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4.6 AVERAGE
4.6 AVERAGE
An excellent and comprehensive tome of a Southern family. In particular, I liked the way Jeffers depicted the interactions within families! It felt very true and I really loved the characters. Even the more complicated ones. The summer visits back home reminded me of my own summers visiting my mother's family.
But I don't think I would necessarily call this an enjoyable read: there are a solid 150 pages in the middle of the book that are brutal. I was thinking that this was trauma porn as I was reading it, but I have revised that opinion. All of the victims of tragedies/abuse/rape were brought to life on the page and had rich lives beyond those incidents. There is A LOT happening, but I appreciated how Jeffers treated her characters so lovingly on the page.
But I don't think I would necessarily call this an enjoyable read: there are a solid 150 pages in the middle of the book that are brutal. I was thinking that this was trauma porn as I was reading it, but I have revised that opinion. All of the victims of tragedies/abuse/rape were brought to life on the page and had rich lives beyond those incidents. There is A LOT happening, but I appreciated how Jeffers treated her characters so lovingly on the page.
What a book! It was a great read that had so much to think and reflect on. Probably could’ve been 100 pages shorter and didn’t love the protagonist but overall fantastic!
A force. This is one of those rare novels that is head and shoulders above most.
It’s a sweeping epic that deftly incorporates history with a beautiful narrative that follows several generations of one Georgian family through slavery, civil war, Jim Crow.
Jeffers novel is poet, lyrical, and often painful to read. I felt like I knew Ailey, Uncle Root, and many of the other beautifully described characters.
It’s a sweeping epic that deftly incorporates history with a beautiful narrative that follows several generations of one Georgian family through slavery, civil war, Jim Crow.
Jeffers novel is poet, lyrical, and often painful to read. I felt like I knew Ailey, Uncle Root, and many of the other beautifully described characters.
Intricate and vivid. The intersecting characters, bloodlines, and themes of generational trauma and spirituality were elaborate, the characters were fascinating - I loved it.
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
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:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated