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gaynidoking's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
While this is an extremely challenging read, it is a very good one. This book sat with me for a while, and it took some time for me to be able to sit down and write a review. The POV is extremely interesting and I found that having it from all the women's perspective at the same time (the book uses "we" as the POV) wasn't as distracting as I thought. The author manages to prevent this from resulting in shallower characters, and I loved all of the women in the book equally. Even the slave owners in the book, though I truly hated them, were fully-fleshed characters in their own rights, and there are a few times when we see the story from their POV.
This book is unflinching in its depiction of its source material. There is so much more than the summary plot of the pregnancies, as the everyday life of a slave in the US South was storied enough. This book definitely isn't for everyone. I had to read it in several sittings, and the ending shook me so deeply I had to take the above-mentioned time to let it sit before I could review it. But for those who can stomach it, it is an emotional and evocative read. I won't call it "eye-opening," because I already knew most of the atrocities that are depicted, but to have them narrated from a personal view hits that much harder.
This book is unflinching in its depiction of its source material. There is so much more than the summary plot of the pregnancies, as the everyday life of a slave in the US South was storied enough. This book definitely isn't for everyone. I had to read it in several sittings, and the ending shook me so deeply I had to take the above-mentioned time to let it sit before I could review it. But for those who can stomach it, it is an emotional and evocative read. I won't call it "eye-opening," because I already knew most of the atrocities that are depicted, but to have them narrated from a personal view hits that much harder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: Rape and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Miscarriage
It is an unflinching depiction of slavery in the US south, with all the warnings that apply.alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Rape, Violence, Miscarriage, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Pregnancy, Slavery, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Abortion, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infertility, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
summerlyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Child death, Violence, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Death, Rape, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
canuhandledace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Death, Rape, Child death, Pregnancy, Torture, and Kidnapping
deidrelj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The summary misled me but I’m not upset because I still enjoyed the book. A “rebellion” in my mind is an in your face stand against slavers but what these women did were smaller “wins” that allowed them to assert some authority over their own lives. I really appreciated how they were given different backgrounds and beliefs. So often, stories from this era treat all enslaved peoples as if they originated from the same place. My main criticism is that there’s no build up to the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Slavery, Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Racism, and Pregnancy
tigger89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not going to sugarcoat it: this is a book about slavery, and it doesn't pull its punches. The setting is dark enough on its own, before we even get to the particular events this story centers around. But while these women were forced to suffer indignity, cruelty, and violation, they turned to each other for support and found ways to create connection and joy. Ultimately, I found this to be a story about community, resilience, and defiance. While this still doesn't add up to a particularly uplifting book, those themes shine like a light in the darkness, illuminating a story unlike any fictionalized slave narrative I've come across before.
One of the things I thought was very interesting was how the many different traditions of the women came together when they held their spiritual meetings. It would have been very easy to write them as all-of-a-kind, but the author was determined to depict the variety of women who were enslaved during this time period. In this regard I believe she succeeded in four out of six cases; unfortunately, I found two of the women to be very under-developed, to the point where I knew little of their personalities or desires, aside from a brief sketch of their origins and a quirk or two. She knocked it out of the park for Serah, Patience, Nan, and Junie, though.
Another thing I think she executed very well was the shifting narrative perspective. Occasionally, the novel is narrated in first person plural: we knew this, we did this, we saw that. I noticed many reviewers were confused about this, asking who the first person narrator was. My interpretation is that it was the women narrating collectively before coming to the forefront one-by-one for the traditional third-person narration sections. In addition to the primary women, several other characters get to take turns narrating, showing the reader the perspectives of other enslaved people and shedding some light on why the Lucys might choose the actions they did. None of their actions were excused, but I appreciated being shown the reasons.
As a side note, the Texas Troubles of 1860 was an actual historical event that I'd never heard of before in my life. I don't know if my education failed me or if it's just one of those things that doesn't really get taught outside of Texas. If you're also not familiar, I'd suggest waiting to google it until after you've read the book. Just know that the final part of the book is grounded in real history.
One of the things I thought was very interesting was how the many different traditions of the women came together when they held their spiritual meetings. It would have been very easy to write them as all-of-a-kind, but the author was determined to depict the variety of women who were enslaved during this time period. In this regard I believe she succeeded in four out of six cases; unfortunately, I found two of the women to be very under-developed, to the point where I knew little of their personalities or desires, aside from a brief sketch of their origins and a quirk or two. She knocked it out of the park for Serah, Patience, Nan, and Junie, though.
Another thing I think she executed very well was the shifting narrative perspective. Occasionally, the novel is narrated in first person plural: we knew this, we did this, we saw that. I noticed many reviewers were confused about this, asking who the first person narrator was. My interpretation is that it was the women narrating collectively before coming to the forefront one-by-one for the traditional third-person narration sections. In addition to the primary women, several other characters get to take turns narrating, showing the reader the perspectives of other enslaved people and shedding some light on why the Lucys might choose the actions they did. None of their actions were excused, but I appreciated being shown the reasons.
As a side note, the Texas Troubles of 1860 was an actual historical event that I'd never heard of before in my life. I don't know if my education failed me or if it's just one of those things that doesn't really get taught outside of Texas. If you're also not familiar, I'd suggest waiting to google it until after you've read the book. Just know that the final part of the book is grounded in real history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Cursing, Death, Child death, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Infertility
annreadsabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
I really loved and appreciated Tracey Rose Peyton’s NIGHT WHEREVER WE GO, which is a powerful debut that considers the humanity and dehumanization of enslaved Black women in the antebellum South. From the first person plural perspective, Peyton depicts a group of enslaved Black women who find themselves at a crossroads when their enslaver brings a “breeder” onto the farm—the women can either subject themselves to even further loss of their bodily autonomy for the financial gain of their enslaver, or they can discreetly protect themselves at great peril.
Something I thought Peyton did very well was how she depicted the ways in which white women enslavers positioned themselves as victims of white patriarchy while simultaneously degrading, dehumanizing, and terrorizing Black people, specifically Black women. And, Peyton skillfully demonstrates the ways in which white enslavers attempted to convince themselves of their own benevolence (eg, lulling themselves into the belief that they are “friends” with enslaved people who work in the house). So much food for thought in these pages.
This is a great piece of historical fiction that is accessible, engaging, and so important. This is a great fiction companion read, I think, to Dorothy Roberts’ KILLING THE BLACK BODY, if you’re interested in further exploration of Black reproductive justice.
Definitely go check this book out!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, and Slavery
honeyvoiced's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Torture, and Racism
bookmaddie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.0
This story begins with an act of protection—a group of female slaves on a plantation in Texas meet in secret to figure out how they can protect themselves from a traveling male slave sent to impregnate them. But as days pass, complications mount, and it's evident the women are working to protect each other from something entirely more sinister: their white owners. And amongst all this, each woman in this story is longing for something taken or left behind. This story wonders at how one can form a life—as a slave, a mother, a woman, in a place deeply traumatizing and uncertain.
The narrative slowly moves to focus a bit more on two of the women, Junie and Serah. While I think the focus on the group helps highlight larger themes of this novel, the tightened focus really helps the story become more evocative and immediate. I also really enjoyed learning more about Junie and Serah—it helped me understand their motivations as the story ramps up to its violent crescendo.
This is a really strong debut, and I'll definitely be interested in what Peyton writes next!
The narrative slowly moves to focus a bit more on two of the women, Junie and Serah. While I think the focus on the group helps highlight larger themes of this novel, the tightened focus really helps the story become more evocative and immediate. I also really enjoyed learning more about Junie and Serah—it helped me understand their motivations as the story ramps up to its violent crescendo.
This is a really strong debut, and I'll definitely be interested in what Peyton writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
jessimond's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Violence