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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
Incredibly immersive and well-researched with a broad scope and broad appeal. I listened to the (unabridged) audio version and it flew by; I was surprised to see the regular book was over eight hundred pages long!
This is an extremely ambitious debut novel that, for the most part, lands. It follows the life of Ailey Garfield from a preteen to a grown woman studying for her doctorate. We see her family life, school life, love life, her successes, failures, struggles and everything between. Interspersed are long sections from the perspectives of different people from different parts of Ailey’s mixed heritage: black, white, indigenous, from the 1700s to Ailey’s own childhood. It’s an intense generational saga that showcases ripples across the family line. Jeffers is absolutely unapologetic and unwavering in her commitment to making this a black feminist novel (and rightly so!). Triumphs and tragedies past and present can all be found here. Ailey’s connection to her maternal line is the showcase, and ultimately provides the catharsis, of this theme.
Due to the length of the novel, it can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. While this repetitiveness is a way in which the generational trauma is highlighted, I do think certain segments could have done with tighter editing.
Nevertheless this is a compelling read, but also one that doesn’t pull punches. True horror and heartbreak in spades, but more than enough love too.
This is an extremely ambitious debut novel that, for the most part, lands. It follows the life of Ailey Garfield from a preteen to a grown woman studying for her doctorate. We see her family life, school life, love life, her successes, failures, struggles and everything between. Interspersed are long sections from the perspectives of different people from different parts of Ailey’s mixed heritage: black, white, indigenous, from the 1700s to Ailey’s own childhood. It’s an intense generational saga that showcases ripples across the family line. Jeffers is absolutely unapologetic and unwavering in her commitment to making this a black feminist novel (and rightly so!). Triumphs and tragedies past and present can all be found here. Ailey’s connection to her maternal line is the showcase, and ultimately provides the catharsis, of this theme.
Due to the length of the novel, it can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. While this repetitiveness is a way in which the generational trauma is highlighted, I do think certain segments could have done with tighter editing.
Nevertheless this is a compelling read, but also one that doesn’t pull punches. True horror and heartbreak in spades, but more than enough love too.
A huge, huge book in scope, word count, and impact. I read this 800 page novel slowly at first, then steamed through the last third wanting to find out how events unfolded for certain characters. An outstanding, must-read novel.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars rounded up. This book was compulsively readable but so intricately detailed. I found myself rereading sections just to double check I hadn’t missed anything. This is a beautiful and complex and challenging piece of art.
What an epic book. Very very long black family saga from slavery to modern days. Beautifully written and thought provoking . Covering the history of Indian relocation and black slavery.
Fascinating but heartbreaking family saga
TW: child molestation and sexual assault
As someone who enjoys genealogy and bringing context to history, this turned out be a hugely satisfying narrative. However, that summary is too dismissive of the intense pain and trauma suffered by nearly every member of the extended family in this book. The young girls in this book were brutalized and manipulated so viciously that I have a hard time giving the book five stars. Yet, this is history not entertainment. And it should be told. And Jeffers tells it well. Highly recommend it.
TW: child molestation and sexual assault
As someone who enjoys genealogy and bringing context to history, this turned out be a hugely satisfying narrative. However, that summary is too dismissive of the intense pain and trauma suffered by nearly every member of the extended family in this book. The young girls in this book were brutalized and manipulated so viciously that I have a hard time giving the book five stars. Yet, this is history not entertainment. And it should be told. And Jeffers tells it well. Highly recommend it.
This massive book, 30 hours of incredibly-read storytelling, is a MUST. You will cheer and weep and gnash your teeth. But ultimately you will be informed. Ms. Jeffers did a phenomenal job writing a (debut!!!) novel of historical fiction so compelling that I often found myself listening into the wee hours, waiting to get to a stopping place.
“Even in a place of sorrow, time passes.”
“Even in a place of sorrow, time passes.”
An exceptional read. My favourite book I’ve read this year.
The author manages to keep a perfect pace throughout the 800+ page book as it winds through the intergenerational family tree across around 200 years of history. I’m in complete awe of the author and how she’s managed to achieve this. It’s such an epic read and each characters story is so beautifully told.
That’s not to say this book is for everyone, it covers a lot of very heavy topics which could be disturbing/distressing.
I would however throughly recommend it if you’re at all interested - what a book!
The author manages to keep a perfect pace throughout the 800+ page book as it winds through the intergenerational family tree across around 200 years of history. I’m in complete awe of the author and how she’s managed to achieve this. It’s such an epic read and each characters story is so beautifully told.
That’s not to say this book is for everyone, it covers a lot of very heavy topics which could be disturbing/distressing.
I would however throughly recommend it if you’re at all interested - what a book!
The 800 page book allows you spend enough time with the Garfield family and their environs in the South to help one feel they were more a first hand witness than a mere reader As someone who has taught some of this historical material I so appreciated the humanity and unknown (to me) stories and perspectives expressed in the novel. I highly recommend this book!