Reviews

Jam on the Vine by LaShonda Katrice Barnett

shianne700b1's review

3.0

Very endearing story that takes you on an important ride. As a young Black girl who wants to become a journalist as well, I think Ivoe's story is a must read for any hopeful journalist.

avhollow's review

4.0

Magnificent. A story that encompasses the personal and the societal. Through Ivoe, her family, and her lovers, the author examines the challenges imposed by white people against black justice movements from the 1890s-1920s. The central part of the story follows Ivoe’s struggle to break into journalism, her exploration of abuses by the criminal justice system, and her changing views on how best to fight for justice and rejection of respectability politics as a means of achieving justice. The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is that the last part moves away from the personal, instead focusing on articles written in Ivoe’s paper and looking at the wider black newspaper industry, and becomes less engaging as a result. The section does give good information on some of the major papers of the time, including a reference to William Trotter that doesn’t name him directly that I can remember, but instead relies on the name of his paper and his dynamic personality to identify him. There are several other such real life papers and people identified.

The writing is brilliant and incorporates poetic flourishes throughout that ground the story in time and place while giving each character a distinctive voice.

readincolour's review

3.0

Such a slow moving book. Honestly, if I could have given it 2 1/2 stars, I would have. The author lingered far too long with the most uninteresting story lines and breezed through the interesting ones far too quickly. The historical aspects of the story were the only thing that kept this book afloat.