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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
REVIEW: 3 out of 5 stars.
I have complicated feelings about this book. Let me say that I found the mystery itself a little lacking as murder mysteries go. It took at least half of this 150-page book to GET TO a murder mystery part. Once it did begin, the unraveling of the mystery and subsequent murders were very quick. There was one murder that truly made me feel something that is a plus for the book.
Neely is a really good writer. Blanche isn't always likable, but she is always real. I think what she has to say in this book about the treatment of black women, particularly in the southern states, the continued marginalization of the black community, what that has done to their self view, and the racist white populations abuse of the black community is extremely relevant how as it was in 1995 when this was written. These are the aspects of the books that really resonated.
The parts I had issues with were, in essence, except for one part, more to do with the language used in this book which in 1995 would have been given a pass but today shouldn't be. The depiction of both the mentally ill and intellecutally disabled people was not great. Also, a trigger warning for sexual assault is mentioned in quite a random and too casual way.
I appreciate the conversation on race, social status, whote privilege, and systemic oppression that this can generate.
I have complicated feelings about this book. Let me say that I found the mystery itself a little lacking as murder mysteries go. It took at least half of this 150-page book to GET TO a murder mystery part. Once it did begin, the unraveling of the mystery and subsequent murders were very quick. There was one murder that truly made me feel something that is a plus for the book.
Neely is a really good writer. Blanche isn't always likable, but she is always real. I think what she has to say in this book about the treatment of black women, particularly in the southern states, the continued marginalization of the black community, what that has done to their self view, and the racist white populations abuse of the black community is extremely relevant how as it was in 1995 when this was written. These are the aspects of the books that really resonated.
The parts I had issues with were, in essence, except for one part, more to do with the language used in this book which in 1995 would have been given a pass but today shouldn't be. The depiction of both the mentally ill and intellecutally disabled people was not great. Also, a trigger warning for sexual assault is mentioned in quite a random and too casual way.
I appreciate the conversation on race, social status, whote privilege, and systemic oppression that this can generate.
Fun and funny quick mystery that made me laugh out loud in parts. If you’re looking for a summer book, this one is great.
Great, adventurous domestic mystery all told through the eyes and mind of Blanche, the main character. And Blanche is at once likeable, formidable, stubborn, changeable and determined to make a better way through life for herself and her sister's children. She doesn't necessarily want marriage, though there is a man who is seeking to have a place with her through the children.
3.5 stars
This was definitely different that I expected. I love Blanche, and the fact that she's a smart, opinionated, hard-working, competent, compassionate (both despite and because of hardship she has experienced), dark-skinned Black woman who works as a domestic worker. I found this book interesting because it takes the well-known English-country-with-servants cozy idea and transplants it to a country estate in North Carolina.
Barbara Neely pulls absolutely no punches with writing Blanche's thoughts, which are stark truths about living as a working class Black woman expressed bluntly (and with understood generalizations) in a way I would generally only expect to hear people of color express with friends and family in "safe spaces." The counterpoint between Blanche's real thoughts/remaining confident in her identity, and the way in which she literally serves members of a moneyed white family is striking. While a large part of me was cheering loudly at this, if I'm honest, it sometimes grated to feel like I was being bludgeoned with important points. After I started reading this book, I found it both interesting and sad that I couldn't necessarily pinpoint what year that the book was taking place, since, in some ways, such little progress has been made in terms of race and class, in the US. I was also pleasantly surprised that such an overtly activist (author describes herself as an activist) was originally published in 1992, and that that the author has won several major awards for her crime fiction.
This book also includes a character who has mosaic Down Syndrome and is "high functioning." Neely draws parallels between the way in which Blanche moves through society as a a domestic worker and the way in which this character does. In my opinion, it was done relatively well, with the characters developing a relationship of mutual affection and understanding; however, I would be interested how this was perceived by people with Down Syndrome and their friends/family.
This was definitely different that I expected. I love Blanche, and the fact that she's a smart, opinionated, hard-working, competent, compassionate (both despite and because of hardship she has experienced), dark-skinned Black woman who works as a domestic worker. I found this book interesting because it takes the well-known English-country-with-servants cozy idea and transplants it to a country estate in North Carolina.
Barbara Neely pulls absolutely no punches with writing Blanche's thoughts, which are stark truths about living as a working class Black woman expressed bluntly (and with understood generalizations) in a way I would generally only expect to hear people of color express with friends and family in "safe spaces." The counterpoint between Blanche's real thoughts/remaining confident in her identity, and the way in which she literally serves members of a moneyed white family is striking. While a large part of me was cheering loudly at this, if I'm honest, it sometimes grated to feel like I was being bludgeoned with important points. After I started reading this book, I found it both interesting and sad that I couldn't necessarily pinpoint what year that the book was taking place, since, in some ways, such little progress has been made in terms of race and class, in the US. I was also pleasantly surprised that such an overtly activist (author describes herself as an activist) was originally published in 1992, and that that the author has won several major awards for her crime fiction.
This book also includes a character who has mosaic Down Syndrome and is "high functioning." Neely draws parallels between the way in which Blanche moves through society as a a domestic worker and the way in which this character does. In my opinion, it was done relatively well, with the characters developing a relationship of mutual affection and understanding; however, I would be interested how this was perceived by people with Down Syndrome and their friends/family.
Mystery novel from the perspective of a black female housekeeper. I wanted to love this book more than I did. A significant portion of the story and plot occur within Blanche's thinking. There is more telling than showing.
I really enjoyed this unique spin on the "cozy mystery" genre. Blanche is a likable protagonist. It takes a while for the central murder mystery to unfold but the plot is actually really good and you can see why Blanche gets involved. I do think this book suffers a bit from Blanche's inner-monologue where she finds the need to explain and re-explain too often. I listened to the audiobook and it was fantastic.
If you're looking for a cozy mystery, I'm not sure whether this book will meet your requirements. However, if you're looking for a book that lets you peer into the psyche of a Black domestic servant working in the thick of the Civil Rights movement South, this may fit the bill.
The time period in which this book is set is never explicitly mentioned but it does mention the 1960s in the past tense. This initially threw me for a loop because Blanche was treated as if she were a slave and not paid for her household help. [b:Blanche on the Lam|23269388|Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White, #1)|Barbara Neely|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411610473l/23269388._SY75_.jpg|579693] made me think of [b:The Help|4667024|The Help|Kathryn Stockett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572940430l/4667024._SY75_.jpg|4717423] if [b:The Help|4667024|The Help|Kathryn Stockett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572940430l/4667024._SY75_.jpg|4717423] were written from a Black perspective. Having not grown up in the South nor experienced the Civil Rights movement, it surprised me how Black domestic servants were treated in the not so distant past. It shouldn't have surprised me but it did.
As the book's protagonist, Blanche was no shrinking violet and she definitely had her reasons for not trusting whites, employer or otherwise. While I questioned some of her choices, the biggest thing this book has going for it was allowing me to see the world from a different perspective. I wouldn't say that the mystery in this book was top rate. The character study in this book is the most interesting part of it.
The time period in which this book is set is never explicitly mentioned but it does mention the 1960s in the past tense. This initially threw me for a loop because Blanche was treated as if she were a slave and not paid for her household help. [b:Blanche on the Lam|23269388|Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White, #1)|Barbara Neely|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411610473l/23269388._SY75_.jpg|579693] made me think of [b:The Help|4667024|The Help|Kathryn Stockett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572940430l/4667024._SY75_.jpg|4717423] if [b:The Help|4667024|The Help|Kathryn Stockett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572940430l/4667024._SY75_.jpg|4717423] were written from a Black perspective. Having not grown up in the South nor experienced the Civil Rights movement, it surprised me how Black domestic servants were treated in the not so distant past. It shouldn't have surprised me but it did.
As the book's protagonist, Blanche was no shrinking violet and she definitely had her reasons for not trusting whites, employer or otherwise. While I questioned some of her choices, the biggest thing this book has going for it was allowing me to see the world from a different perspective. I wouldn't say that the mystery in this book was top rate. The character study in this book is the most interesting part of it.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this reminds me of one of my grandmothers and also my dad when we were kids. ilaahay ha u naxariisto both of them 🖤
"She knew enough storytelling folks—like her Aunt Maeleen, who could bring tears to Blanche's eyes by telling her about the tragic death and/or funeral of someone neither of them knew—to know that a storytelling person couldn't be rushed. Their rhythm, the silences between their words, and their intonation were as important to the telling of the tale as the words they spoke. The story might sound like common gossip when told by another person, but in the mouth of a storyteller, gossip was art."
"She knew enough storytelling folks—like her Aunt Maeleen, who could bring tears to Blanche's eyes by telling her about the tragic death and/or funeral of someone neither of them knew—to know that a storytelling person couldn't be rushed. Their rhythm, the silences between their words, and their intonation were as important to the telling of the tale as the words they spoke. The story might sound like common gossip when told by another person, but in the mouth of a storyteller, gossip was art."
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No