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A review by breezerm
Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
3.0
As soon as I read the synopsis for this book, I knew it would be a must read. I was able to receive a digital ARC copy through Netgalley and read it immediately! I have to stress how much I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but I didn't feel that it would have been honest feedback.
The fictionalized story told that is based on real-life Josephine (Jo) N. Leary who was born into slavery and after emancipation became an incredibly successful businesswoman and real estate mogul is a powerful and important one shining a light on an amazing Black woman in a time when neither being Black nor being a woman was looked at as being worthy or equal to men. Jo's story is one that most of us have never heard (including myself), and absolutely learned from and are better for having read it.
That being said - I did not love the writing in this book, nor the execution of the delivery. The dialogue felt flat, and although I am glad we covered so much of Jo's life, it was almost too much for this short book. The book opens and we meet her in the year 1870 and we leave her in 1894 - and nearly every year is covered in between. While I understand there was something important happening seemingly each year - it created a book full if tiny snippets without real substance. We would come upon an issue or an event, be introduced to it in short order, and left without much depth in explanation or story.
In the end, I can appreciate what the author Kianna Alexander was trying to do, and to a degree it was effective because I did learn and I was moved - but I almost feel like the fictionalization of this story did not serve Josephine Leary in the way a straight up biography may well have. I wish I could give this 3.5 stars but I wouldn't feel right giving it 4. I enjoyed it overall, I am so glad that I read it, and I would recommend it, but with the caveats mentioned above. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this free copy in exchange for my honest review!
The fictionalized story told that is based on real-life Josephine (Jo) N. Leary who was born into slavery and after emancipation became an incredibly successful businesswoman and real estate mogul is a powerful and important one shining a light on an amazing Black woman in a time when neither being Black nor being a woman was looked at as being worthy or equal to men. Jo's story is one that most of us have never heard (including myself), and absolutely learned from and are better for having read it.
That being said - I did not love the writing in this book, nor the execution of the delivery. The dialogue felt flat, and although I am glad we covered so much of Jo's life, it was almost too much for this short book. The book opens and we meet her in the year 1870 and we leave her in 1894 - and nearly every year is covered in between. While I understand there was something important happening seemingly each year - it created a book full if tiny snippets without real substance. We would come upon an issue or an event, be introduced to it in short order, and left without much depth in explanation or story.
In the end, I can appreciate what the author Kianna Alexander was trying to do, and to a degree it was effective because I did learn and I was moved - but I almost feel like the fictionalization of this story did not serve Josephine Leary in the way a straight up biography may well have. I wish I could give this 3.5 stars but I wouldn't feel right giving it 4. I enjoyed it overall, I am so glad that I read it, and I would recommend it, but with the caveats mentioned above. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this free copy in exchange for my honest review!