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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think this book could be great for some people. Its subject matter fills a great niche for true success stories of black women. I certainly don't mean to knock the book, I appreciate its goal and I'm certain many readers would enjoy it a lot. I however didn't like reading it. Overall the book really drags and should have been trimmed down a little bit. Much of the plot focuses on Dolly's relationship with various men in her life and this got old quickly as her interactions felt very repetitive and dull. It often felt like I was reading a really boring romance novel. A lot of focus was given to the men around Dolly, but I was in the book for Dolly herself. Vital events, like deaths, seemed to pop up and happen very suddenly, these could have used more exposition. I wish more time had been devoted to how she actually built her empire as I feel I didn't quite understand how it all happened. I appreciated her relationship with her family and how her relationship with slavery was portrayed a lot. It was technically well written and many parts were even compelling, but overall it felt repetitive and boring.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Incest, Grief, Murder
Minor: Death, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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Thank you to NetGalley and WIlliam Morrow & Custom House for allowing me to read this ARC!
Content Warning: death, murder, violence, slavery, racism, misogyny, rape, incest.
Born in the mid-1700s, the daughter of a plantation owner and an enslaved woman, Dolly Thomas is exposed to the horrors of slavery throughout her childhood. Determined, ambitious, and full of charm, Dolly manages to pay for not only her own freedom, but the freedom of her mother and sister -- and ends up creating a life for them all that no one thinks possible for a woman of color in her time.
Reading the premise for this book was so exciting that I knew I had to request it. Not only do I love historical fiction, but I thought that it was so refreshing to see a book written by a black woman about an amazing black woman. Although Riley's writing style didn't immediately catch my attention, her weaving of the story certainly did. While much of the content in this book is extremely difficult to read, it's a necessary read, something that unveils the atrocity of slavery while also uplifting the voices of the enslaved.
Dolly is the star of this beautiful novel, and I cannot begin to even tell you how much she makes this worth reading. Riley's masterful characters, who are vividly, wonderfully captured, feel as real as if you are sitting in the room with them. It seems as if Dolly has taken you into her confidence, and is whispering into your ear with her snappish wit and her endless supply of magnetism. The tale of her life, her hardships, her wins and losses, is so captivating that at the end, I nearly found myself in tears.
I truly cannot recommend this highly enough. Riley is a prolific writer of historical fiction and romance, and although I hadn't previously heard of her, I will certainly be looking into reading more of her books in the future.
Dolly is the star of this beautiful novel, and I cannot begin to even tell you how much she makes this worth reading. Riley's masterful characters, who are vividly, wonderfully captured, feel as real as if you are sitting in the room with them. It seems as if Dolly has taken you into her confidence, and is whispering into your ear with her snappish wit and her endless supply of magnetism. The tale of her life, her hardships, her wins and losses, is so captivating that at the end, I nearly found myself in tears.
I truly cannot recommend this highly enough. Riley is a prolific writer of historical fiction and romance, and although I hadn't previously heard of her, I will certainly be looking into reading more of her books in the future.
I was quite excited to pick this up and I did enjoy it but this isn't a book for everyone. I wasn't sure where we were actually going at several points in the book though which can be frustrating and daunting for a longer book.
Several trigger warnings including racism and sexual assault
Several trigger warnings including racism and sexual assault
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
One thing I love about reading is that it enables you to live other lives, see the world through the eyes of someone else. This book is such a great example of that.
I think one of the best signs that a historical book is good is if you finish it with a better understanding of the world than when you started it. Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, but I'm glad that Riley's book was able to bring her story to life and bring attention to her story. This book follows through all of Dolly's life, and it honestly makes you feel that you've seen and lived alongside her.
This book is well written and heartbreaking. Dorothy was such a strong and intelligent woman, unfortunately her life was filled with a lot of pain in many forms. She did everything she could to make sure her children and grandchildren could live happier and easier lives than she did.
I highly recommend this book. I'm not usually the biggest fan of historical books because they are usually very dry and boring, but this book comes alive and tells Dorothy's story in a bright and engaging way. You aren't simply reading history, you're experiencing it through Dolly's eyes.
Do be aware, this book does contain mentions of sensitive topics such as incest and rape.
Overall, this book is solidly between 4 and 5 stars. Unfortunately, the copy I read was missing pages (503-518), but even with a portion of the story missing, it was a fantastic book.
I think one of the best signs that a historical book is good is if you finish it with a better understanding of the world than when you started it. Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, but I'm glad that Riley's book was able to bring her story to life and bring attention to her story. This book follows through all of Dolly's life, and it honestly makes you feel that you've seen and lived alongside her.
This book is well written and heartbreaking. Dorothy was such a strong and intelligent woman, unfortunately her life was filled with a lot of pain in many forms. She did everything she could to make sure her children and grandchildren could live happier and easier lives than she did.
I highly recommend this book. I'm not usually the biggest fan of historical books because they are usually very dry and boring, but this book comes alive and tells Dorothy's story in a bright and engaging way. You aren't simply reading history, you're experiencing it through Dolly's eyes.
Do be aware, this book does contain mentions of sensitive topics such as incest and rape.
Overall, this book is solidly between 4 and 5 stars. Unfortunately, the copy I read was missing pages (503-518), but even with a portion of the story missing, it was a fantastic book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Grief
Minor: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes