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Daniel Black

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Don't Cry for Me: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Daniel Black (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 1,165 ratings

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Don't miss Daniel Black's next novel Isaac's Song coming January 2025

*From the Georgia Author of the Year Award Winner*

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK IN ESSENCE MAGAZINE, THE MILLIONS AND BOOKISH

"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.

From the Publisher

"Don't Cry for Me is a perfect song."—Jesmyn Ward

"Literally the book my favorite books needed to read."—Kiese Laymon

"Do yourself […] a favor by reading this beautiful literary work."—R. L’heureux Lewis-McCoy

	Don't Cry For Me	Black on Black

Customer Reviews	1,165	182
Price	$15.67	$13.99
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WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Sad and gripping…an example of how fiction is not just a form of literature but a place. We go there for lessons on how to live, how to change and, most important, how to forgive and seek forgiveness."—New York Times Book Review

"Don't Cry for Me a perfect song: the epistolary dirge of a man singing to his son as he faces death by cancer. At turns intense and funny, tender and brutally honest, Jacob’s letter to his son, Isaac, is revelatory. While the story is an unflinching account of a family and a community in the Black American Midwest coming of age in the modern now, it is also full of that which makes us all human, regardless of where we are from or who we are: full of fathers trying to understand sons, sons trying to understand fathers, parents feeling as if they have failed children, children realizing how they have passed their own traumas on to others and so on. It’s a beautiful book. Read it.”—Jesmyn Ward

“In Daniel Black’s Don't Cry for Me, we’re reminded that consequential movement is always happening whether we like it or not. Black manages to capture, and really free characters, scenes, and so much subtext we’ve felt, but rarely seen or heard in American literature. The book is unafraid of the pungent slivers of joy and those dazzling shards of horror that accompany loneliness and progress. Don't Cry for Me is literally the book my favorite books needed to read. It is an unparalleled literary achievement that already feels like it will, of all things, endure.”—Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy: An American Memoir

"With clarity and a compelling depth of character, Daniel Black continues the tradition of the epistolary in Don’t Cry for Me. This letter from Jacob to his son Isaac gives the reader eyes in two directions, seeing the world behind Jacob and what lies ahead for his son. Jacob, at the end of his life, offers a glimpse back through his family history and the lessons, regrets, and achievements of a black family in America. He also looks over Isaac’s shoulder, imagining the life ahead. What history will repeat? What can they leave behind? This letter, its memories, and conversations give a panorama of this family where the history and the future combine through the impactful storytelling of a gifted writer. Daniel Black continues to show a compelling combination of then and now—residual racial histories and the present moment of his characters."— Ravi Howard, author of Like Trees, Walking and Driving the King

"Don’t Cry For Me is a beautiful, thoughtful novel about living and dying. It's the coming of age story reimagined. As he did with The Coming, Daniel Black has exploded boundaries and rendered binaries obsolete. His language is deceptively simple. What looks like a letter from a father to his son turns out to be a novel about transformation and identity and family and love and land and history and ancestry and reading and thinking and learning and being. The seams of this narrative never show. That is the skill and care of craftsmanship."—Dana Williams, Professor of African American Literature and Chair Department of English, Howard University

“Daniel Black has written a book that is so dearly needed and has been needed for generations. For anyone who cares about Black men, gender, sexuality, and healing, this book is a balm that helps connect the dots between legacies of oppression and opportunities to change course. With elegant and potent prose, he takes us to the past while marking the path to a future where men, boys, and all people become more fully connected to their humanity and divinity. Don't Cry for Me is at moments hard to read but harder to put down. Do yourself and future generations a favor by reading this beautiful literary work.”—L’heureux Lewis-McCoy, author of Inequality in the Promised Land

“Don't Cry For Me shows Daniel Black at the top of his writerly craft. In this painful yet profound novel, Black forces us to grapple with our deepest male fears, pains, taboos, and desires. At the same time, he dares us to imagine new and freer selves. This magical text is one of the most beautiful and important books of this young century."—Marc Lamont Hill, author of Nobody: Casualties of America's War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond

“Don't Cry for Me is a riveting, courageous portrait of what ails Black families around issues of gender and sexuality. The narrative, a long letter from an apologetic dying father to his estranged gay son, lays bare the devastating consequences of pervasive toxic masculinity norms in American culture, including African American communities. The novel is also an invitation for healing from family secrets, denials and abuse."—Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Founding Director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center and Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies at Spelman College

“In the Swinton family, manhood is a priceless treasure passed from father to son, a litany of strength, work, dominance, stoic quiet, passion for duty - until Isaac is born, who cannot be man like his father Jacob, who ignites a war for both their souls that spreads through decades, across a continent, and into every corner of their lives. Whatever you believe about the truth of inherited lessons, Daniel Black's new novel will haunt you with the certainty that we are shadowed by our past, the sons of imperfect fathers, and the heirs of pain and beauty. This is a rich novel, full of grace, steeped in truth, a journey to be remembered.”—Jim Grimsley, author of Dream Boy and How I Shed My Skin

"Don’t Cry for Me sits readers at the lonesome bedside of a dying black man who reckons with the paradox of age-old unforgiveness and new found hope. Fighting through the fatigue of death-dealing disease and the sheer exhaustion of penning untold truths, the protagonist leads readers on a transgenerational journey from a son’s heartache and a brother’s grief to a husband’s regret and a father’s quest for redemption. Once again, Daniel Black crafts a truly immersive reading experience… my breaths grew more shallow with each turned page." —Gregory C. Ellison II, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and author of Cut Dead but Still Alive and Fearless Dialogues: A New Movement for Justice

“A deeply perceptive evocation of what it has meant to be a man and especially a Black man in the United States, all the more affecting for not being shouted out but told with quiet, sturdy intimacy.”—Library Journal STARRED review

“You’ll need to pull out the tissues for this beautiful text about fatherhood, vulnerability, failure, and unconditional love.”—Essence

“Heartbreaking…Poignant and moving… consistently powerful.”—Publishers Weekly

“A revealing ode to a son from a father seeking forgiveness... Embedded in this impactful story about one man’s experience growing up Black in America is an examination of the changing definition of masculinity and how it influences his ability to relate to his gay son.”—Atlanta Journal Constitution

"Incredible storytelling, and readers will be invested from page one....An accomplished author of six previous novels, Black has crafted a memorable, poignant story that explores themes of regret, legacy and family—and yet remains perfectly balanced through it all."—Bookpage STARRED review

"This moving read...is an insightful peek into how the elderly might regard their place in a changing world."—Real Simple, "Best Books of 2022 (So Far)"

"An emotional apology from a dying father to his queer son."—Bookish

"Authentic, poignant and gut-wrenching...Don't Cry for Me demonstrates that no matter how much you think you know, you can always know more – there is always room to grow."—Southern Review of Books

"A stunning novel that all fathers and father figures should read."—De'Shawn Charles Winslow, The Week

About the Author

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B093Y8DL47
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press; Original edition (February 1, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2022
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 742 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #128,954 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #43 in LGBTQ+ Historical Fiction (Books)
- #93 in Black & African American Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #106 in Black & African American Literary Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.7 1,165 ratings

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1,165 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and captivating. They praise the writing quality as beautiful, lyrical, and vivid. The story is described as amazing, heartfelt, and truthful. Readers feel a variety of emotions from sadness to joy and regret. They enjoy reading about Jacob's family and appreciate the authentic portrayal of a father's perspective. Overall, customers find the book relatable and genuine, with a raw and honest narrative style.

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Thought provoking Writing quality Story quality Emotional content Narrative style Authenticity Talent Pacing

35 customers mention "Thought provoking"35 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and engaging. They appreciate the profound identity exploration and the love revelations. The writing, plot, and storytelling are captivating. The book gives readers an understanding of generations before them.

"...who worked as hard as the men in the fields while raising children who could read and write...." Read more

"...And it really touches you And gives so Many good Messages and Wisdom about Life...." Read more

"This is a letter, an epistolary novel, from a father to his son...." Read more

"...I started Thursday and finished it today (Saturday.) This book was intriguing and kept me entertained throughout the entire reading experience...." Read more

32 customers mention "Writing quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book beautiful, lyrical, and eloquent. They describe it as an easy read with raw and real letters depicting an accurate portrayal of a black man's life. The letters are constructed in letter format, Jacob Swinton writes to his adult gay son Isaac while on a trip. Some readers found the story poignant at times and others found it bittersweet.

"...Through beautifully written letters of the father to the accomplished son we learn of the power struggle in the family and lack of male affection...." Read more

"...I read it so fast. So hard to put down. Masterfully written. Really outstanding. Incredibly moving and powerful...." Read more

"...So touching, heartfelt and well-written. To have this father finally be able to tell his son all of the things he'd failed to say...." Read more

"...the writing was quintessential Daniel Black, filled with all the lyrical prose and eloquently placed adjectives that this reader is accustomed to..." Read more

17 customers mention "Story quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers praise the story for its amazing storytelling, truthfulness, and heartfelt writing. They find it touching and heartwarming, making them reevaluate their relationships. The book holds a straight man's heart regarding their gay son with brutal honesty.

"...It is a love story, painful and bittersweet...." Read more

"I loved reading every word of this book. So touching, heartfelt and well-written...." Read more

"...I loved Mr. John and his truthfulness in this story as he was sharing what he saw and his thoughts in regard to Jacob's mom, and grandparents...." Read more

"This novel really made me think and re-examine the relationships in my life. How I respect and love those closest to me." Read more

11 customers mention "Emotional content"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heart-wrenching, riveting, and emotional. They describe it as a love story that is painful and bittersweet.

"...It is a love story, painful and bittersweet...." Read more

"...Wonderful characters /Unpredictable /Informative /Realistic /Original /Tragic /Great world building /Haunting /Inspirational" Read more

"...This book has made me feel a multitude of emotions that had me reflect on my personal experiences and others...." Read more

"...but it was interesting and emotional...." Read more

10 customers mention "Narrative style"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the narrative style. It shows the struggle and mistakes of a father in trying to raise a tough boy. They appreciate the real portrait of a family and the understanding from a male perspective on one's imperfect definition of fatherhood. The story addresses race, fatherhood, relationships between men and women, and the struggle between father and son.

"...I also love the display of strong Family Unit in Life for People in the south in those days..Its depressing , but It really digs Deep into showing..." Read more

"...Don't Cry For Me was PHENOMENAL! The story was so real and raw of growing up black...." Read more

"...This book told a story about a black man but could relate to a white man and the struggle between father and son." Read more

"This book is incredibly moving and powerful. It addresses race, fatherhood, relationships between men and women. I strongly recommend it" Read more

9 customers mention "Authenticity"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's authenticity. They find it genuine, honest, and emotional. The story is described as realistic and raw, with relatable characters.

"...this book, the author, the characters in this story, and the real life people who can relate their stories to them in a way I never could." Read more

"...this book: Wonderful characters /Unpredictable /Informative /Realistic /Original /Tragic /Great world building /Haunting /Inspirational" Read more

"wow. this book was incredibly raw & I am so glad I took my time reading it...." Read more

"It is honestly hard to put into words how good this book was. The rawness and candidness displayed made this book the best I have read this year...." Read more

7 customers mention "Talent"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author as a talented and gifted writer. They find the book extraordinary and say it's an amazing father-son story.

"...Isaac really sounded awesome and very talented." Read more

"...Daniel Black you are a great author.Keep them coming" Read more

"He's done it again. Mr Black is one of the most talented and gifted writers I've ever read...." Read more

"Favorite Author 📕..." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing moving and powerful.

"...So hard to put down. Masterfully written. Really outstanding. Incredibly moving and powerful...." Read more

"This book is incredibly moving and powerful. It addresses race, fatherhood, relationships between men and women. I strongly recommend it" Read more

"...Could have been a true biography. Moving and powerful!" Read more

"Moving Epistles..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kindle Customer Charlie 82
The author is the son.
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2024
Verified Purchase

Daniel Black is the son in this book. He Is also the father, Jacob, the grandfather Abraham Swinton and the ancestors from the ships. Abuse on the ships to the slaves who after being captured were stripped down like less than human animals. The miracle is that Black Americans still have pride.

Through beautifully written letters of the father to the accomplished son we learn of the power struggle in the family and lack of male affection. This author describes the life of three generations
including the women who worked as hard as the men in the fields while raising children who could read and write. Reading aloud is equal to storytelling and could influence the quality of life for children everywhere. Books help those who suffer depression and loneliness such as Jacob found. My opinion: Don't Cry For Me, this book, should be required for families and schools in all cultures for truth, wisdom and justice.

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2 people found this helpful

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Soleil H.
Sad....Touching...A Great story.
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book was Nothing other than TOUCHING 💔...I love How it shows the History of LGBT and how parents reacted In the 70s/80s and Also I love How it speaks On the AIDS epidemic that Hit through the 80s and Gay Men were the Main hits. And it really touches you And gives so Many good Messages and Wisdom about Life. With so much death and sickness in the Story that really was an Eye opener that we all have To deal with the fact that All of us have our day coming when we have to Go and when we lose someone we love. I also love the display of strong Family Unit in Life for People in the south in those days..Its depressing , but It really digs Deep into showing the Life of Southerners in the 40s and 50 and the Stress they lived through due to Racism, and How Much they valued family, food and the church (in those days). I really wish the Epilouge wouldve given Issacs reaction to reading the letters and Us hearing what he had to say. Other than that..Daniel Black did a Great job 👍🏽❤

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6 people found this helpful

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blewis
A love letter
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a letter, an epistolary novel, from a father to his son. Jacob, the father, is dying of lung cancer and having refused treatment, is using the time he has left to leave a letter to his son, Isaac, to explain his attitudes and reasons for his actions and failures. Jacob grew up in a rural area of Arkansas, raised by a tough grandfather and loving grandmother. His grandfather was rough and harsh and abusive in the attempt to raise African American men able to take what this country and this world would dish out. This would leave Jacob with a view point that could be intractable and unyielding. Isaac cannot be the son Jacob expects. Isaac loves the arts rather than the sports. He is sensitive and tender, not possessing " manly " characteristics. Jacob loves his son, but has no way to understand him. And once he realized his son was a homosexual, he couldn't accept him. Yet, Jacob longs for a closeness with Isaac, but has no idea how to make that happen. So this letter is his attempt to understand himself and to apologize for his mistakes. He is hoping this might redeem him on the eyes of his son perhaps granting forgiveness. As parents, we often think back on how we failed our children and hope they will, at some point, forgive our all too human behavior. It is a love story, painful and bittersweet. It is also a n explanation of the scars and burdens the black people struggle with trying to find a good place for them in this world. I liked this book very much.

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12 people found this helpful

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Anthony J. Forrest
Outstanding!
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
Verified Purchase
This book is going to stay with me for a while. I read it so fast. So hard to put down. Masterfully written. Really outstanding. Incredibly moving and powerful. I’m really speechless but had to say something to honor this book, the author, the characters in this story, and the real life people who can relate their stories to them in a way I never could.

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Patricia Patterson
A Beautifully Written Book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2025
Verified Purchase
I loved reading every word of this book.
So touching, heartfelt and well-written.
To have this father finally be able to tell his son all of the things he'd failed to say.
To reveal his whole heart to his son and also to himself. The story of understanding a family and where they came from.

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Kyle
Saaaaaaaaad
Reviewed in Canada on November 8, 2022
Verified Purchase

Right from the author’s note at the beginning, I knew this was gonna be a sad one.

There is so much pain in each situation described. You get it from thinking about how Isaac would have felt at the time. You get it from finding out what led to Jacob acting the way he did. You get it from Jacob now reflecting on these situations. It comes at you from all angles.

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Bukola Akinyemi
Heartfelt man to man letter
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Don’t Cry For Me
By Daniel Black

Written by a man about men. After reading this novel, I realised that a lot of the books I read mainly focus on female characters and appreciated this book more.

Don’t Cry For Me is a long letter from a dying father to his gay son. In this very honest and heartfelt letter, Jacob pours his heart out to his son.

I loved how a grown man developed a love for books even though he had never read a full book in his life until then.

This book will move you and make you reconsider your stance on some issues.

I would recommend this to everyone especially to all the men in my life.

Read more

Bukola Akinyemi

Heartfelt man to man letter

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2023
Don’t Cry For Me
By Daniel Black

Written by a man about men. After reading this novel, I realised that a lot of the books I read mainly focus on female characters and appreciated this book more.

Don’t Cry For Me is a long letter from a dying father to his gay son. In this very honest and heartfelt letter, Jacob pours his heart out to his son.

I loved how a grown man developed a love for books even though he had never read a full book in his life until then.

This book will move you and make you reconsider your stance on some issues.

I would recommend this to everyone especially to all the men in my life.

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Kindle Customer
Amazingly written. Emotional. Thought provoking
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was a tough read as it was incredibly emotional. I really empathised with both Jacob and Isaac.

This book provides a lot of perspective on the difficulties in being a black man post slavery and the impact that has on the family.

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Don't Cry for Me: A Novel Kindle Edition

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5.0 out of 5 stars The author is the son.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sad....Touching...A Great story.

4.0 out of 5 stars A love letter

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Written Book!

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Saaaaaaaaad

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt man to man letter

Heartfelt man to man letter

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5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly written. Emotional. Thought provoking

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The author is the son.

Sad....Touching...A Great story.

A love letter

Outstanding!

A Beautifully Written Book!

Saaaaaaaaad

Heartfelt man to man letter

Amazingly written. Emotional. Thought provoking