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tshrope's review
3.0
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't feel like it offered anything new on the subject of slavery or the relationship between slave women and the children they raised. I thought the Kitchen House did a much better job of telling that story. I listened to this book on audio and I do love Bahni Turpin as a narrator, she is one of my favorites, so listening to her read me the book was the most enjoyable part of this book.
jamiebooks15's review against another edition
5.0
I really, really loved this book. It's a solid historical fiction book and I couldn't put it down!
_rebeccareads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved everything about this book except for the weirdly over-descriptive breastfeeding moments...
goldenbrowngirl's review against another edition
5.0
So heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I appreciated the way Ibrahim painted the bond between wet nurse and child. Giving both characters a voice for the reader to learn the perspective of each added to the richness. It was not predictable in the least.
anna_pardo's review against another edition
3.0
És curiós que un llibre sobre esclavisme sigui un "feel good book", però aquest ho és. Una història bonica que, pel meu gust, es mulla massa poc en condemnar una pràctica execrable, tot i que a la segona part del llibre l'abolicionisme cobra molta més importància. Massa religió de per mig, això sí. Però si ens quedem amb la història de la Mattie i la Lisbeth, una bonica història amb final feliç.
devmm's review against another edition
3.0
Though the pace of this book was a bit slower than I had initially anticipated, I powered through to the end. The story is woven beautifully through two lenses, and I found myself crying by last page.
Ultimately, I believe this is an important story to tell and Ibrahim tackled the subject matter head-on -- providing perspectives into the lives of enslaved people in the American South honestly, while not making the connection between the main characters seem too forced. It was believable. I enjoy the realistic end -- of fighting to create and preserve one's own family and freedom, while still understanding the constraints of race relations in the North during the later 19th century.
Ultimately, I believe this is an important story to tell and Ibrahim tackled the subject matter head-on -- providing perspectives into the lives of enslaved people in the American South honestly, while not making the connection between the main characters seem too forced. It was believable. I enjoy the realistic end -- of fighting to create and preserve one's own family and freedom, while still understanding the constraints of race relations in the North during the later 19th century.
radiojen's review against another edition
4.0
I downloaded this book for my Kindle because it was free. A challenge was issued at the end of April to read a book(s) with a flower(s) in the titles. This was the second challenge book I read this month, and I'm so grateful for the challenge because I'm not sure if/when I'd ever have gotten around to reading this delightful story.
Mattie is a wet nurse who cares for Lisbeth from the time she's born. We see the affection this child has for this slave, preferring her over her own mother more often than not. The two have a very special relationship, and it's that bond that really is the basis for the decisions Lisabeth begins to make in her life once she's old enough to do so.
I could not put this book down. It's not my typical kind of read, but it is such a beautiful story. I implore you to read it!
Mattie is a wet nurse who cares for Lisbeth from the time she's born. We see the affection this child has for this slave, preferring her over her own mother more often than not. The two have a very special relationship, and it's that bond that really is the basis for the decisions Lisabeth begins to make in her life once she's old enough to do so.
I could not put this book down. It's not my typical kind of read, but it is such a beautiful story. I implore you to read it!
reinventing_mrs's review against another edition
5.0
The Book I Didn’t Know I Needed
I ran across this book accidentally; I believe it was a free read, a suggestion, from Prime. I figured I’d give it a shot. Wow, am I glad I did!
Ibrahim’s first novel is incredible! Told from the points of view of both mistress and slave, the story is both familiar and refreshing. Elizabeth is the child that Mattie is forced to nurse, forced to tend to, forced to raise at the expense and sacrifice of her own baby boy. Mattie is the nurturer, the teacher, the comfort that Elizabeth’s own mother is not. Mattie gives her all to Elizabeth while managing to save the most precious parts of herself for her husband and son when time and circumstance permit. Elizabeth eagerly accepts all Mattie has to give and helps fill the empty spaces of Mattie’s broken heart, while selfishly believing that she is the center of Mattie’s world.
Knowing and understanding the history of slavery provided for many emotionally trying moments - at least twice, I was afraid to read on. Still, the expected and unexpected ways in which Mattie and Elizabeth affected each other’s lives was a joy to read. Not wanting the story to end, but not able to stop reading, I was comforted knowing that this book is part one of a trilogy.
Kudos to you, Laila Ibrahim.
I ran across this book accidentally; I believe it was a free read, a suggestion, from Prime. I figured I’d give it a shot. Wow, am I glad I did!
Ibrahim’s first novel is incredible! Told from the points of view of both mistress and slave, the story is both familiar and refreshing. Elizabeth is the child that Mattie is forced to nurse, forced to tend to, forced to raise at the expense and sacrifice of her own baby boy. Mattie is the nurturer, the teacher, the comfort that Elizabeth’s own mother is not. Mattie gives her all to Elizabeth while managing to save the most precious parts of herself for her husband and son when time and circumstance permit. Elizabeth eagerly accepts all Mattie has to give and helps fill the empty spaces of Mattie’s broken heart, while selfishly believing that she is the center of Mattie’s world.
Knowing and understanding the history of slavery provided for many emotionally trying moments - at least twice, I was afraid to read on. Still, the expected and unexpected ways in which Mattie and Elizabeth affected each other’s lives was a joy to read. Not wanting the story to end, but not able to stop reading, I was comforted knowing that this book is part one of a trilogy.
Kudos to you, Laila Ibrahim.