Scan barcode
A review by africanbookaddict
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
5.0
!!! book blog review: http://africanbookaddict.com/2015/11/18/the-twelve-tribes-of-hattie-by-ayana-mathis/
I bought this in 2014. I didn't even plan to read this during the summer, but the book was smiling at me from my bookshelf, so I started it. From the first page to the last, this has been a good page turner. I honestly do not have any issues with this book, it was an excellent read! I read each chapter as a short story, since each chapter focuses on one of Hattie's 9 children intertwined with Hattie and her husband August's history. Each chapter has its own twists and turns as readers get acquainted with Hatties children and whatever issue they face in life. I believe Mathis concludes each chapter powerfully and with a hint of positivity. Its interesting how all of Hattie's children have such diverse lives and they face real life joy and pain. Yes, Hattie was an unloveable, stern, sometimes cold woman - but I understood and appreciated her.
Nobody in this life is perfect, and this book surely kept nailing that into my head. I don't even think a review can do this book justice - you have to read it for yourself to understand. Its a shame that this book doesn't have great ratings on Goodreads, I don't know what people expected when they chose to read it lol. I'm glad Oprah saw the greatness of this novel, hence peoples' increased interest. Don't get me wrong, the stories are laden with lots of different things: homosexuality, depression, mental illness, colorism, the great migration (from Georgia to Philly), marriage, racism, sickness, pain, cowardice, bravery, Christianity, family... The book takes readers through 4 generations (from 1925 to 1980), so be prepared for a long, powerful ride.
Note: This is an adult fiction book, readers should be 18 years or older to indulge
I bought this in 2014. I didn't even plan to read this during the summer, but the book was smiling at me from my bookshelf, so I started it. From the first page to the last, this has been a good page turner. I honestly do not have any issues with this book, it was an excellent read! I read each chapter as a short story, since each chapter focuses on one of Hattie's 9 children intertwined with Hattie and her husband August's history. Each chapter has its own twists and turns as readers get acquainted with Hatties children and whatever issue they face in life. I believe Mathis concludes each chapter powerfully and with a hint of positivity. Its interesting how all of Hattie's children have such diverse lives and they face real life joy and pain. Yes, Hattie was an unloveable, stern, sometimes cold woman - but I understood and appreciated her.
Nobody in this life is perfect, and this book surely kept nailing that into my head. I don't even think a review can do this book justice - you have to read it for yourself to understand. Its a shame that this book doesn't have great ratings on Goodreads, I don't know what people expected when they chose to read it lol. I'm glad Oprah saw the greatness of this novel, hence peoples' increased interest. Don't get me wrong, the stories are laden with lots of different things: homosexuality, depression, mental illness, colorism, the great migration (from Georgia to Philly), marriage, racism, sickness, pain, cowardice, bravery, Christianity, family... The book takes readers through 4 generations (from 1925 to 1980), so be prepared for a long, powerful ride.
Note: This is an adult fiction book, readers should be 18 years or older to indulge