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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-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:
Yes
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This book is historical fiction based on the real life woman who bought her freedom from slavery, along with the freedom of many family members, and ended up working to become the richest woman in the Caribbean. She was born a slave to a slave mother and owner father. She suffered incredible hardship, including violence and rebellion. She pushed through so much harm and bought her freedom, had many children, and had businesses all over the islands.
I thought this was a slow moving read, but once I got into it, I loved it. She was so strong and she was dealing with circumstances that were inconceivable to us now. Her perseverance was amazing. This was written in short chapters which I liked because it broke up the very long book. The chapters did sometimes start and end places I didn't expect, and even though that was a bit jarring at times, it was easy enough to figure out what was going on. i really liked that at the end, there was information about the real life woman and the area.
This book is historical fiction based on the real life woman who bought her freedom from slavery, along with the freedom of many family members, and ended up working to become the richest woman in the Caribbean. She was born a slave to a slave mother and owner father. She suffered incredible hardship, including violence and rebellion. She pushed through so much harm and bought her freedom, had many children, and had businesses all over the islands.
I thought this was a slow moving read, but once I got into it, I loved it. She was so strong and she was dealing with circumstances that were inconceivable to us now. Her perseverance was amazing. This was written in short chapters which I liked because it broke up the very long book. The chapters did sometimes start and end places I didn't expect, and even though that was a bit jarring at times, it was easy enough to figure out what was going on. i really liked that at the end, there was information about the real life woman and the area.
Fascinating read that bounces between educating and entertaining. Engaging life story that has been pieced together into a compelling narrative. Lots to think about and investigate here.
Overall, the trajectory of Dolly's story is inspiring. How she worked hard to free herself and her family members. How she founded a business and did what she had to in order to thrive on her own terms. But this novel often puts all that in the background, focusing instead on Dolly's relationships with several men. I don't begrudge her that, or judge her for it, but I do wish more time was spent on showing her ambition and how she grew her business. There's no space in nearly 600 pages for a single scene of her actually training her housekeepers, but there's room for several dozen pages of flirtatious banter or thorny arguments with various men?
On the other hand, it's really heartening how the author shows that Dolly's priority is her family and legacy, and how she's always working towards a better future for them and for other black people. I thought that made a nice anchor for all the good work she managed to do.
On the other hand, it's really heartening how the author shows that Dolly's priority is her family and legacy, and how she's always working towards a better future for them and for other black people. I thought that made a nice anchor for all the good work she managed to do.
Great story. Told well. Long book but I was glad of it.
This was a fascinating story about true story of a black woman that raised herself up from slave to one of the wealthiest & powerful landowners/business women in the colonial West Indies. This is a very difficult story to read and there are many disturbing moments (see below for content warnings). Though I didn’t 100% love it, as it is not that kind of story, I am glad I read it. 4⭐️
TW: extreme racism, rape, incest, child death, violence
TW: extreme racism, rape, incest, child death, violence
This was a fascinating book roughly based on the life of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas who was born a slave in the West Indies and though lacking education she was an exceptional business woman. She freed herself and her children and other close relatives and then hired out her staff as laborers. She owned a hotel with restaurants. She knew the value of education and sent her children and others to receive a quality education in England. The book was well written and enlightening but in some places too wordy. A good read about a woman from the 1700 to 1800's who was way ahead of her time.
Let me be perfectly honest: I had this book a while ago via NEtGalley but I purposely waited to give this review until i listened to the audiobook which was narrated WONDERFULLY by Adjoa Andoh from Bridgerton. Oh my god. I was completely wrapped in the book and her narration took it over the top. As a person married to someone from the Caribbean, we did not know that this history existed. And I made it a point to listen with my husband. Vanessa Riley is a genuine scholar of the regency and Black folks. and you can tell she takes the time to educate and entertain her audience. Her fictionization of Doll was just breathtaking.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Island Queen, the story of Dorothy "Dolly" Kirwan Thomas. Dolly is a strong willed woman born into slavery who works to buy her own freedom and the freedom of her family. She goes on to run a successful business and become a wealthy landowner in a society designed against her. Riley beautifully explores the struggle to hold power as a black woman in the early 1800s and all of its complicated layers. The author includes a section at the back of the book that explains what she took from history and what she added to Dolly’s story.
This book seemed to be in a rush- despite the 500+ pages. Maybe that was intended to mimic the ambition of the main character. But, it made it difficult to follow the life of a clearly incredible woman.