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lezreadalot's review
3.0
Love saves this book. And by that I mean kinda saves it. And by that I mean sorta saves it. And by that I mean saves it in the most rudimentary way. Because you can tell a lot of love went into researching and writing this novel, and it's honestly very very lovely. I've had my beef with books written about slavery before (especially those written by non-black people) and Ibrahim brings a lot of heart into Mattie and Lisbeth's story that's often lacking from historical and fictional narratives including slaves. Their bond was beautiful and their story tugged at the heartstrings.
But this was not well written in the slightest ahaha. POV shifted clumsily. The narrative moved like a flat line with a few bumps here and there. This contains some of the worst dialogue I've ever read; no one in this book sounded like a human being. The writing was just... writing. This year, I've been trying to do a thing where I begin each review with a quote from the book that I liked, but I can't do that here, because nothing in the writing jumped out at me, and there's just nothing written in this book that I couldn't find written better somewhere else. Moving things happened in this novel, but it was written in such a way that I was not moved in the slightest.
I listened to the audiobook as read by Bahni Turpin, who has an incredible voice and gave a pretty well rounded performance. I'm going to be looking out for more work narrated by her in the future. She only changed her voice slightly for each different character, but it was distinct enough that it really worked. And she did her best with the terrible dialogue, though I can't say she improved upon it much.
This is another book that I wanted to love way more than I actually did.
2.5 stars. (The extra .5 almost SOLELY because I couldn't bear to give this the same rating as I gave that Sue Monk Kidd book. And for the narration of the audiobook.)
But this was not well written in the slightest ahaha. POV shifted clumsily. The narrative moved like a flat line with a few bumps here and there. This contains some of the worst dialogue I've ever read; no one in this book sounded like a human being. The writing was just... writing. This year, I've been trying to do a thing where I begin each review with a quote from the book that I liked, but I can't do that here, because nothing in the writing jumped out at me, and there's just nothing written in this book that I couldn't find written better somewhere else. Moving things happened in this novel, but it was written in such a way that I was not moved in the slightest.
I listened to the audiobook as read by Bahni Turpin, who has an incredible voice and gave a pretty well rounded performance. I'm going to be looking out for more work narrated by her in the future. She only changed her voice slightly for each different character, but it was distinct enough that it really worked. And she did her best with the terrible dialogue, though I can't say she improved upon it much.
This is another book that I wanted to love way more than I actually did.
2.5 stars. (The extra .5 almost SOLELY because I couldn't bear to give this the same rating as I gave that Sue Monk Kidd book. And for the narration of the audiobook.)
warri0rprincess's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. A definite must read. It is a simple, beautiful story of a love fostered and treasured in very difficult circumstances.
mercbubble42's review against another edition
4.0
This was really beautifully written, switching between the perspectives of Mattie and Lisbeth. There were a few parts that made me nervous and were horrifying, not shying away from exposing the horrors of slavery, but that is what made it so truthful and captivating.
cassiesnextchapter's review
4.0
A sweet story of the complex and forbidden love between a slave and the daughter of her owner, Yellow Crocus is tender and honest. Your heart will soar!
"This is as true a story as has ever been told: the story of my love for Mattie, and, I suppose, her love for me in return."
Full Book Review
Quick Synopsis:
Lisbeth, born to a wealthy family in Virginia in 1837, is handed to an enslaved wet nurse right after birth. Through the years, Lisbeth develops a deep love for Mattie that resonates through decades and changes the way she views slavery and her birthright.
My Thoughts... 4.5 stars!
Yellow Crocus is a sweet and simple story of the complex and forbidden love between a slave and the daughter of her owner. Instead of delving too deeply into the actual horrors of slavery (the daily abuses and mistreatments), it focuses instead on the tenderness that can grow in the most unlikely of places. There is, of course, one major (heartbreaking) scene that's enough to resonate throughout the book and sit with you in your memory and heart and remind you WHY slavery is such an atrocity.
Yellow Crocus wonderfully portrays how house slaves were forced to give up their families in favor of raising their slave owner’s children and stay in "The Big House" instead of with their loved ones. The cost of that action is heartbreaking. The yearning that stays with them as they watch from afar as their family lives each day without their mother/daughter/sister is horrendous.
The majority of the book takes place before the start of the Civil War, and sets up the scene perfectly for differing viewpoints and actions that formed the abolitionist movement. It gives just a taste of the myriad problems posed by slavery, and how it was viewed differently to all ages in the North and South.
The thing I loved the most about the book was the heart. Mattie and Lisbeth were fleshed out so well, and really tug at your heart strings. The book tenderly explores the strength of the bond between an enslaved nanny and her white charge. Theirs is a love that grows in the most unlikely of places, endures tests of time and will, and changes so many hearts. I really loved this tender and unflinching story, and would recommend it to everyone who wants to enhance their compassion. Listening on audiobook was an added bonus - the narrator really brought it to life!
"This is as true a story as has ever been told: the story of my love for Mattie, and, I suppose, her love for me in return."
Full Book Review
Quick Synopsis:
Lisbeth, born to a wealthy family in Virginia in 1837, is handed to an enslaved wet nurse right after birth. Through the years, Lisbeth develops a deep love for Mattie that resonates through decades and changes the way she views slavery and her birthright.
My Thoughts... 4.5 stars!
Yellow Crocus is a sweet and simple story of the complex and forbidden love between a slave and the daughter of her owner. Instead of delving too deeply into the actual horrors of slavery (the daily abuses and mistreatments), it focuses instead on the tenderness that can grow in the most unlikely of places. There is, of course, one major (heartbreaking) scene that's enough to resonate throughout the book and sit with you in your memory and heart and remind you WHY slavery is such an atrocity.
Yellow Crocus wonderfully portrays how house slaves were forced to give up their families in favor of raising their slave owner’s children and stay in "The Big House" instead of with their loved ones. The cost of that action is heartbreaking. The yearning that stays with them as they watch from afar as their family lives each day without their mother/daughter/sister is horrendous.
The majority of the book takes place before the start of the Civil War, and sets up the scene perfectly for differing viewpoints and actions that formed the abolitionist movement. It gives just a taste of the myriad problems posed by slavery, and how it was viewed differently to all ages in the North and South.
The thing I loved the most about the book was the heart. Mattie and Lisbeth were fleshed out so well, and really tug at your heart strings. The book tenderly explores the strength of the bond between an enslaved nanny and her white charge. Theirs is a love that grows in the most unlikely of places, endures tests of time and will, and changes so many hearts. I really loved this tender and unflinching story, and would recommend it to everyone who wants to enhance their compassion. Listening on audiobook was an added bonus - the narrator really brought it to life!
susanp's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book about an enslaved wet nurse who had to leave her own baby to nurse a white child. Both heart warming and heart wrenching.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This is about as close to a "bow" book as you can get when the subject matter is slavery.
This is about as close to a "bow" book as you can get when the subject matter is slavery.
mellabella's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It's readable and engaging.
It's a fast read. Maybe too fast to get to know the characters the way you should.
Or maybe it's the way the chapters move by by jumping ahead few years that makes it hard to get to know the characters.
But you get to know enough.
Set during slavery, Mattie becomes Elizabeth's (Lisbeth's) wet nurse, substitute mother, caretaker, and friend.
She has just given birth to a child of her own. But unable to take care of her child, or even see him that often... She becomes attached to her "mistress". Her son is sold away at a young age to a brutal plantation owner. He escapes and Mattie is whipped in his place. After giving birth to another child, she escapes.
What was Mattie's life like after she escaped?
It seemed as good as it can get for free Blacks. But, it would have been nice to get a little more.
The beginning of the book is more Mattie centric. After she escapes, it's mostly from Lisbeth's pov until the end.
It managed to make me care about the characters. Even though you don't know them that well.
I also had other issues. It might have represented the Southern, slave owning high class society the right way. But the brutality and horrors of slavery was not.
It's a fast read. Maybe too fast to get to know the characters the way you should.
Or maybe it's the way the chapters move by by jumping ahead few years that makes it hard to get to know the characters.
But you get to know enough.
Set during slavery, Mattie becomes Elizabeth's (Lisbeth's) wet nurse, substitute mother, caretaker, and friend.
She has just given birth to a child of her own. But unable to take care of her child, or even see him that often... She becomes attached to her "mistress". Her son is sold away at a young age to a brutal plantation owner. He escapes and Mattie is whipped in his place. After giving birth to another child, she escapes.
What was Mattie's life like after she escaped?
It seemed as good as it can get for free Blacks. But, it would have been nice to get a little more.
The beginning of the book is more Mattie centric. After she escapes, it's mostly from Lisbeth's pov until the end.
It managed to make me care about the characters. Even though you don't know them that well.
I also had other issues. It might have represented the Southern, slave owning high class society the right way. But the brutality and horrors of slavery was not.