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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Susan Taylor lived in a much different time then now when women were expected to birth babies, cook, and clean all day. Her father didn't even want to pay for her to go to school as she started to get older because he believed her place was in the kitchen and she didn't need to go to school for that. She has aspirations bigger than most women in her village and her light skin and light eyes give her an advantage. Her mother is her biggest advocate and puts away money quietly to save up for her schooling.
Much of this story takes place around the time when Barbados was moving towards independence and Susan gets involved with a man name Winslow after taking a secretary job. She's acts like what we'd call in 2020 a pick-me. She plays housekeeper cleaning and cooking for his business meetings. She and his assistant who he also sleeps with engage in petty games for his affections. She's so sprung off the sex she throws self esteem out the window. And then she convinces herself she will become first lady by playing the role of wife for him. So many times I wanted to slap her but I had to remember the role women had during that time and how some women still are today.
I do wish we would've gotten a little more into Lia's life in Barbados. We did receive her POV but it was in relation to Susan mainly. I wanted to know more about who Lia was and what she went through and how it compared to Susan's life. There was a twist interesting twist included which I did end up guessing but still left me satisfied.
It's a slow starter but once you get into this story it really captures you. It touches on poverty, race, class, mental illness and colorism in Barbados during that 60s.
3.5 rating for me.
Also posted on my blog
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-girl-with-hazel-eyes-by-callie.html
Much of this story takes place around the time when Barbados was moving towards independence and Susan gets involved with a man name Winslow after taking a secretary job. She's acts like what we'd call in 2020 a pick-me. She plays housekeeper cleaning and cooking for his business meetings. She and his assistant who he also sleeps with engage in petty games for his affections. She's so sprung off the sex she throws self esteem out the window. And then she convinces herself she will become first lady by playing the role of wife for him. So many times I wanted to slap her but I had to remember the role women had during that time and how some women still are today.
I do wish we would've gotten a little more into Lia's life in Barbados. We did receive her POV but it was in relation to Susan mainly. I wanted to know more about who Lia was and what she went through and how it compared to Susan's life. There was a twist interesting twist included which I did end up guessing but still left me satisfied.
It's a slow starter but once you get into this story it really captures you. It touches on poverty, race, class, mental illness and colorism in Barbados during that 60s.
3.5 rating for me.
Also posted on my blog
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-girl-with-hazel-eyes-by-callie.html
You want it? You got it all - rich in Barbadian culture, family drama, coming of age happiness and struggles, political plays, mental illness and romance that was all intriguing and beautifully executed.
If you want to sit down with a story that pulls you in with different dynamics, range of symbolic characters, and makes you emotional in highs of highs and the lows of lows, The Girl with the Hazel Eyes delivers.
If you want to sit down with a story that pulls you in with different dynamics, range of symbolic characters, and makes you emotional in highs of highs and the lows of lows, The Girl with the Hazel Eyes delivers.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“...rehashing these memories is like bathing oneself in ice water, it’s an interesting notion until you do it and everything starts to ache”
Susan Taylor has been living in the USA after her whistle blowing novel resulted in her exile from her island home Barbados. She decides that 50 years later she is ready for her memoir to be written. She enlists broke Lia, a young Barbadian writer for the job. As she talks about her life Lisa realizes there’s more to her than her surface brashness and Susan has. A big secret to share.
This was an interesting novel. The book alternates between 2015 USA (Lia) and the 1950s to 60s Barbados( Susan). As much as it’s a coming of age story about Susan, it’s also a coming of age story for Barbados as Browning describes its progression to independence, as well as the period immediately thereafter. A lot of research of this time period went into the novel and when combined with beautiful writing I think a great job was done.
I enjoyed the alternating POVs (Lia and Susan). Susan was insufferable in her chapters as she consistently ignored people who loved her, while accepting blatant disrespect from others. She struck me as confident and so I couldn’t really understand some of her choices. The descriptions of other characters were consistent and made them tangible who I appreciated.
Relevant topics, especially for the era in Barbados came through-colorism, racism, gender bias, mental health and the attached stigma and dirty politics came through. It felt very authentic.
All in all this was a good read!
Thanks again to the author Callie Browning for my gifted copy.
Susan Taylor has been living in the USA after her whistle blowing novel resulted in her exile from her island home Barbados. She decides that 50 years later she is ready for her memoir to be written. She enlists broke Lia, a young Barbadian writer for the job. As she talks about her life Lisa realizes there’s more to her than her surface brashness and Susan has. A big secret to share.
This was an interesting novel. The book alternates between 2015 USA (Lia) and the 1950s to 60s Barbados( Susan). As much as it’s a coming of age story about Susan, it’s also a coming of age story for Barbados as Browning describes its progression to independence, as well as the period immediately thereafter. A lot of research of this time period went into the novel and when combined with beautiful writing I think a great job was done.
I enjoyed the alternating POVs (Lia and Susan). Susan was insufferable in her chapters as she consistently ignored people who loved her, while accepting blatant disrespect from others. She struck me as confident and so I couldn’t really understand some of her choices. The descriptions of other characters were consistent and made them tangible who I appreciated.
Relevant topics, especially for the era in Barbados came through-colorism, racism, gender bias, mental health and the attached stigma and dirty politics came through. It felt very authentic.
All in all this was a good read!
Thanks again to the author Callie Browning for my gifted copy.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
“...Rehashing these unpleasant memories is much like bathing oneself in ice water; it’s an interesting notion until you do it and everything starts to ache”
⠀
Sigh. I just finished this book and I’m quivering in emotion and drenched in tears. To say I found it to be a magnificent masterpiece is an understatement. For me, reading this was an experience. Like sitting in the yard, drinking a cold glass of iced tea listening to my great aunt share stories that shaped her life.
⠀
I’ve had this book on my tbr for nearly a year, but when I saw a buddy read, and discussion with the author I decided this would be the perfect time to delve into it. And, this was the perfect time. My emotions have been boiling over the last couple weeks and I needed time to cry.
⠀
I loved everything about this book. The stunning cover! How it pulled me in from the first page with Susan’s fiery spunk. My curiosity of what she’d done to have her labeled “Pretty-Eyed Susan”, the equivalent of a snitch. The immaculate details of Barbadian culture, life, food, dialect. I was deeply rooted in Susan’s early life leading up to fleeing Barbados, as well as, the new bond she and Lia formed while working on the biography. Seeing the guard lifting as Susan shared her story & bares her soul. The depth of the stories, past and present.
⠀
Every. single. aspect. captivated me. I needed more!
⠀
⭐️:5/5
************************************
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booksharks #goodreadschallenge #bookishladiesclub #bookgirlmagic #bookblog #blackbookblogger #bookishgirl #greatbooks #bookcommunity #bookreader #buddyreads #5starbooks #blackgirlsread #readergram #girlswhoread #bookreview #diversespines #thegirlwiththehazeleyes #bookishlove #booklover #bookrecs #calliebrowning #blackbooksmatter #amplifyblackvoices #amplifymelaninvoices #carribeanbooks
⠀
Sigh. I just finished this book and I’m quivering in emotion and drenched in tears. To say I found it to be a magnificent masterpiece is an understatement. For me, reading this was an experience. Like sitting in the yard, drinking a cold glass of iced tea listening to my great aunt share stories that shaped her life.
⠀
I’ve had this book on my tbr for nearly a year, but when I saw a buddy read, and discussion with the author I decided this would be the perfect time to delve into it. And, this was the perfect time. My emotions have been boiling over the last couple weeks and I needed time to cry.
⠀
I loved everything about this book. The stunning cover! How it pulled me in from the first page with Susan’s fiery spunk. My curiosity of what she’d done to have her labeled “Pretty-Eyed Susan”, the equivalent of a snitch. The immaculate details of Barbadian culture, life, food, dialect. I was deeply rooted in Susan’s early life leading up to fleeing Barbados, as well as, the new bond she and Lia formed while working on the biography. Seeing the guard lifting as Susan shared her story & bares her soul. The depth of the stories, past and present.
⠀
Every. single. aspect. captivated me. I needed more!
⠀
⭐️:5/5
************************************
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookworm #booksharks #goodreadschallenge #bookishladiesclub #bookgirlmagic #bookblog #blackbookblogger #bookishgirl #greatbooks #bookcommunity #bookreader #buddyreads #5starbooks #blackgirlsread #readergram #girlswhoread #bookreview #diversespines #thegirlwiththehazeleyes #bookishlove #booklover #bookrecs #calliebrowning #blackbooksmatter #amplifyblackvoices #amplifymelaninvoices #carribeanbooks
The warm air blew the loose strands of hair around her face as she burrowed her feet into the soft sand. The ocean waves crashed in front of her as the sun warmed her skin. Each break of the foamy water was like a memory coming out of nowhere and crashing the forefront of her mind. Life hadn’t taken the turns she expected, leaving a path of wreckage in her wake and now that she’s back home she feels the weight of those flashbacks hitting her full force.
The Girl with the Hazel Eyes had similarities to The Seven Husbands Evelyn Hugo. A young girl, Lia, is called to write the biography of an author who had vanished after releasing a best-selling novel that upended her home of Barbados when she exposed some major secrets. Now that she’s ready to share her story, Lia is excited for the opportunity.
I will say that I loved what the author was trying to do and the story she was trying to share. I think with some adjustments this book could be really beautiful. Also, Callie’s writing style is something that catches my eye and can see it being used very powerfully in the future.
That being said, this book had great promise, but the writing was very rough for me. Choppy and rushed in some sections and drawn out and lagging in other sections. Dialogue was also a little unnatural in spots.
I also wish Lia’s character development would have been more prominent because it was very hard to connect with her.
It is mentioned that the author originally intended this book as a short story submission and that is definitely noticed.
I think with further practice that any future books by this author can be really special.
Overall, an author to definitely keep an eye on in the future!
TW: Attempted Rape, Victim Shaming, Mental Illness, Death of a Parent, Suicide, Gambling.
The Girl with the Hazel Eyes had similarities to The Seven Husbands Evelyn Hugo. A young girl, Lia, is called to write the biography of an author who had vanished after releasing a best-selling novel that upended her home of Barbados when she exposed some major secrets. Now that she’s ready to share her story, Lia is excited for the opportunity.
I will say that I loved what the author was trying to do and the story she was trying to share. I think with some adjustments this book could be really beautiful. Also, Callie’s writing style is something that catches my eye and can see it being used very powerfully in the future.
That being said, this book had great promise, but the writing was very rough for me. Choppy and rushed in some sections and drawn out and lagging in other sections. Dialogue was also a little unnatural in spots.
I also wish Lia’s character development would have been more prominent because it was very hard to connect with her.
It is mentioned that the author originally intended this book as a short story submission and that is definitely noticed.
I think with further practice that any future books by this author can be really special.
Overall, an author to definitely keep an eye on in the future!
TW: Attempted Rape, Victim Shaming, Mental Illness, Death of a Parent, Suicide, Gambling.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes