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bookishrealm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Whew this isn't an easy read, but it's a necessary read. I don't think I really even read the summary of this book before diving in and part of me wished I would have. It didn't take away from the importance of the novel, but this is one that you need to be mentally prepared for before diving in. CW: graphic depictions of slavery, death of a child (twice), repeated rape, mental/emotional/physical abuse, torturing of slaves (particularly in whippings), graphic depictions of imprisonment.
Yellow Wife can be misleading if readers just look at the cover and title. While perusing my library's audiobook collection, I came across this book and thought it might an interesting read. Little did I know, it's based on the story of Mary Lumpkin who was an imprisoned sex slave to Robert Lumpkin. Similar to Mary's story, readers follow Pheby Brown from her time of being a slave on a plantation to her time spent with the jailer who owns a prison known as Devil's Half Acre. I'm very intentional about my use of the term "sex slave" because as described through Pheby's narrative, the physical relationship existed out of the need to survive not because of true love or attraction. This is vital to keep in mind as readers follow the fast paced narrative created by Johnson.
It is important to note that Yellow Wife is often compared to other slave narratives and while I understand the comparison, this book stands on it's own. It captures an interesting aspect of slavery: the experiences of those identified as biracial, those slaves who have to navigate their enslavement in a very different way. Pheby, understanding her privilege in being fair skinned, believes that her slave master will set her free and send her to the North to get an education. Unfortunately, the favoritism shown to Pheby pisses off the slave master's wife. Johnson does a great job illustrating the tumultuous relationship that has existed between White women and Black women especially during slavery. When White men raped and abused Black women resulting in children, White women took to blaming Black women without holding their husband responsible. The ill treatment that Black women often faced at the hands of the wives of slave masters is gratuitous. Nevertheless, Pheby eventually finds herself in the ownership of one of the most notorious jail owners in Virginia. His insatiable bloodlust will make readers cringe to their core. However, Johnson challenges readers to press forward, to engage with the fast paced narrative that keeps all on the edge of their seats until the conclusion. Pheby quickly learns that regardless of her skin tone, her ability to pass for White she is no better than those slaves kept in the jailhouse. Yellow Wilfe then becomes a story about survival and motherhood. Pheby endures the suffering for the sake of her children. This story tackles so much and does so very well. From colorism to the weaponizing of Black hair to motherhood.
This is not a novel to be missed in 2021. It's one of the best historical fiction novels that I've ever read. The writing was phenomenal with a fast paced plot and excellent character development. I'm grateful to Sadeqa Johnson for listening to the ancestors and taking the opportunity to capture this story. I highly recommend this book.
Yellow Wife can be misleading if readers just look at the cover and title. While perusing my library's audiobook collection, I came across this book and thought it might an interesting read. Little did I know, it's based on the story of Mary Lumpkin who was an imprisoned sex slave to Robert Lumpkin. Similar to Mary's story, readers follow Pheby Brown from her time of being a slave on a plantation to her time spent with the jailer who owns a prison known as Devil's Half Acre. I'm very intentional about my use of the term "sex slave" because as described through Pheby's narrative, the physical relationship existed out of the need to survive not because of true love or attraction. This is vital to keep in mind as readers follow the fast paced narrative created by Johnson.
It is important to note that Yellow Wife is often compared to other slave narratives and while I understand the comparison, this book stands on it's own. It captures an interesting aspect of slavery: the experiences of those identified as biracial, those slaves who have to navigate their enslavement in a very different way. Pheby, understanding her privilege in being fair skinned, believes that her slave master will set her free and send her to the North to get an education. Unfortunately, the favoritism shown to Pheby pisses off the slave master's wife. Johnson does a great job illustrating the tumultuous relationship that has existed between White women and Black women especially during slavery. When White men raped and abused Black women resulting in children, White women took to blaming Black women without holding their husband responsible. The ill treatment that Black women often faced at the hands of the wives of slave masters is gratuitous. Nevertheless, Pheby eventually finds herself in the ownership of one of the most notorious jail owners in Virginia. His insatiable bloodlust will make readers cringe to their core. However, Johnson challenges readers to press forward, to engage with the fast paced narrative that keeps all on the edge of their seats until the conclusion. Pheby quickly learns that regardless of her skin tone, her ability to pass for White she is no better than those slaves kept in the jailhouse. Yellow Wilfe then becomes a story about survival and motherhood. Pheby endures the suffering for the sake of her children. This story tackles so much and does so very well. From colorism to the weaponizing of Black hair to motherhood.
This is not a novel to be missed in 2021. It's one of the best historical fiction novels that I've ever read. The writing was phenomenal with a fast paced plot and excellent character development. I'm grateful to Sadeqa Johnson for listening to the ancestors and taking the opportunity to capture this story. I highly recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
alexatthelake's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to Tandem Collective and Simon and Schuster for my copy of this incredible historical fiction novel. I have struggled for days to find the words to describe how this book made me feel and what I thought of it. Simply: incredible and heartbreaking. While Yellow Wife is a fiction novel, the author Sadeqa Johnson describes the real events and people who inspired her while writing this book. Yellow Wife will absolutely break your heart and question humanity, but also fill you with every other emotion.
Pheby is an incredible, stubborn, strong character who will make you feel every single emotion possible. Your heart will ache, break and piece back together and she describes the journey she goes through in her life. She was fierce, determined and incredibly loyal - all characteristics I love in my female characters. As for some other characters in this book, they will immediately become your most hated ones every written. It is hard to believe that people like this ever (and still do) exist, but that is another part of how well written this novel was, to open our eyes to that.
I read this book along with some wonderful fellow bookstagrammers, and we had chapters to read each day. I quickly found myself flying past the assigned reading chapters because I couldn't put the book down. I needed to know the outcome and what would happen to the characters lives. The chapters were on the shorter side, but they were filled with action, to keep the reader on their toes without feeling like it was rushed.
Hands down, this will be one of my favourite books of 2021, no doubt. It may even make it to the pile of favourite books of all time. I don't suggest, I demand you pick this book up and give it a read - but do be aware going into it that there are many trigger warnings including rape, slavery, child death, serious physical abuse and so much racism, among others.
Pheby is an incredible, stubborn, strong character who will make you feel every single emotion possible. Your heart will ache, break and piece back together and she describes the journey she goes through in her life. She was fierce, determined and incredibly loyal - all characteristics I love in my female characters. As for some other characters in this book, they will immediately become your most hated ones every written. It is hard to believe that people like this ever (and still do) exist, but that is another part of how well written this novel was, to open our eyes to that.
I read this book along with some wonderful fellow bookstagrammers, and we had chapters to read each day. I quickly found myself flying past the assigned reading chapters because I couldn't put the book down. I needed to know the outcome and what would happen to the characters lives. The chapters were on the shorter side, but they were filled with action, to keep the reader on their toes without feeling like it was rushed.
Hands down, this will be one of my favourite books of 2021, no doubt. It may even make it to the pile of favourite books of all time. I don't suggest, I demand you pick this book up and give it a read - but do be aware going into it that there are many trigger warnings including rape, slavery, child death, serious physical abuse and so much racism, among others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Child death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Slavery
simpleexplorations's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Death of parent and Kidnapping
saramschacht's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, and Child death
katjoyphil's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
spellboundchapters's review against another edition
dnf p.156/288
I don't think this is a bad book, it just wasn't for me !
The beginning of the story was really fast and I was really enjoying it, even though I wished that it went a little slower. But then I hit a point where everything felt very slow and repetitive. All the characters outside of Pheby seemed one dimensional.
There was also a lot of graphic violence and I felt like I was just reading a succession of rape scenes.
I don't think this is a bad book, it just wasn't for me !
The beginning of the story was really fast and I was really enjoying it, even though I wished that it went a little slower. But then I hit a point where everything felt very slow and repetitive. All the characters outside of Pheby seemed one dimensional.
There was also a lot of graphic violence and I felt like I was just reading a succession of rape scenes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Alcoholism, Excrement, and Vomit
roemsy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly well-written and heartbreaking. The content warnings are abundant with this one. I was moved to tears.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gore, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
simonereadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Excrement, Child death, and Blood
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