Helpful Score: 8
There were several books published in the last year that offered a return to literature. Wench reminds me of novels written during the Harlem Renaissance with the detail, raw emotion and symbolism. One of the slaves mentioned that learning how to cook a proper stew will soften the white man that made me imagine real slave conversations.
This book shed light on the life of the slave mistress. Life was hard but they had more advantages then field slaves. The contradiction their lives faced on a daily basis is enough for one to lose their minds but most survived. The connection that Lizzie, Reenie, Sweetie & Mawu shared was electric. Coming from different areas with varying training/knowledge but still having the same problems linked them for life. They all had varying ideas of freedom, love and passion. Wench is a delicate story that balances slavery, freedom, friends and hardship. Lizzie tries to share her feelings as best as she can while trying to come to terms with the brutal truth. As a prolific writer once said, life ain't never been no crystal stair.
This book shed light on the life of the slave mistress. Life was hard but they had more advantages then field slaves. The contradiction their lives faced on a daily basis is enough for one to lose their minds but most survived. The connection that Lizzie, Reenie, Sweetie & Mawu shared was electric. Coming from different areas with varying training/knowledge but still having the same problems linked them for life. They all had varying ideas of freedom, love and passion. Wench is a delicate story that balances slavery, freedom, friends and hardship. Lizzie tries to share her feelings as best as she can while trying to come to terms with the brutal truth. As a prolific writer once said, life ain't never been no crystal stair.
Helpful Score: 4
This author's debut novel had me wanting to learn more about some of the elements in the story, which I think is a tribute to Ms. Perkins-Valdez's writing.
Well written, it's the story of a small group of slave women who come together once a year with their masters at a resort in (free) Ohio. As their collective story unfolds, you also learn their individual stories.
It's definitely worth the read... Not one of America's prouder moments, but one we need not to forget.
I highly recommend it.
Well written, it's the story of a small group of slave women who come together once a year with their masters at a resort in (free) Ohio. As their collective story unfolds, you also learn their individual stories.
It's definitely worth the read... Not one of America's prouder moments, but one we need not to forget.
I highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 4
This was an amazing book detailing the lives of slaves. In particular the book is focused on four female slaves who are friend- Lizzie, Rennie, Sweet and Mawa. The book details their lives as slaves, and in particular, the forced intimate relations they have with their white masters. The author beautifully shows the ways in which slaves were forced to give up everything that mattered: their offspring, their bodies, their education and even their souls. I'm a little surprised that another reviewer said she thought this book would be comical. What is comical about slavery? Remember, it is a book about slavery and it's many atrocities. It is also a book about friendship and survival. It is a beautiful, haunting book that resonates with the reader long after it's put down and finished. This is a breathtaking novel.
Helpful Score: 3
I just finished this book today and it was a good read, but I was expecting a little more. The characters were developed really well. I enjoyed each of the ladies stories. From reading the jacket of the book, I thought there were going to be some laugh out loud moments but I didn't experience any of those. I was a little disappointed by the ending. I was left completely unsatisfied. I guess I wanted a little more closure especially with Mawu's character.
On the front cover of the book there's a quote by USA Today that states, "Readers entranced by The Help will be equally riveted by Wench. A deeply moving, beautifully written novel told from the heart." I'm sorry but I didn't find that to be the case. I've read The Help and enjoyed that book tremendously. Don't get me wrong, Wench was written beautifully but personally for me it's not on the same calliber as The Help. The Help had more depth to the story and the characters were flushed out a little more.
Overall....like I stated it was good read, but I want to forewarn some readers that some of the material in the book is shocking. It may be a little hard to stomach for some readers.
On the front cover of the book there's a quote by USA Today that states, "Readers entranced by The Help will be equally riveted by Wench. A deeply moving, beautifully written novel told from the heart." I'm sorry but I didn't find that to be the case. I've read The Help and enjoyed that book tremendously. Don't get me wrong, Wench was written beautifully but personally for me it's not on the same calliber as The Help. The Help had more depth to the story and the characters were flushed out a little more.
Overall....like I stated it was good read, but I want to forewarn some readers that some of the material in the book is shocking. It may be a little hard to stomach for some readers.
Helpful Score: 3
The concept for the story is great, I just didn't care for the execution (of the story).
This book sounds like it should be heart-wrenching and touching. I am sad to say it is not. With a topic as charged as slavery, I expected to run through a whole range of emotions by the time I finished this book- anguish, pity, sadness, love, hate- but the only emotion I felt was disappointment. This book TELLS a story but it does not SHOW you one.
The characters weren't developed enough to allow the reader to sympathize. The majority of the time, slavery is depicted as what I would refer to as 'slavery-light'. When an injustice does occur, you want to put yourself in the slave's shoes- become outraged or disheartened or defeated- but can't because the majority of the time the incident is just barely acknowledged by the author or the characters themselves.
This book sounds like it should be heart-wrenching and touching. I am sad to say it is not. With a topic as charged as slavery, I expected to run through a whole range of emotions by the time I finished this book- anguish, pity, sadness, love, hate- but the only emotion I felt was disappointment. This book TELLS a story but it does not SHOW you one.
The characters weren't developed enough to allow the reader to sympathize. The majority of the time, slavery is depicted as what I would refer to as 'slavery-light'. When an injustice does occur, you want to put yourself in the slave's shoes- become outraged or disheartened or defeated- but can't because the majority of the time the incident is just barely acknowledged by the author or the characters themselves.
Helpful Score: 3
Good book written from the point of view of a female slave who is her master's mistress.
Helpful Score: 2
Wench is a debut historical fiction novel based on an interesting premise: how does it feel to be a favored slave and mistress? do you run for it when taken on holiday by your master? Lizzie, whose master regularly vacations at Tawawa House, a resort in the free territory of Ohio, faces these questions. When newcomer Mawu joins the coterie of slave-mistresses and circumstances change, there's talk of running away. Unlike the others, Lizzie is literate and well-treated, perhaps even loved by her master, the father of her two children. Although understandably conflicted, she came across as naive and indecisive. The prose seemed fragmentary. One dominant event occurs in each short chapter which seems slightly disconnected from the rest, and much is left unsaid. I was disappointed that the women's feelings on sexuality wasn't explored, even though that is a major theme of the master-slave relationship in this story, and there is a lot of "taking" going on. Be warned that there is at least one gruesome scene. In summary, Wench is an impressionistic novel set at an interesting historical moment.
Helpful Score: 2
When i look at the cover of this book i see what i am sure is a lovely women reading a book---now take away the book and put her in rags because she can not read and she now wears seed cloth, but her heart is still lovely. I really don't know the words to use to describe this novel without making it sound awful, because it was a very eye opening and wonderful read, at my age of 61 and i have not been sheltered, life at this time for slaves has never been told to me just so bluntly. I am just sitting here finished with this beautiful first novel by this author, with tears. I am thinking how wrong, how sad and how appalling, what nerve the "owners?" of a human life had. How ignorant and uncaring for life as to split families and deny children of their parents, considering these slaves as no better than a work horse whom they gave more care. I don't know what to say about the "use" of women. Never has anything touched me so, like a punch in the stomach from the first page. I reccommend this book to anyone who is interested in the life of a slave, especially women slaves. You will truely be enlightened. It is a profound read, well written.
Helpful Score: 2
Another great historical fiction about slavery
I love books about slavery and I loved that Wench showed a different aspect. This book was 4 stars for me, it just didn't rank up there with the 5 stars That I gave The Kitchen House, but still great nonetheless!
I love books about slavery and I loved that Wench showed a different aspect. This book was 4 stars for me, it just didn't rank up there with the 5 stars That I gave The Kitchen House, but still great nonetheless!
Helpful Score: 2
This book is considered historical fiction and it was well written. Plantation owners take their favorite female slave with them to a resort in Xenia, Ohio for a few weeks. They get to play the part of husband and wife. But being that close to freedom is hard to resist. The resort was real - Tawawa which is now Wilburforce University. I loved the characters. Very well developed.
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating story-unbelievable but based on history-A shocking time in our nation's history. This story will keep you reading until the very end.
Helpful Score: 1
This book sures how color should have no place in the world. How do you live two lies and keep getting up?
Helpful Score: 1
If I had known before I picked this book up that it was compared to "The Help", I would have left it on the shelf. I didn't care for "The Help" (I realize I'm in the minority here) and this book wasn't much better. I was intrigued by the fact that there really was a Tawawa House in Ohio and was hoping for more "history" to the "historical fiction." Other than the adult situations suggested in the book, it seemed as though I was reading a YA selection designed for high school English classes. In short, a disappointment.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this to be one of my favorite books in a long time. You fall in love with the characters, even learn to like Lizzie's "owner," as hard as that may seem. The stories are beautifully and tragically intertwined. You get a serious glimpse (only just a glimpse) of what it was like to be a woman during times of slavery. The book mostly concentrates on the hardships and tragic lives that slave women endured, but at the end, you get a glimpse into the hurt that as also involved in being a slave owner's wife. The man betrayed everyone woman in his life in one way or another.
The biggest problem I have with this book is really struggling to decide if Drayle really loved Lizzie. There are parts of the book that you really feel that he does, then there are parts when you think there is no way that he could love her. I guess that is the irony of the book. Even the author (in the interview at the end of the book) says she does not know if he really loved her.
I have read some of the reviews and see there are complaints that the book did not have very much closure. Though, I can see why they feel that, but I believe that was on purpose. You never find out what happens to Lizzie. With the dates being so close to the Civil War, there is that hope that she eventually got to taste true freedom, and see her children live free. The ending for some of the characters was happy (two of her slave friends...not naming names to spoil the story for others ;) ) but yet either ended tragically or undecided for the rest. I believe this was on purpose as well. Slavery was a horrid, despicable, tragic part of our history. Most endings were not happy. This book stays true to that point. The author wants to leave a taste in our mouths that slavery was disgusting. There were few happy endings.
The biggest problem I have with this book is really struggling to decide if Drayle really loved Lizzie. There are parts of the book that you really feel that he does, then there are parts when you think there is no way that he could love her. I guess that is the irony of the book. Even the author (in the interview at the end of the book) says she does not know if he really loved her.
I have read some of the reviews and see there are complaints that the book did not have very much closure. Though, I can see why they feel that, but I believe that was on purpose. You never find out what happens to Lizzie. With the dates being so close to the Civil War, there is that hope that she eventually got to taste true freedom, and see her children live free. The ending for some of the characters was happy (two of her slave friends...not naming names to spoil the story for others ;) ) but yet either ended tragically or undecided for the rest. I believe this was on purpose as well. Slavery was a horrid, despicable, tragic part of our history. Most endings were not happy. This book stays true to that point. The author wants to leave a taste in our mouths that slavery was disgusting. There were few happy endings.
This was a great read! I just wish it was longer...the author is very vivid in her story telling and she does an excellent job narrating different character's point of view. I would definitely read this book if you like historical african american fiction
Wonderful book. I couldn't read it fast enough. It's sad and uplifting at the same time.
I loved this book.
This story takes place before the Civil War. Southern slave owners go to Tawawa House, a resort, for the summer and bring with them some of their slaves. In particular, their slave mistresses. A group of these women befriend each other and this is their story.
I love books that take you into another world. I found myself rooting for the characters. I couldn't put the book down. I carried it with me in my purse and read any free time I had. I definitely recommend this book. Great historical fiction.
This story takes place before the Civil War. Southern slave owners go to Tawawa House, a resort, for the summer and bring with them some of their slaves. In particular, their slave mistresses. A group of these women befriend each other and this is their story.
I love books that take you into another world. I found myself rooting for the characters. I couldn't put the book down. I carried it with me in my purse and read any free time I had. I definitely recommend this book. Great historical fiction.
Very Good. Since I knew no one would read here, I posted it. Good story, well written. I became invested in the characters even though some were not likable. Easy reading for a tough subject.
A well written book that shares some of the intimate details of relationships in an era that stains our history. A woman's perspective is rich with detail, sorrow and joy.
This is a moving and eloquent story about a black female slave and her white plantation owner. Anyone interested in black history would find the story very inspiring. It's a must read book.
Alexandra
Alexandra
A look into the life of the Masters' slave women and the reaction of wives. Get inside the thoughts of the slave women and what their lives were like. Well written, quite descriptive.
Well written historical fiction about a group of slave women who come together and their experiences. Very moving.
Wow! Funny enough I picked this book because of the title. It's a fictionilized story about a true subject.
I really liked it.
I really liked it.
