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divineblkpearl's Reviews (732)
My FAVORITE Beverly Jenkins book! I finished it in three sittings. If you're a fan of the romance genre and of seeing black folk in love in historical settings, you should check out Beverly's work.
This particular work was more interesting because the heroine Eddy is one of my favorites of her books. The circumstances she finds herself in :being robbed and swindled and like all the black women I know in my family rising back up the occasion and dealing with life and making a way. Eddy is headstrong and a hard worker. She's a dreamer and not easily wooed.
And the love interest, Rhine? Actually a son of a African slave woman her slave master. (I know, I know but bear with me) He's a biracial person who is passing for white, looking for his also sister, Sable who is of the same parentage. He's a man of wealth who supports the Black ("Colored") community in his town and baffles the white side of town but they have no say so on where he puts his money.
It's a great analysis of not only what a black woman would be thinking of, traveling to and working as (occupation wise) at this point of history in time in the late 1870s. It's a portrait of a women born of two freed slaves and what her hopes and dreams would be. It's a reveal of a woman who had to earn her own and support a sibling at the previous age of 12.
It's also a great analysis of a biracial person living in this time period. While not Beverly's first biracial fictional character, Rhine passes for white and learns to navigate society using his white privilege. The turning point in the novel where he fully embraced his blackness is a interesting one and an eye opener on white society treats you once leaned that you are in fact, not a white man.
Overall, this novel felt genuine to me. Eddy was a very cautious Black woman because as she knew what even the gossip about her and a white man could mean. Eddy always worked for her own and didn't wait for others to get the job done.
Whether or not you like Rhine, he's a man who never forgot about black people in general (going forth to buy land and help jumpstart black businesses in town because he knew they weren't going to get help and 2) did his best to protect Eddy (well...mostly)
This particular work was more interesting because the heroine Eddy is one of my favorites of her books. The circumstances she finds herself in :being robbed and swindled and like all the black women I know in my family rising back up the occasion and dealing with life and making a way. Eddy is headstrong and a hard worker. She's a dreamer and not easily wooed.
And the love interest, Rhine? Actually a son of a African slave woman her slave master. (I know, I know but bear with me) He's a biracial person who is passing for white, looking for his also sister, Sable who is of the same parentage. He's a man of wealth who supports the Black ("Colored") community in his town and baffles the white side of town but they have no say so on where he puts his money.
It's a great analysis of not only what a black woman would be thinking of, traveling to and working as (occupation wise) at this point of history in time in the late 1870s. It's a portrait of a women born of two freed slaves and what her hopes and dreams would be. It's a reveal of a woman who had to earn her own and support a sibling at the previous age of 12.
It's also a great analysis of a biracial person living in this time period. While not Beverly's first biracial fictional character, Rhine passes for white and learns to navigate society using his white privilege. The turning point in the novel where he fully embraced his blackness is a interesting one and an eye opener on white society treats you once leaned that you are in fact, not a white man.
Overall, this novel felt genuine to me. Eddy was a very cautious Black woman because as she knew what even the gossip about her and a white man could mean. Eddy always worked for her own and didn't wait for others to get the job done.
Whether or not you like Rhine, he's a man who never forgot about black people in general (going forth to buy land and help jumpstart black businesses in town because he knew they weren't going to get help and 2) did his best to protect Eddy (well...mostly)
3 Stars for comic book adventures of one of my favorite doctors (the likeness is on point)! I loved the companion Gabby who is a WOC, (Latina) and a central storyline that doesn't exclude her or erase her in the grand scheme of things. She contributes. She inspires. She helps save the day. The later story arc was a bit confusing to follow but overall, a decent read!
Looking for a YA novel to read? Looking for a book that is the epitome of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag? Looking for a title that includes brown folks, magic, adventure, danger that is also a coming of age story? Look no further! Author Tristan J. Tarwater has crafted a tale of young Azria, a young teenage mage who like, all young people is anticipating her future--she's on the cusps of becoming an adult in the land that she's grown up in and is ever anxious to begin it. She's also been waiting for her mother, a woman many brand as a pirate, mostly absent from her life for ten or so years with visits her and there to come back and bring her along to a new life on the sea.
Goodness, I LOVE THIS BOOK! Azria enters a world with a tragedy involving her family that has shaped the world as everyone knows it. She gets sucked into a world where there is magic beyond her wildest dreams--magic that can move mountains and deal fatal blows. Azria finds that the world is bigger than she had ever thought and she has a place in it if only she be bold and step up to the challenge. From the first chapter, Tarwater paints a descriptive tale where you can almost smell the seawater from the beach's dock, taste the five spice stew and crab salad, reach out and grab out and hold the heavy gold coins falling out the treasure chest. The pacing works-there's never a chapter that feels too drawn out. The cast of major and minor characters all feel familiar, like family and there's never a dull moment with them.
Lastly, Hen & Chick is a beautiful ode to mother and daughter relationships; too often in the fiction setting, especially the fantasy genre, main characters are orphaned or have their mother pass away tragically in their youth. (Another variation is that the hero leaves home to find their long lost father.) The mother in most of these stories is dead or gone. Here Azria starts off this tale with a longing for her mother Apzana , when she is reunited with her, it's shaky ground. Along the way as Azria is finding her way, becoming more than she ever thought, dreamed possible--the relationship with her mother is ever changing and it is a treat to read and be along for the ride for. Buy this book! Book your passage on the Hen & Chick ship and stay a while, I know you'll enjoy the ride.
Goodness, I LOVE THIS BOOK! Azria enters a world with a tragedy involving her family that has shaped the world as everyone knows it. She gets sucked into a world where there is magic beyond her wildest dreams--magic that can move mountains and deal fatal blows. Azria finds that the world is bigger than she had ever thought and she has a place in it if only she be bold and step up to the challenge. From the first chapter, Tarwater paints a descriptive tale where you can almost smell the seawater from the beach's dock, taste the five spice stew and crab salad, reach out and grab out and hold the heavy gold coins falling out the treasure chest. The pacing works-there's never a chapter that feels too drawn out. The cast of major and minor characters all feel familiar, like family and there's never a dull moment with them.
Lastly, Hen & Chick is a beautiful ode to mother and daughter relationships; too often in the fiction setting, especially the fantasy genre, main characters are orphaned or have their mother pass away tragically in their youth. (Another variation is that the hero leaves home to find their long lost father.) The mother in most of these stories is dead or gone. Here Azria starts off this tale with a longing for her mother Apzana , when she is reunited with her, it's shaky ground. Along the way as Azria is finding her way, becoming more than she ever thought, dreamed possible--the relationship with her mother is ever changing and it is a treat to read and be along for the ride for. Buy this book! Book your passage on the Hen & Chick ship and stay a while, I know you'll enjoy the ride.
Major Spoilers Ahead. But some very slight ones as this is a Advanced Review from www.blacknerdproblems.com:
Monstress #1, Oh I have been waiting. I have been waiting for you.
The very first page of the book also gives us the first visual that we see of our main character. She is a woman. She is tattooed, possibly branded or marked in some fashion. She is an amputee, missing an arm below where her elbow would be. One could assume that she’s disabled. Weaker. She is chained, a collar attached to a chain which reaches off page somewhere. Not a good sign.
She is naked, where one would assume that she’s vulnerable. One could assume that this leaves her in a position at the mercy of others especially because of her sex. First page in, I am immediately uncomfortable and very worried for our female protagonist. I am internally cringing. I am holding my breathe unknowingly. Then I look back up to see the expression on her face. It’s a blank slate. All but for those eyes.
Those blazing eyes that are narrowly looking out. Almost bored? Defiant. Then I take notice of the entire image again: her posture is straight? She doesn’t cower or try to cover up for modesty’s sake? She stands tall. Well, as tall as she can with what looks like a whip at her chin probably in an attempt to make her face up and forward for whatever crowd that’s gathered to bid gold on her and what ever unfortunate souls that happen to also be in chains.
Who is she and just what I am reading?!
Read more of my advanced review here:
http://blacknerdproblems.com/advance-review-monstress-1/
Monstress #1, Oh I have been waiting. I have been waiting for you.
The very first page of the book also gives us the first visual that we see of our main character. She is a woman. She is tattooed, possibly branded or marked in some fashion. She is an amputee, missing an arm below where her elbow would be. One could assume that she’s disabled. Weaker. She is chained, a collar attached to a chain which reaches off page somewhere. Not a good sign.
She is naked, where one would assume that she’s vulnerable. One could assume that this leaves her in a position at the mercy of others especially because of her sex. First page in, I am immediately uncomfortable and very worried for our female protagonist. I am internally cringing. I am holding my breathe unknowingly. Then I look back up to see the expression on her face. It’s a blank slate. All but for those eyes.
Those blazing eyes that are narrowly looking out. Almost bored? Defiant. Then I take notice of the entire image again: her posture is straight? She doesn’t cower or try to cover up for modesty’s sake? She stands tall. Well, as tall as she can with what looks like a whip at her chin probably in an attempt to make her face up and forward for whatever crowd that’s gathered to bid gold on her and what ever unfortunate souls that happen to also be in chains.
Who is she and just what I am reading?!
Read more of my advanced review here:
http://blacknerdproblems.com/advance-review-monstress-1/
