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The House of Eve: Totally heartbreaking and unputdownable historical fiction by Sadeqa Johnson
ariel_marie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
missloren_89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 starts for the House of Eve! I never had a chance to read Sadeqa Johnson's well-loved novel Yellow Wife, but after reading the House of Eve, I definitely need to go back and read it this year! The House of Eve is such a compelling yet heartbreaking story of two black women navigating their futures in vastly different ways in 1950s America.
In alternating chapters, we learn the stories of Ruby and Eleanor. Ruby is a high school sophomore in Philadelphia who has been accepted into a college prep program with high hopes for a college education so she can become an ophthalmologist. Eleanor is a sophomore at Howard University in Washington DC, working in the university research library where she catches the eye of pre-med student from a powerful Black family.
Both women come from humble beginnings, especially Ruby who is living with her aunt after being kicked out of the house by her mother. Eleanor is from a working-class family in northeast Ohio. But both fall in love with men outside their race/class/ethnicity - Ruby with a young Jewish boy Shimmy, and Eleanor with the light skinned Black man, William.
Both women are strong and resilient as they face down the racism and classism they encounter. Their stories are equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, and I loved both of them for it. Johnson writes about their stories from personal experience and extensive research. Be sure to read her author's notes - always one of my favorite parts of historical fiction - which help illuminate the story even further.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy of this story, publishing Feb. 7!
In alternating chapters, we learn the stories of Ruby and Eleanor. Ruby is a high school sophomore in Philadelphia who has been accepted into a college prep program with high hopes for a college education so she can become an ophthalmologist. Eleanor is a sophomore at Howard University in Washington DC, working in the university research library where she catches the eye of pre-med student from a powerful Black family.
Both women come from humble beginnings, especially Ruby who is living with her aunt after being kicked out of the house by her mother. Eleanor is from a working-class family in northeast Ohio. But both fall in love with men outside their race/class/ethnicity - Ruby with a young Jewish boy Shimmy, and Eleanor with the light skinned Black man, William.
Both women are strong and resilient as they face down the racism and classism they encounter. Their stories are equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, and I loved both of them for it. Johnson writes about their stories from personal experience and extensive research. Be sure to read her author's notes - always one of my favorite parts of historical fiction - which help illuminate the story even further.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy of this story, publishing Feb. 7!
rerosenthal85's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. A story that needs to be told and heard.
salgalruns's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
What a wonderful and thought provoking read! Eleanor and Ruby’s stories are told through alternating POV chapters. Themes of poverty, wealth, skin color, and the drive to get an education are woven into to both storylines.
While I loved both main characters, the secondary female characters were written in such a way that we loved/hated them as well. We grow to understand them more but their impact on Eleanor and Ruby is immense.
Definitely a must read!
While I loved both main characters, the secondary female characters were written in such a way that we loved/hated them as well. We grow to understand them more but their impact on Eleanor and Ruby is immense.
Definitely a must read!
siobhankennedy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25