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greatlibraryofalexandra's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I valued this story a lot. The books about slavery I read are usually focused on the US, so it was good to expand my horizons here and read about the Caribbean. The writing was truly beautiful, quiet and painful. It reminded me of "Homegoing" (Gyasi) and "Roots" (Haley), though I will say I enjoyed both of those books more. I loved Rachel's determination, her journey, and her reflections on suffering one chooses and how it emboldens you, versus the suffering one is subjected to and how it wears you down. I also really valued the examination of what "freedom" really means, in both a legal sense and a larger, more ideological sense. I think we're still examining this question every day.
It feels very wrong to call a book this full of trauma and suffering "serendipitous," but to me it was at least a bit too serendipitous in that Rachel was able to either find out find out what happened to all of her children, despite hopping between islands of thousands of people. It relied a little too much on convenience and while I don't think it was necessarily a happy story or a happy ending, it was a farfetched to me that she was able to have so much closure - even if it was also a peaceful thing to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Vomit
allapaz's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
a STUNNING debut novel, oof. this did everything historical fiction is supposed to do--teach you and connect you to the past. Rachel's journey was a beautiful tribute to the history of women who had to make that same journey in history. my only critique is the pacing toward the end, I could have spent a lot more time on that last leg of the journey, a few more dead ends, lessen the suspension of disbelief a bit.
but truly, that does not take away much at all from how many times I was OVERWHELMED by FEELINGS reading this book. while I didn't cry, there were many times I had to look away from the book to yell into the void, either through happiness, sadness, overwhelm, or heartwarm. what an experience
but truly, that does not take away much at all from how many times I was OVERWHELMED by FEELINGS reading this book. while I didn't cry, there were many times I had to look away from the book to yell into the void, either through happiness, sadness, overwhelm, or heartwarm. what an experience
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Racism, Death, Child death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage
This book does not shy away from the brutalities of slavery, but doesn't revel in the grotesque either, if that makes sense. You won't get gratuitous descriptions of injuries or violence, but those things are happening, because that's real history.bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Miscarriage, Genocide, Grief, Murder, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Suicide, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Blood, and Physical abuse
themomwithabook's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Murder
Minor: Miscarriage
bayleereads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Be still my heart... this was such a beautiful book. Despite the content being very heavy and depressing, it was still somewhat hopeful and inspiring. Rachel, our FMC, is a force to be reckoned with and I loved every minute of her character. Her passion for family is so inspiring and it made me think about my own family and the lengths I would go to to protect them. Each child's story was different and lovely, all in their own ways. At times it seemed as though the story was too "easy." I understand the author wanted a *mostly* happy ending, but as much as I loved the reuniting between characters, I know this was not the case in the majority of real stories of the time. I also wanted more! I feel like each child could have had at least 100 pages written about them-- 336 pages wasn't enough for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Grief
jennaem27's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was true historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Child death, Racism, Slavery, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Classism and Colonisation
literaryintersections's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Will be one of the best books I read of 2023. Phenomenal. Review to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage and Child death
oceanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My heart is in pieces, but I adored River Sing Me Home so much. It's a story of survival, family, discerning the meaning of freedom, and most of all, a mother's love and hope for her children.
When the so-called end of slavery comes, Rachel is quick to learn that the word has only changed to 'apprentice'. Seeing that nothing will change for her and unable to stomach the thought of another six years of confinement and brutal labor, she takes off in search of the children that were taken away from her and sold. This is no easy feat, not even sure if any of the five have survived. She doesn't let her think about this possibility too much. She is determined to reunite with them at any cost.
I loved the writing, the characters, the descriptions, and the history that went into this book. I learned a lot not having studied much about the Caribbean islands at all. It was quite slow at several moments, however, it worked well for me in this context. We get to know Rachel intimately as well as the memories of her children. I particularly loved Mary Grace and her story. While the heart of this book is about Rachel's natural-born children, this is also a story about found family. This is definitely one to take your time with and let it all sink in.
When the so-called end of slavery comes, Rachel is quick to learn that the word has only changed to 'apprentice'. Seeing that nothing will change for her and unable to stomach the thought of another six years of confinement and brutal labor, she takes off in search of the children that were taken away from her and sold. This is no easy feat, not even sure if any of the five have survived. She doesn't let her think about this possibility too much. She is determined to reunite with them at any cost.
I loved the writing, the characters, the descriptions, and the history that went into this book. I learned a lot not having studied much about the Caribbean islands at all. It was quite slow at several moments, however, it worked well for me in this context. We get to know Rachel intimately as well as the memories of her children. I particularly loved Mary Grace and her story. While the heart of this book is about Rachel's natural-born children, this is also a story about found family. This is definitely one to take your time with and let it all sink in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage and Child abuse
quiettalker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Rachel has spent her life in enslavement on a sugar plantation in Barbados. Though she has given birth to many children, they have all been taken away from her. Rachel lost babies to stillbirth and disease, but the five who grew into childhood were taken from her and sold to other plantations.
Although emancipation comes at the start of the book, it brings no real freedom because of the "apprenticeships" which bind all enslaved people to their enslavers for another 6 years. Faced with this reality, Rachel decides to run and soon finds herself on a journey to find freedom, which for her means collecting the stories of her stolen children.
Rachel's journey takes her from Bridgetown, to British Guiana, to Trinidad, and although it's not an "adventure story", it often felt like it followed a heroes journey arch. The result is a touching, informative, and introspective adventure about a middle-aged women taking back self-determination. Rachel and her children's experiences overlap with Indigenous Caribbean characters in a way that I found to be beautiful and informative.
There are two author's notes which really help show the research that went into the time, setting and characters, as well as the choices around language. I love this vein of historical fiction, and though I have read a lot of great books that take place on American plantations and tell the shared history of white and black Americans (A Sitting in St. James, The Sweetness of Water) this is the first I've read set in the Caribbean and it really deepened my understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and emancipation.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
Although emancipation comes at the start of the book, it brings no real freedom because of the "apprenticeships" which bind all enslaved people to their enslavers for another 6 years. Faced with this reality, Rachel decides to run and soon finds herself on a journey to find freedom, which for her means collecting the stories of her stolen children.
Rachel's journey takes her from Bridgetown, to British Guiana, to Trinidad, and although it's not an "adventure story", it often felt like it followed a heroes journey arch. The result is a touching, informative, and introspective adventure about a middle-aged women taking back self-determination. Rachel and her children's experiences overlap with Indigenous Caribbean characters in a way that I found to be beautiful and informative.
There are two author's notes which really help show the research that went into the time, setting and characters, as well as the choices around language. I love this vein of historical fiction, and though I have read a lot of great books that take place on American plantations and tell the shared history of white and black Americans (A Sitting in St. James, The Sweetness of Water) this is the first I've read set in the Caribbean and it really deepened my understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and emancipation.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Child abuse and Miscarriage
kerrygetsliterary's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Physical abuse, Violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Child death, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
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