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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this story. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in history.
This was such a wonderful story. I really liked how the characters evolved. I would have liked more, but this was enjoyable.
The story shares an interesting piece of history and the unique way previous slaves searched for their lost loved ones. Many slaves tragically lost family members as they were sold to different people over time. Once freed they wished to be reunited with their families. One way they tried to do so was to pay to have ads written in papers that could be shared by preachers in various states in the hopes that their family or people who knew them could then connect back. I appreciate the author bringing this story to life.
I loved both Hanni, a former slave, and Benny, a teacher and how they persevered through tough times to become stronger people who both helped others. Hanni, as she helped Juneau Jane and Missy, and Benny as she helped her underprivileged students.
Overall, I loved the history of this story. However I wish it had been written in two books... The first book being the story of Hanni, and the second book a sequel to it, with the story of Benny and the connection between the two. In the beginning of this book I actually preferred reading Benny’s story but as time went on I preferred reading Hanni’s story. And had a hard time going back-and-forth between the two. It just didn’t have an easy flow for me. I did enjoy how it was all wrapped up together at the end piecing things together a little bit more.
I think it would make for a great miniseries.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading some of her others.
I loved both Hanni, a former slave, and Benny, a teacher and how they persevered through tough times to become stronger people who both helped others. Hanni, as she helped Juneau Jane and Missy, and Benny as she helped her underprivileged students.
Overall, I loved the history of this story. However I wish it had been written in two books... The first book being the story of Hanni, and the second book a sequel to it, with the story of Benny and the connection between the two. In the beginning of this book I actually preferred reading Benny’s story but as time went on I preferred reading Hanni’s story. And had a hard time going back-and-forth between the two. It just didn’t have an easy flow for me. I did enjoy how it was all wrapped up together at the end piecing things together a little bit more.
I think it would make for a great miniseries.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading some of her others.
Following two different timelines, Lisa Wingate’s historical fiction takes a look at the generational impacts of slavery, but that’s about all it does. Hannie grew up on the Gossett plantation as a sharecropper in the Reconstruction Era South. Benedetta Silva is a modern-day teacher at the school in the town that originally held the Gossett plantation.
Hannie’s storyline follows a quest with the Gossett daughters to set things right in the will of Mr. Gossett, which would have benefits for both Hannie and the daughters. This journey takes them all throughout the South, where they brush with death more times than a reader can count.
Benedetta’s path is one of a new teacher at an underfunded school who is unable to form meaningful connections with her students. In an attempt to link with her students, she sends them on a mission to discover their own personal histories, many of which intertwine with that of the original inhabitants of the Gossett plantation. During this process, she inevitably meets one of the Gossett men and forms a relationship with him, despite knowing the history of his family.
This book was unbelievably, painfully slow. Even when the action struck, it was not enough to pull me in. It honestly felt like this book capitalized off the stories of enslaved people and their “lost” families without engaging in an appropriate discourse about this harsh side of U.S. history. It included excerpts from a real newspaper during this era in which formerly enslaved people wrote to seek out the members of their families which had been separated from them (i.e., “lost”). However, these excerpts seemed to serve little purpose in the overall dialogue, except for the fact that Hannie and the Gossett daughters began it.
Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this book. The storyline failed to take off and the character arcs weren’t impressive enough to keep me engaged.
Hannie’s storyline follows a quest with the Gossett daughters to set things right in the will of Mr. Gossett, which would have benefits for both Hannie and the daughters. This journey takes them all throughout the South, where they brush with death more times than a reader can count.
Benedetta’s path is one of a new teacher at an underfunded school who is unable to form meaningful connections with her students. In an attempt to link with her students, she sends them on a mission to discover their own personal histories, many of which intertwine with that of the original inhabitants of the Gossett plantation. During this process, she inevitably meets one of the Gossett men and forms a relationship with him, despite knowing the history of his family.
This book was unbelievably, painfully slow. Even when the action struck, it was not enough to pull me in. It honestly felt like this book capitalized off the stories of enslaved people and their “lost” families without engaging in an appropriate discourse about this harsh side of U.S. history. It included excerpts from a real newspaper during this era in which formerly enslaved people wrote to seek out the members of their families which had been separated from them (i.e., “lost”). However, these excerpts seemed to serve little purpose in the overall dialogue, except for the fact that Hannie and the Gossett daughters began it.
Overall, I don’t think I would recommend this book. The storyline failed to take off and the character arcs weren’t impressive enough to keep me engaged.
Interesting historical premise. I enjoyed both stories - one took place in 1875, the other in the 80s. They also were tied together nicely at the end. As far as the ending goes - I didn’t like the sudden prestory trauma quickly mentioned about Benny’s life. I felt that was totally unnecessary.
The two storylines within this book are so intriguing on their own, but the way they interweave is magnificent. I was able to gain perspective on our present world by looking back in history of what has come before: the good and the hard. I listened to this book and it was very intriguing to have all of the characters somewhat acted out, so recommend as an audiobook.
Slow start, keep reading. Really picks up around page 150
Wow. Amazing historical fiction, loved how the book went from 1980's to 1880's. I loved the characters and how the two story lines were connected.
A terrible part of American history is woven into a beautiful story of perseverance and grit. Wingate researched the book of lost friends. I was intrigued as I had never heard of it. Hannie is a strong character that will stick with you and you will enjoy her search.
While it did take me a while to get into this book, I was glad that I stuck with it and finished. Without giving spoilers, there was a scene towards the end of the book that literally gave me goosebumps.
While it did take me a while to get into this book, I was glad that I stuck with it and finished. Without giving spoilers, there was a scene towards the end of the book that literally gave me goosebumps.