have written to him, had his father not forgotten things with Alzheimer‘s. This book was good, took me a while to read because I‘ve been in a reading slump, but good nonetheless.

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kera_11
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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a novel written through letters that Jacob writes on his deathbed to his estranged son. explaining how he grew up, the things he was taught and why he was the way he was, and struggled to except Isaac‘s queer identity. at times he seems to seek redemption and at others he makes no apologies for his ways.
I did find myself wishing to know if Isaac ever got or read the letters and his response but this book is poignant being one sided as is.

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erank58
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Day 3 of #TarotTakeover and still going strong!

Five of Wands deals with conflict, both with others and with oneself. This makes me think of the tagged (a recent quick read) in which the narrator recalls his struggle to accept his son, which resulted in their fragmented relationship. Check it out! @ErinSueMreads

Erinsuereads You are doing great! I've really enjoyed your book choices. Power through to the end! 2y
27 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Pickpick

This book exceeded my expectations. Jacob is dying and before he leaves this earth, he wants to explain to his estranged son in the form of letters why he had such a difficult time accepting his queerness. It‘s breathtaking and heartbreaking. It gave me Ocean Vuong vibes. Audio narration was excellent. 5 stars. Reads like a memoir.

Megabooks It is such a excellent book! Glad you enjoyed it. 2y
Cinfhen My first 5 star fiction this month @Megabooks 2y
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Kitta
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Feeling a lot of emotions related to this book. It‘s titled don‘t cry for me, but I did.

A dying father writes letters to his gay son - partly about his own history and partly an apology for how he treated his son. It‘s beautiful seeing his growth and understanding his story.

Honestly it‘s the letter I‘d love to receive from my parents.

#BOTM

TrishB I hope you do one day♥️ if that‘s what you need. 2y
Kitta @TrishB Thanks 2y
Megabooks 💜💜💜 2y
22 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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I‘ve picked up three audiobooks today but nothing is sticking…Heard great things about this one so 🤞🏼🤞🏼
#ScribdAudio

DGRachel I know that feeling all too well! Good luck! 2y
Cinfhen So far this is excellent @DGRachel 💓💓💓 2y
DGRachel I‘ve heard really good things about that book. 2y
LeeRHarry Not related to this post but I‘ve been catching up on the figure skating at the Olympics - you must be a very proud auntie Cindy! What a dream come true and to make it to the free programme, amazing! 🤩 2y
Cinfhen Thanks so much @LeeRHarry she had a beautiful skate at the short program but unfortunately her free skate wasn‘t her best performance. We discovered after the fact that she fell during practice Saturday morning and hurt her knee that she had surgery on. Anyway, it didn‘t really matter as she achieved her personal goal- to make it to the final round and enjoy the experience- which SHE DID!! I‘m SOOOO PROUD ♥️Thanks for reaching out xx 2y
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Kitta
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Taking a day trip out to Beacon, NY to go to the art gallery and wander the town. Starting this on the train ride.

From the reviews I‘ve seen it‘s gonna be a hell of a read!

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Megabooks
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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This heart-shattering novel is letters from a dying father to his son. Jacob is a Black man born in 1940s Arkansas. He believes there is one way to be a man and raise a son. When his son is born queer, he doesn‘t know how to deal. He resorts to violence. He drives a wedge in the family. As he is dying, he tries to explain himself and show his son what time has taught him. Get the tissues! 😭 #botm

vivastory Between yours & Stephanie's review, I will 100% be adding this to my March BOTM 2y
Megabooks @vivastory this is one I‘m almost 💯 sure you‘ll enjoy! 2y
squirrelbrain Stacked! 2y
See All 10 Comments
Christine Sounds wonderful - and I love that cover! 2y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain @Christine it was fantastic! As is the cover 👍🏻 2y
Cinfhen Gorgeous photo!! #stacked 💜 2y
BarbaraBB Wow! 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB thanks! This one was amazing! 2y
Suet624 What @BarbaraBB said. 😊 2y
Megabooks @Suet624 it was so good! 2y
110 likes5 stack adds10 comments
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Kitta
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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My #BOTM is here!!! I‘m so excited. My first box. What a great valentines present to myself haha.

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rjsthumbelina
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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❤️

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erank58
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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Apparently A River Enchanted is going to be a series, so I may try it from the library before I commit. Excited for my picks this month! What did everyone else get? #botm

Victoriahoperose I got Don‘t Cry for Me, also!! (And The Golden Couple and A Flicker in the Dark). 2y
erank58 @Victoriahoperose I loved A Flicker In The Dark!! I thought it was one of the better-written thrillers from the last few years. Enjoy! 😊 2y
Victoriahoperose @erank58 I‘m so glad I got it this time!! I can‘t wait to get to it!! 2y
56 likes3 comments
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swishandflick
Don't Cry for Me | Daniel Black
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The confirmed February #BOTM picks! The jury's out on whether or not I'll skip, it might come down to how good the add-ons are. And how awful is that Vladimir cover?! 🙈

Alfoster Loved The Golden Couple!❤️👏 2y
Brooke_H That cover was cracking me up before I even read your comment. 🤣 2y
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Megabooks Going to look these up this weekend! Thanks!! 😁😁 2y
Branwen I burst out laughing when I saw the Vladimir cover! Then I laughed even harder after reading your comment! 🤣😂 2y
Branwen I am absolutely getting A River Enchanted and also Peach Blossom Spring, which looks SO GOOD! And hopefully there will be some good add-ons as well! 2y
Kimberlone I won Vladimir from a Goodreads giveaway, and I‘m super excited to read that, but I haven‘t heard of any of these others. I‘ll need to explore deeper to see if any of them are of interesting enough for a BOTM pick. I‘m trying to be more selective about my BOTM choices this year since I have so many on my TBR still. 2y
Christyco125 I‘m with you. I may be skipping these. 2y
BarbaraBB That cover indeed 😂😂 2y
Breanne1 Every month I look forward to this tag, thanks @swishandflick ! I need to look in to these, haven‘t really heard of them. Without looking at synopsis I can tell I‘ll probably be skipping Vladimir… 2y
Reviewsbylola I‘ll probably go library with Vladimir and Don‘t Cry For Me. I don‘t care for either cover so I‘m not going to bother buying them. I‘m going with Peach Blossom Spring. 2y
Amor4Libros I read The Golden Couple and loved it!! 2y
Kangaj1 I also loved The Golden Couple! 2y
marleed The Vladimir cover is horrible! 2y
Cinfhen Yay!!! I love your sleuthing!!!! Need to investigate 🔬 2y
catiewithac This is an easy pass for me. Thanks for posting! 2y
Costrye Hmmm I might get peach blossom spring, don‘t cry for me and the golden couple! 2y
TheBookStacker Vladimir is getting such buzz but I‘m skeptical on the cover though I also find it hilarious 2y
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