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blueperbloop 's review for:

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
3.0

I read this because I joined Oprah's Book club and this is the first book they're reading. I kept waiting to be inspired. I never was.

From the way the book is written (each chapter is focused on a different character, usually many years after the chapter/character before it), to just how overall depressing this story is, I just couldn't love it. I wanted to, but I couldn't.

I don't even understand the title. I thought it would end up being about how many children she had...but she only had 11.

I just find it hard to understand or relate to someone who has that many children and can't ever find a moment to smile or laugh. Never finding a moment to be joyful. Then I thought maybe I would get more of an insight into the life that Southern blacks lived in the 1920's. Not so much of that, either...a little...but not enough.

Is the book well-written? Other than the format, yes...it's well written. But, that's really the only good I have to say about it. Would I read it again? Only if I decide that I need to be MORE depressed one day.