Honorée Fanonne Jeffers' The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is an epic, sweeping novel that intricately weaves together the multigenerational saga of an African American family. At its heart is Ailey Pearl Garfield, a young woman who navigates her complex heritage and personal identity amid the broader tapestry of American history. Through Ailey’s eyes and the voices of her ancestors, Jeffers explores themes of love, trauma, resilience, and the enduring impact of history on individual lives. The novel is a rich, immersive experience, offering readers a profound exploration of race, identity, and the search for self-understanding.

Jeffers’ narrative structure is ambitious, seamlessly blending historical fiction with contemporary narrative, and interspersing it with excerpts from the works of W.E.B. Du Bois. This technique allows the novel to span centuries, from the pre-colonial period to the present day, providing a panoramic view of African American experiences. The author’s deep knowledge of history and her lyrical prose bring to life the joys, sorrows, and struggles of Ailey’s ancestors, from the indigenous Creek nation to the enslaved Africans and their descendants. This historical depth enriches Ailey’s modern journey, illuminating the ways in which the past continues to shape and influence the present.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois is a monumental achievement, notable for its depth, complexity, and emotional resonance. Jeffers addresses difficult topics such as systemic racism, sexual violence, and family secrets with sensitivity and unflinching honesty. Yet, amidst the pain, there is also beauty, love, and a strong sense of community. The characters are vividly portrayed, their stories interwoven to create a compelling narrative that is both specific in its detail and universal in its themes. Honorée Fanonne Jeffers has crafted a masterful and poignant novel that not only pays homage to the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois but also offers a powerful reflection on the enduring strength and resilience of African American communities.

This is a sweeping novel that spans hundreds of years . We follow the lives of one family who have lived on the same land for generations .
What stands out is the writing and research that's been done . It's a very long book and that put me off initially but once i had got into the story i was invested . The second half was the winner for me as I loved reading through the eyes of a Black family .

It's an ambitious novel , a lot of memorable characters and moments and it's worth investing the time to read

"The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois" by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers is a sprawling and masterfully crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together history, family, and the complexities of identity. The narrative follows Ailey Pearl Garfield, a young woman navigating her way through the intricate tapestry of her family's past, shaped by the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Jeffers skillfully combines poetry, folklore, and historical elements to create a rich and immersive reading experience. The novel explores themes of race, heritage, and the enduring impact of systemic racism, offering a profound and nuanced examination of the African American experience. With its lyrical prose and intricate storytelling, "The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois" is a monumental work that resonates with depth, emotion, and a profound understanding of the complexities of identity and history.

A brilliant heart-breaking read. A long read but so worth it. I could not put this book down. This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read and will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this!

This is a long narrative history of the African American across the centuries. Their lives entailed slavery and terrible events but their pride and strength also shine through. It is not an easy book partly because of it's length but also because of it's style meandering through the ages with almost complete randomness. There are almost more characters than pages and each of those characters seem to have 3 different names (at least). There are definitely parts that i found more interesting than others and characters that I was more invested in. There were some instances where i nearly gave up. I am glad that I persevered but I am not sure I would be comfortable recommending it to others as it certainly requires commitment.

The first time I heard about this book, it was on Oprah Winfrey's book club Instagram account. And I was highly curious as to why this book is being so praised. So, when I found it on Netgalley, I clicked immediately to see what was the hype.

Oh boy!

First of all, this book is gigantic! It took me a lot of time to complete 80%. The rest was skimmed. There was a lot of discussion on Black ancestry which, as a non-black person from a whole different continent, was quite difficult to understand and I had to Google a lot.

But the language is so lyrical, even if I didn't understand everything, I kept reading. The book discusses black ancestry, slavery and racism in the book. It teaches you history through beautiful storytelling.

Definitely an intimidating book but I will surely recommend it. However, if you feel bored with this book, don't DNF it. Keep it roosting for someday and then read again. I did this.

Highly recommended.

I just couldn't get into it. I've heard great things but it just wasn't for me.

I received this free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I wish I could leave a better one, I had hoped to come back to it and try again but I can't bring myself to do so.

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers’s epic debut novel combines a moving intergenerational family saga of an African American family with historical, almost mythical accounts of their ancestors in the early 1700s, as they forged relations with Creek Native Americans.

The narrative follows a central protagonist, Ailey Garfield through her youth and young adulthood, as she navigates school, her family and the wider world - learning about and establishing her identity as a young Black woman in America in the 80s and 90s. Her parents come from two contrasting backgrounds, leaving Ailey and her sisters inheriting a burden of social prejudice, colourism, and classism which plagued their parents. The novel deals with wide ranging themes and subplots - from intergenerational trauma, and systemic social and racial injustices to sexual abuse, personal identity, and a quest for meaning and belonging.

The book is heavily inspired and influenced by the work of WEB Du Bois. While the author never explicitly appears in the novel, his work and philosophy is brought to life through Ailey's great uncle Root, a retired history professor who has a huge impact on Ailey's life. Jeffers' narrative opens up a dialogue with the work of Du Bois, his ideas of a 'Talented Tenth' and his veneration by figures like Uncle Root. Where other authors might utilise an opportunity like this to challenge or subvert an idea, Jeffers' exploration of the intellectual ideas is an open discussion - raising ideas and asking questions rather than providing definitive answers.

Flitting between the past and present, the narrative weaves a tapestry of Ailey's heritage, and the social history of the fictional Chicasetta, the Southern town where the Garfields live. Jeffers' history as a poet is apparent in the beautiful prose, particularly of the historical passages, which become almost mythic in their role as an origin story. The language is lyrical and poetic, making a novel which is mammoth by modern standards, feel like a beautiful journey. The Love Songs of WEB Du Bois is a long book, clocking in at over 800 pages but it's also an incredibly rewarding reading experience, and one that readers are likely to want to revisit more than once. Jeffers' debut novel has all the makings of a modern classic.

Although this is described as a very powerful book I just couldn't connect with it. I really wanted to enjoy it but not sure if it was the style of writing or the lengthy aspects through the book. Such a shame as there are lots of excellent reviews but just not for me. It most definitely is worth a read though as its a top pic for lots of readers.

Thank you Netgalley.

Hugely (800 page hugely) ambitious novel chronicling the complicated and conflicting lives of multiple generations of one American family, although it is centred around tha character of Ailey Pearl Garfield. It is a book about America, about slavery, about racism, about sexual abuse, about family, and about the vulnerability of Black women in that America, and the fight for agency. Not all of it worked for me, but when it is good it is very good and Jeffers is a talent to watch.

A sweeping family saga that manages to be gripping throughout. Sometimes timehop fiction can leave me a little cold but the history interwoven throughout this added a wonderful backdrop. I will be recommending this far and wide. Thanks NetGalley!

I loved this rich and textured roots like story full of history and interesting characters. Fully recommend

This is such an amazing read. Generational saga are the best kind of stories to read. This book is worth the hype and must read

An incredible debut. Beautifully written, with well-crafted characters. It took me a while to get through, but that was partly because it covers a lot and partly my own life getting in the way. I enjoyed reading it, and highly recommend it to anyone who likes a story with depth and history..

The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois is a sweeping epic tale of American History told from the perspectives of members of a single family. Much of the book is told from the perspective of Ailey, a young African American woman who is researching her own family history as part of her work towards her doctorate. What she discovers is that her family history is a microcosm of the history of the country and that her ancestors, a mix of Black, White and Indigenous are literally part of the fabric that has been woven into modern day America.
The book takes the reader on an epic journey from before the arrival of the first colonisers to the shores of America to the current day through the Civil War and the Civil rights movement , following the threads of a single family. There is a real emotional heft to the book, it is a work of immense impact and importance and I would highly recommend it despite the fact that it makes for difficult and uncomfortable reading at times.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own,

An epic family story told over many generations, so we'll written that I didn't want it to end; I would have happily stayed with the characters for longer.

One of my favourite reads of the year so far. I was totally enchanted with this epic story. I cannot believe that this was a debut! Historical fiction is my favourite genre and this ticked every box.

This meaty book is a multi-generational, multi-perspective tale of a family history through Native American disettlement, slavery in Georgia and modern day struggles of racism and drug addiction, all with a feminist view point. It’s a heavy but wonderful read and had my feeling all the emotions. I laughed, I cried and I gasped. I got totally engrossed in the story despite there being a lot of characters and shifting around.

I recommend this to everyone, don’t let the size put you off!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book, I very much enjoyed reading it! I was initially drawn to the title and the reference to Du Bois. Knowing a little bit about Du Bois, I understood it would be a book abut race. Indeed, it was. I was very interested in the development of the plot and the questions of identity and belonging that inevitably ome up. Recommended!

This book just wasn't for me, I struggled to get in to try story.
I will give it another go again in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this opportunity.

I loved how this read started, the story of indegenous Americans and their reference to place and to country.

With great sadness however it was difficult to read of the encounters of runaway black people and of their plight. Slavery was in existence but not yet made into law and on encountering runaways, indegenous Americans took these people in, hid them, integrated them and protected them. Relationships developed with children born of mixed blood. The encounter with white men leaves nothing to the imagination; that of invaders who were hell bent on destroying much and taking all in strong contrast to the original inhabitants who lived in harmony with the land.

Ailey Pearl Garfield narrates the story of her family and extended mixed race, Creole family. Her paternal grandmother is certainly a snob and racist to her own people, a person that has light skin and pushes hard to be recognised as white. Her disappointment is her daughter-in-law who even though a qualified woman is darker than she would have liked and to her granddaughters always insisting on all manner of covering up and sun protection to assist in preventing their skin from further darkening. Ailey has a secret no child should ever endure: that of sexual abuse from her grandfather when he was alive. Her secret is exposed during a violent visit by her older sister, Lydia who denounces the grandfather to the grandmother for the same abuse. Lydia had left home and ended up in a bad marriage then becoming a drug addict. The reason for her bad choices can well be recognised, a young girl that had been sexually abused by a trusted family member. Much later in the book Coco, Ailey's other sister reveals that she had experienced the same abuse by the grandfather but unlike her sisters she was able to move on and finish her medical studies. Coco seemed less tied to the family, Lydia, first born and the beauty like many first born feels the pressure to succeed but at the same time to still be the responsible one for her sisters and family. Ailey is so in tune to Lydia who is really a surrogate mother in Ailey's eyes and when she leaves home to go to college, Ailey feels the loss the most. The family ties are repressive and for some could be suffocating.

However, this doesn't change the fact that this is a beautiful read and I feel privileged that I was able to have a share in Ailey's story. The relationships within the family, the general outspokenness and of sexual relations, religion along with the colourful banter within the family, friends and associates is in such contrast to the alternate story of segretation, racism and of Kiné, born of Africa, who relates her story and the cruelty that was perpetuated against black Africans, forced removal from their family and tribes, proud warriors to be treated inhumanely and abused cannot ever be "whitewashed" from history.

Likewise the cruelty and forced removal of indegenous Americans from their lands by the invaders remains perpetuated in history along with the name of the notorious Andrew Jackson.