Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by ashbydodd
Finding Samuel Lowe: China, Jamaica, Harlem by Paula Williams Madison
3.0
Paula Williams Madison is a successful and brilliant woman who seemingly had a great deal to be thankful for, still, she always felt as if a part of her was unknown... missing in a way. Finding Samuel Lowe is the re-telling of her journey to put together a family that had been torn apart by politics, race, and cultural roles.
Samuel Lowe was a Chinese business man who owned a shop in Jamaica back in the 1920's. He fathered a child with a Jamaican woman whom he didn't marry. After battling financial struggles and local politics, Lowe returned to China and left his daughter behind. As a result, his daughter, Paula Williams Madison's mother, grew up cold and hard. Her upbringing played a great role in how she brought up her own children. Her own mother's heritage fascinated Madison and as an adult, that fascination drove her to bring together a part of the family that had seemed lost long ago.
I really enjoyed Madison's story overall and the book was a great account of her journey. Admittedly I knew very little about Jamaica and the mecca that it was back in the 1910's and 1920's. It really was fascinating to read about the diverse cultures and how they both came together and clashed against one another.
While the book was very good, there were moments when I would get lost between the grandmother's story and the mother's story and other times when whatever storyline I was reading couldn't keep my attention. But despite my occasional lack of connection, I would still recommend it for non-fiction readers. It is a remarkable story and one that biography lovers will surely enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads.
Samuel Lowe was a Chinese business man who owned a shop in Jamaica back in the 1920's. He fathered a child with a Jamaican woman whom he didn't marry. After battling financial struggles and local politics, Lowe returned to China and left his daughter behind. As a result, his daughter, Paula Williams Madison's mother, grew up cold and hard. Her upbringing played a great role in how she brought up her own children. Her own mother's heritage fascinated Madison and as an adult, that fascination drove her to bring together a part of the family that had seemed lost long ago.
I really enjoyed Madison's story overall and the book was a great account of her journey. Admittedly I knew very little about Jamaica and the mecca that it was back in the 1910's and 1920's. It really was fascinating to read about the diverse cultures and how they both came together and clashed against one another.
While the book was very good, there were moments when I would get lost between the grandmother's story and the mother's story and other times when whatever storyline I was reading couldn't keep my attention. But despite my occasional lack of connection, I would still recommend it for non-fiction readers. It is a remarkable story and one that biography lovers will surely enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads.