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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
The interweaving of a black man’s and Jewish man’s journeys is an unexpected addition to the genre of antebellum historical fiction. The injection of creativity: both in textiles and music added a depth to this story that at times, felt overwhelming in its circumstances. There are some really sad and horrifying scenes yet the commitment and drive to persevere carried me through the book.
This book is a spider’s web of people and history that was purposefully and delicately written. It was an emotional and sharp account of our nation’s devastating past and the forgotten voices who deserve to be remembered.
4.5 ⭐️This was a great historical fiction book that explores the perils of the Civil War through two underrepresented groups. More specifically, it’s through the lens of a Black couple living in New Orleans and a Jewish couple living in NYC and alternates between all four perspectives. At the start of war, both men meet at a Union Army camp in Louisiana and form a friendship over their talent and love of music. While performing for the army, the women are each helping out with the war effort at home and risk everything for love and freedom.
I learned alot while reading this and a hard time putting this one down. The authors, who are lifelong best friends, did a great job weaving the storylines, which are each inspired by their own backgrounds. I loved how it emphasized themes of friendship and family and think it is a thought-provoking and compelling read perfect for fans of this genre and book clubs!
Read if you like:
-HF set during the Civil War
-Black and Jewish representation
-Own voices stories
-The power of music and the connection it can form
-Unlikely friendships
-The Yellow Wife
Thank you HTP for this ARC! Out 8/30
I learned alot while reading this and a hard time putting this one down. The authors, who are lifelong best friends, did a great job weaving the storylines, which are each inspired by their own backgrounds. I loved how it emphasized themes of friendship and family and think it is a thought-provoking and compelling read perfect for fans of this genre and book clubs!
Read if you like:
-HF set during the Civil War
-Black and Jewish representation
-Own voices stories
-The power of music and the connection it can form
-Unlikely friendships
-The Yellow Wife
Thank you HTP for this ARC! Out 8/30
I thought this story was told from an interesting perspective, but heavy. It took me a very long time to get through but I thought it was well written and the characters were well thought out. Overall, a good read.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
I found this book to be fascinating! From the facts I learned about the time of the Civil War in the south as well as the social expectations, it was informative as well as captivating. The strength of the characters and the hope they draw from music I could connect with completely. Not to mention putting themselves on the line and risking their livelihoods in their own specific ways. This historical fiction novel has everything I could ask for with intertwining stories and characters, romance and rebellion!
Didn’t love this book. Found it to be a bit unbelievable.
I was worried that a co-authored work of fiction might be disjointed or difficult/unpleasant to read. It was, in fact, consistent and flowed easily.
The story was unique and described parts of history of which I was unfamiliar. The characters were believable and fleshed out. Well done.
The story was unique and described parts of history of which I was unfamiliar. The characters were believable and fleshed out. Well done.
The books adds a new take for me from other Civil War stories, looking at black enlisted men in the Union Army, Jewish soldiers and anti-semitism that existed even then, and how lighter skinned black women were held as mistresses in their own houses in the south.
I enjoyed reading about the map-maker Stella became, putting her skills and gifts from her slave owner to help fellow slaves escape. I was wondering whether the authors were going to say that was based on a true story but that was never alluded to specifically.
Civil war era books are so difficult to get thru for the brutality and violence against black slaves and while this still contained that outlook, I appreciated a different perspective of the majority being from a soldier’s point of view, and the friendship Jacob and Willie had. It made it just a little less heavy of a subject for me with that.
I enjoyed reading about the map-maker Stella became, putting her skills and gifts from her slave owner to help fellow slaves escape. I was wondering whether the authors were going to say that was based on a true story but that was never alluded to specifically.
Civil war era books are so difficult to get thru for the brutality and violence against black slaves and while this still contained that outlook, I appreciated a different perspective of the majority being from a soldier’s point of view, and the friendship Jacob and Willie had. It made it just a little less heavy of a subject for me with that.