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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
inspiring
medium-paced
June 2020 Book Club
I enjoyed this historical fiction book. I always think if I lived in past times that I would take my modern sensibilities with me, however I'm not sure how accurate it was.
I enjoyed this historical fiction book. I always think if I lived in past times that I would take my modern sensibilities with me, however I'm not sure how accurate it was.
(Historical Fiction) This was hard to rate. On one hand, I enjoyed the writing style, and I loved that the book is based on the true story of this amazing woman (young girl at the time of the book) that I think she should be more well known. On the other hand, I thought that it was a little too slow at times and I felt that something was missing that made me feel distant from the characters. It was not the different era and mentality of the time period that made me not connect with any of the characters. It was something else that was missing that I can't pinpoint yet.
Furthermore, (and it could be the cause of the problem I had connecting) I felt uncomfortable with the way Eliza's relationship with her family's slaves is portrayed. I felt that the author could have done a much better and clearer job showing the emotional world of Eliza and her internal conflict about what she had been taught about slavery and what she felt about it herself.
I felt that this issue was brushed off and it made me feel that Eliza thought her relationship with the slaves as if they were good friends helping her or regular employees. I do not believe that this was the intention of the author. I just think that in some parts it came out this way. This made Eliza someone that not only I couldn't connect, but I had trouble liking her on some instances, like when she compares her life and limited freedom as a woman as being equally tragic as the life and complete lack of freedom of her slave. I might be too harsh on this book; however, I have read several books with slavery as a theme and I never felt this way before.
That being said, Eliza is a strong, brilliant young girl who clearly understands the evil of slavery and tries to break off from the learned behavior and mindset she has grown up with. I just think that the author could have done a better job showing this conflict in a stronger manner that she did.
Nevertheless, I wish we knew more about Eliza, a young 16 year old girl left to take care her whole family, and all she accomplished with determination and strength that was not the norm for a woman of her time.
Furthermore, (and it could be the cause of the problem I had connecting) I felt uncomfortable with the way Eliza's relationship with her family's slaves is portrayed. I felt that the author could have done a much better and clearer job showing the emotional world of Eliza and her internal conflict about what she had been taught about slavery and what she felt about it herself.
I felt that this issue was brushed off and it made me feel that Eliza thought her relationship with the slaves as if they were good friends helping her or regular employees. I do not believe that this was the intention of the author. I just think that in some parts it came out this way. This made Eliza someone that not only I couldn't connect, but I had trouble liking her on some instances, like when she compares her life and limited freedom as a woman as being equally tragic as the life and complete lack of freedom of her slave. I might be too harsh on this book; however, I have read several books with slavery as a theme and I never felt this way before.
That being said, Eliza is a strong, brilliant young girl who clearly understands the evil of slavery and tries to break off from the learned behavior and mindset she has grown up with. I just think that the author could have done a better job showing this conflict in a stronger manner that she did.
Nevertheless, I wish we knew more about Eliza, a young 16 year old girl left to take care her whole family, and all she accomplished with determination and strength that was not the norm for a woman of her time.
I loved this book. Who knew I would
be invested in an indigo crop?
I love that it based in reality and that so much is pulled from her own words.
And Eliza Lucas was kind of bad ass.
be invested in an indigo crop?
I love that it based in reality and that so much is pulled from her own words.
And Eliza Lucas was kind of bad ass.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lacks character and historical substance, basic writing style, fails the difficult balance of providing a first person, slave owner narrative without a moral check
I haven’t read a historical fiction novel in a minute but this was a great novel to help me get back into the genre. The POV as well as the letters gave great insight to society back in the 1700s especially with a female perspective. I never realized indigo was such a profitable crop in SC. This novel also gave more insight to the Pinckney family that has been highly regarded in American history
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes