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izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
DNF
Yay.. the first DNF of the year.. To make matters worse I bought the book. Thank God it was during the hardcover 50% off sale.
Yay.. the first DNF of the year.. To make matters worse I bought the book. Thank God it was during the hardcover 50% off sale.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Heartbreaking look at how clinging to traditions--and the trappings of wealth--brought about the downfall of a family in the antebellum South.
I associate this author with middle grade novels. Specifically middle-grade novels that become cannon. The same should happen with this book. It's almost like [b:Chronicle of a Death Foretold|23878|Chronicle of a Death Foretold|Gabriel García Márquez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644699351l/23878._SY75_.jpg|59137] in that we, the readers, can tell what is going to happen; other characters can see what is happening; but some of the people in it are hoping that the value of their name alone will save them from what's to come.
When I read that a book will have slavery, homosexuality, neurodivergence, and a depiction of living outside the gender binary; I think the author may be trying to tackle too much. But the contributions these characters make to the narrative are beautiful threads that serve to highlight, and add cohesion to the tapestry that is this novel.
I associate this author with middle grade novels. Specifically middle-grade novels that become cannon. The same should happen with this book. It's almost like [b:Chronicle of a Death Foretold|23878|Chronicle of a Death Foretold|Gabriel García Márquez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644699351l/23878._SY75_.jpg|59137] in that we, the readers, can tell what is going to happen; other characters can see what is happening; but some of the people in it are hoping that the value of their name alone will save them from what's to come.
When I read that a book will have slavery, homosexuality, neurodivergence, and a depiction of living outside the gender binary; I think the author may be trying to tackle too much. But the contributions these characters make to the narrative are beautiful threads that serve to highlight, and add cohesion to the tapestry that is this novel.
libwinnie's review against another edition
3.0
Williams-Garcia is a very talented author and I definitely enjoy her writing. This was a good book, but the time and place just didn't appeal to me enough to continue beyond the first 100 or so pages.
jules_not_dead's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sallymentzer25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mcft37's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An important and interesting look at antebellum Louisiana. Focusing on class and race. Not sure this is YA.
tifftenn's review against another edition
2.0
First, this is not a book I would want my YA readers engaging it. The sexual exploits done to and by the male lovers were more detailed than I needed. And, the sexual abuse towards the slaves was given in more detail than a very young reader should have to stomach.
I appreciated the historical note that came after the story more than the story itself. Williams-Garcia reflects on what prompted the story: "Why do they hate us?" originally asked by a young boy in relation to police brutality towards black people. She explores her response to this question throughout the story (read the historical note first if you want this as a foundation for reading the story). This part is good. Unraveling the inhumane treatment of slaves and the shameful justifications for it was/is enough. Placing the story in Louisiana added layers of interest.
Too much of the story was about homosexuality and the secrets and dishonor that came with it. This took away from what Williams-Garcia reflects on in the historical note. Can a book successfully explore the feelings towards, treatments of, and relationships with both homosexuals and slaves? I imagine so, but this one doesn't. Instead, the spotlight on homosexual struggles took away from rather than added to the story about class, slavery, and tradition in antebellum Louisiana.
I appreciated the historical note that came after the story more than the story itself. Williams-Garcia reflects on what prompted the story: "Why do they hate us?" originally asked by a young boy in relation to police brutality towards black people. She explores her response to this question throughout the story (read the historical note first if you want this as a foundation for reading the story). This part is good. Unraveling the inhumane treatment of slaves and the shameful justifications for it was/is enough. Placing the story in Louisiana added layers of interest.
Too much of the story was about homosexuality and the secrets and dishonor that came with it. This took away from what Williams-Garcia reflects on in the historical note. Can a book successfully explore the feelings towards, treatments of, and relationships with both homosexuals and slaves? I imagine so, but this one doesn't. Instead, the spotlight on homosexual struggles took away from rather than added to the story about class, slavery, and tradition in antebellum Louisiana.
onarosebeam's review against another edition
I’m not feeling anything lately. Maybe I need A thriller.
raerni's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
What are white people without their racism? Who were white people without enslaved people and slavery? Why do white people hate black people? Revised from Williams-Garcia’s words, these are the questions this hefty novel of Antebellum Louisiana asks. I wondered while reading why we were seeing this plantation life and hold on upper class social traditions instead of from a Black perspective. But as Toni Morrison said, white people have a problem; leave me out of it. And Williams-Garcia took that and left the Black people in this story in the background, a wise, knowing background, and put the floundering and idiocy of white enslavers front and center. We have to look unwaveringly at Madame’s racism and horrible treatment of Thisbe. We have to watch Lucien contract venereal disease and partake in the demise of his plantation. This is a little bit of a sleeper of a novel; I didn’t know where it was going at first with this focus on Madame’s early childhood in France. But I’m so glad I stuck with it because once the horrors of white supremacy started rolling, I could not look away. Black resilience is a strong theme. Masterfully researched; the author’s notes at the end are so impressive. Recommended for history buffs or those who want to know more about Antebellum southern history.