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chrissydh76's review
4.0
This is a powerful story about how racism and prejudice are carried down from generation to generation. It may manifest itself differently, but it's still there. There's a little bit of magical realism in the story, but don't let that deter you from reading it. It manages to be both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
kandras's review
5.0
This is an amazing family saga set in 1855 (slavery), 1924 (reconstruction) & 2017 (post-Katrina) greater New Orleans. She uses magical realism to powerfully connect the generations of women. Obviously, there are depictions of trauma but they were not gratuitous.
mgreco5's review
3.0
While I enjoyed the movement between two timelines and the theme of legacy, the two stories were not woven together cohesively. It felt like each story might have been stronger on it’s own. The author, perhaps, was attempting too much in one book.
siobhanward's review
emotional
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
2.0
NYT Notable Books 2019: 52/100
I wish this book had been longer. I rarely say that about books, but in this case, it felt like there were so many plots and none of them got enough attention: Josephine and Charlotte, Josephine's past, Ava and her grandma, Ava's mother. It felt like just as things were ramping up and things were starting to come together, everything ended and that was it. It was a solid plot and I loved the characters, but it felt like all this tension was created and then it ended abruptly without anything being resolved. I know that not everything ends happily, but some resolution would have been nice.
I wish this book had been longer. I rarely say that about books, but in this case, it felt like there were so many plots and none of them got enough attention: Josephine and Charlotte, Josephine's past, Ava and her grandma, Ava's mother. It felt like just as things were ramping up and things were starting to come together, everything ended and that was it. It was a solid plot and I loved the characters, but it felt like all this tension was created and then it ended abruptly without anything being resolved. I know that not everything ends happily, but some resolution would have been nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Pregnancy
katietozer's review
5.0
Wait, is it possible this is even better than her debut? Or do I just like a little magic...
lmplovesbooks's review
3.0
despite the two stories taking place in different times, the effects of racism are evident in both; often confusing with the switching back and forth