Alexandra M. reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this book! Very interesting multi-generation story of a family that started out in slavery and what happened to them during the Civil War years, the Reconstruction, and on into the 1930s and Jim Crow traditions. Loved the strong female characters and the relationships among them. Loved that the author included actual documents in book: this book is the author's family history, retold as fiction. Great idea to include copies of bills of sale, photos, etc.
I liked how all the women were different in what they wanted from life, what they were willing to settle for, how they managed crisis. Liked how the men were all different as well. Loved that these were long-lasting relationships, The love relationships were complicated by the social norms of the time, which was believable and poignant. Ownership is a theme in the story: ownership of human persons, then land/business ownership by African Americans, complicated by themes of identity, family obligation, etc. Much enjoyed the part of the story set in New Orleans; many Americans are not aware how different that city was from any other urban or rural African American experience. Family relationships were nuanced and believable: I was much moved by them.
The writing is excellent. Hard to believe this is the author's first novel, it is so good. I hope she writes more. This is the kind of historical fiction I really like: centered on one family, one place, very human in scale. The events and changes in history affect the lives of the characters. You can see how changes in attitudes are reflected in laws regarding marriage, legitimacy, land/business ownership, etc. That's how history affects the lives of real people, and I loved it that the author kept the story focused on that.
I liked how all the women were different in what they wanted from life, what they were willing to settle for, how they managed crisis. Liked how the men were all different as well. Loved that these were long-lasting relationships, The love relationships were complicated by the social norms of the time, which was believable and poignant. Ownership is a theme in the story: ownership of human persons, then land/business ownership by African Americans, complicated by themes of identity, family obligation, etc. Much enjoyed the part of the story set in New Orleans; many Americans are not aware how different that city was from any other urban or rural African American experience. Family relationships were nuanced and believable: I was much moved by them.
The writing is excellent. Hard to believe this is the author's first novel, it is so good. I hope she writes more. This is the kind of historical fiction I really like: centered on one family, one place, very human in scale. The events and changes in history affect the lives of the characters. You can see how changes in attitudes are reflected in laws regarding marriage, legitimacy, land/business ownership, etc. That's how history affects the lives of real people, and I loved it that the author kept the story focused on that.
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