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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I read this book based on a friend’s suggestion, and did not realize until the epilogue it was historical fiction, based on the life of a remarkable person. Quite a story and a fast, engaging read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love how historical fiction broadens my horizons. I had never heard of Eliza Lucas, a S Carolina plantation tender (for her dad) who was well ahead of her time. Independent, a creative thinker, and business woman who stood up to the men in her life. She believed in treating slaves fairly. Her most important contribution to our history was her introduction of indigo into crop production of the South...the reason the S Carolina flag is indigo blue. This was no easy task.
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked up this book because it was on the 2109 Texas Lariat list for adult fiction. I can see why this novel made the list. The historical setting was so well detailed, the story was unique and it was believable. It didn’t shy away from telling the truths of the time. Read this one. You won’t be disappointed.
This novel is an excellent example of why I love historical fiction. History - both what we know and what we can only guess at - is simply fascinating. Things we could never make up are woven all over throughout history.
The story seamlessly blends a coming of age story in with what is know about Eliza Lucas Pinckney's indigo experiences. While there's obviously some artist license taken, the author does well at incorporating history and staying true to what is known while creating a cohesive plot. Eliza was shown to be interesting and capable yet flawed. She has realistically nuanced and complex relationships with the various people in her life and relatabley struggles to find her place and purpose.
Definitely a book I will recommend! (Though not for particularly young readers; Eliza's relationship with Charles Pinckney is a bit more morally gray/complex than I'd feel comfortable sending a younger teen/tween to read).
The story seamlessly blends a coming of age story in with what is know about Eliza Lucas Pinckney's indigo experiences. While there's obviously some artist license taken, the author does well at incorporating history and staying true to what is known while creating a cohesive plot. Eliza was shown to be interesting and capable yet flawed. She has realistically nuanced and complex relationships with the various people in her life and relatabley struggles to find her place and purpose.
Definitely a book I will recommend! (Though not for particularly young readers; Eliza's relationship with Charles Pinckney is a bit more morally gray/complex than I'd feel comfortable sending a younger teen/tween to read).
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
For Eliza Lucas, the British colony of South Carolina is home and her father's plantation is her world. Privileged and white, yes, Eliza's life is a good one but with the weight of financial ruin a possibility if their crops don't flourish and sell at market. When Eliza's father must leave the country for his military ambitions, Eliza is left behind with the responsibility of keeping her family's resources afloat. Using her love of botany and financial sense, Eliza decides she wants to try and grow indigo, a plant that when processed will produce a deep blue dye for which Europe will pay a high price. The only problem? She doesn't know how to make it. But her slaves do. How Eliza navigates Charleston society as a woman with ambition and scientific interests and how she interacts with the humans she owns pushes along the plot of this historical novel.
I found it a really fast and interesting read. I knew nothing about either indigo or its production and I actually visited Charleston a couple years ago so it was fun for me to read a book set in the Low Country of my memory. The historical context felt, for the most part, very real and I felt grounded by what was going on around Eliza with the exception of how she sometimes dealt with her slaves. I recognize that a lot of the book is based on her actual letters so I do believe that she may have been a somewhat benevolent slave owner but - still a slave owner - so some of the hints of white saviorism might be upsetting and frustrating to a Black reader. While this did bother me, I appreciated the role Eliza was trying to play as a woman in a society that didn't value intelligent womanhood either and her struggle to have place in decision making felt realistic. It would've been nice to have heard from other perspectives on the plantation (i.e. a slave) but overall, I liked the book.
I found it a really fast and interesting read. I knew nothing about either indigo or its production and I actually visited Charleston a couple years ago so it was fun for me to read a book set in the Low Country of my memory. The historical context felt, for the most part, very real and I felt grounded by what was going on around Eliza with the exception of how she sometimes dealt with her slaves. I recognize that a lot of the book is based on her actual letters so I do believe that she may have been a somewhat benevolent slave owner but - still a slave owner - so some of the hints of white saviorism might be upsetting and frustrating to a Black reader. While this did bother me, I appreciated the role Eliza was trying to play as a woman in a society that didn't value intelligent womanhood either and her struggle to have place in decision making felt realistic. It would've been nice to have heard from other perspectives on the plantation (i.e. a slave) but overall, I liked the book.
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Interesting history about a strong young woman in the 1700s but was clearly written by a romance author. Appreciated learning about Eliza Lucas but the writing was overbearing and dramatic.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No