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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
dark
inspiring
sad
medium-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
Dorothy Kirwan Thomas’s life was epic in every way, and her story is fascinating and engrossing.
This is a story of persistence and grit and not giving up on a dream. But it is also a sharp reminder that people of color have always had and continue to have to work harder to achieve their goals. I liked how the author brought the reader through the various stages of Dottie's life and the people whose paths crossed with hers. Even though the book starts with a young Dottie, it's made apparent very quickly that she is forced to grow up faster than she should have with the various traumas that her life brings her. Riley is an exceptional writer and puts the reader right in the story with Dottie and doesn't hold back from the hard subjects. Even with the elements of romance, the difference and importance of power dynamics in relationships between white men and black women in that time period aren't shied away from.
TW/CW: Rape, slavery, death, racism, sexism, derogatory remarks
TW/CW: Rape, slavery, death, racism, sexism, derogatory remarks
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a life this woman lead.
And I did indeed cry, a couple of times.
And I did indeed cry, a couple of times.
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Island Queen by Vanessa Riley is a glass of fine red wine. The initial sip is bitter, but as it spreads across the tongue, it leaves a sweet aftertaste along with the memory of bitterness.
Dorothy, a young enslaved girl, dreams of freedom and she achieves it for herself, her mother, her sister, and all of her children. It's far from easy as she deals with the evil in the shape of her Irish stepbrother, and she navigates the shifting politics of the Caribbean Islands. Dorothy builds the life of her dreams through wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier, and planter. Based on the real life of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, this book captures the intense hardship and beauty of a woman who lived her life by her own rules within an era that offered her no assistance.
I absolutely recommend listening to this book as an audiobook with the narrator of Adjoa Andoh truly bringing this amazing story to life. One of the most standout qualities of this story and the character of Dorothy was her ability to claim responsibility for her every decision. She never shied away from that responsibility, and where she could have chosen to play the "victim card" she never did. I absolutely loved seeing resiliency on display throughout this book.
If you love an inspiring story of a woman who knew her values and oriented her life off of those beliefs, than Island Queen is for you. This story has strong themes of resiliency, empowerment, and power play.
Dorothy, a young enslaved girl, dreams of freedom and she achieves it for herself, her mother, her sister, and all of her children. It's far from easy as she deals with the evil in the shape of her Irish stepbrother, and she navigates the shifting politics of the Caribbean Islands. Dorothy builds the life of her dreams through wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier, and planter. Based on the real life of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, this book captures the intense hardship and beauty of a woman who lived her life by her own rules within an era that offered her no assistance.
I absolutely recommend listening to this book as an audiobook with the narrator of Adjoa Andoh truly bringing this amazing story to life. One of the most standout qualities of this story and the character of Dorothy was her ability to claim responsibility for her every decision. She never shied away from that responsibility, and where she could have chosen to play the "victim card" she never did. I absolutely loved seeing resiliency on display throughout this book.
If you love an inspiring story of a woman who knew her values and oriented her life off of those beliefs, than Island Queen is for you. This story has strong themes of resiliency, empowerment, and power play.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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
Just can’t get into the writing style, unfortunately.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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