Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2018

When Hulu announced Washington Black was being released as a series, I picked up my long-overdue copy and quickly immersed myself in the ~350-page novel, eager to see the story come to life on the silver screen. (Sterling K. Brown, hello!)  Written by Esi Edugyan this beautifully-told coming-of-age novel captivated me. The TV adaptation took too many liberties and ultimately fell short of my expectations. This review will focus solely on the historical novel. 

The story begins with the titular character, an 11-year old enslaved field hand, on a Barbados sugar plantation whose life is upended when he is stripped away from all he knows and "given" to the slave master's eccentric brother, Titch, to assist with his scientific endeavors. Titch introduces Washington to the world of science and exploration, and the two develop a bond rooted in humanity. However, when a white man is killed, Washington is unjustly blamed, forcing he and Titch to abscond for his safety. This sets off a whimsical adventure that takes Washington from Barbados to the Arctic to Canada to London and to Morocco where he encounters experiences beyond his wildest imagination. The book explores themes of freedom, identity, belonging and abandonment. 

Edugyan excels at character development, particularly with Washington, who evolves from a frightened young boy into a resourceful young man. The author creates beautiful imagery as Washington embarks on this physical and emotional journey across the globe, all the while struggling to define his identity in a world that constantly seeks to limit him. My only criticism of the plot is the ongoing tension between Washington and Titch. Given the context of slavery, abandonment, and lost family, I found it questionable that Washington's continual quest for Titch would have ensued the span of the entire novel. 

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this story and the adventurous, uplifting spirit with which the author presents it. This is a must-read for anyone interested in history fiction, exploration, science, or simply a wonderfully created tale. It's sure to have you thinking past the final page. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2024

In a League of Her Own is my second read by author Kaia Alderson. I really enjoyed Sister in Arms, and highly anticipated her sophomoric, historical fiction novel. In this story, we learn about Effa Manley, a Black business-minded woman who wanted more for herself than to be someone’s wife or mother. In this, I could relate. The book synopsis teases that she becomes a pivotal figure in the male-dominated industry of baseball and, to date, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Effa Manley the person seems larger than life, but this dramatized retelling of her life fell short for me. 

While the writing is solid, the structure of the novel didn’t flow very well, and I think the reader should have walked away with an appreciation of Manley’s glass-breaking efforts. However, she was presented in a disappointing way. The relationship with her husband was odd, and I’m not sure what value it added to this story. The main character seemed a little self-absorbed and more focused on her name, pride, and reputation than the good of the community. 

I also thought the book would be more focused on her career in the baseball industry, but two-thirds of the story focused on her career in fashion and local civil rights. So, the title almost seems to be a misnomer. Additionally, because the author took so many liberties with the story, additional research is required to determine which parts are fictional and which are historical. 

Recommendation: I did enjoy picking up on some of the cross-over characters from Sisters in Arms, and I do want to know more about Manley’s real life, but perhaps because my expectations were high, this one was a bit of a letdown for me. I think if you know what you’re getting before reading this, it could be a more enjoyable read. I am hopeful this review helps with that. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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All We were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 368 pages
Published: April 2024

All We Were Promised is the debut historical fiction novel by Ashton Lattimore, an award-winning journalist and former lawyer. The book is set during the pre-Civil War era in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and features three female protagonists serving as soldiers for justice: Charlotte, who has escaped slavery with her father, who is hiding in plain sight while his daughter poses as his housemaid; Nell, a well-to-do aspiring abolitionist; and Evie, a freedom-seeking friend from the plantation that Charlotte and her father absconded. All three of these characters' lives collide in Philadelphia where they help each other to make the ideal of freedom a reality because none of us are free unless we are all free (Fannie Lou Hamer). 

The premise of the story is not new. There have been many non-fiction and fiction stories that covered the topic of Black people who knew they did not belong to anyone and fought for something different. Additionally, the phenomenon of passing (e.g., Imitation of Life, Did You Hear about Kitty Karr, and Passing, etc.) is touched on with the relationship between Charlotte and her father. But overall this books is about American's greatest ill - its participation in the transatlantic slave trade. Do we need another book about slavery? Yes, let us continue to tell the stories and learn from history lest we repeat them, especially in today's society when the historical facts are being skewed to pacify those who cannot accept the atrocities that occurred in these United States of America. 

I truly enjoyed reading this story. I think the author did a wonderful job with portraying the horrendous acts of one group of people treating another group of people as property without being overly graphic. Her research into the actual, historical event of the burning of Pennsylvania Hall within days of its grand opening was not only handled well, but was so compelling it enticed me to seek out more about this true event. Lattimore also did a great job of created in-depth characters in Charlotte, Nell, and Evie. She also presented Charlotte's father in such a way that I was truly angry with this fictional character. To me, he was simply a slavemaster of another kind. When a book evokes emotion and provokes action, I tend to label it a good one. 

My only critique was the lack of development of some of the secondary characters and plots - like that of the relationship between Alex and Nell. I would have loved to know more about the Darcel, who befriended Charlotte as well as Irene and Daniel, who she left behind at the plantation and were mentioned by name several times throughout the book but had no fleshed-out back story development. 

Recommendation: This novel had strong themes of justice, grief, and belonging. The ending was a little abrupt, and I feel like there could have been so much more to it. My hope is that Lattimore writes a sequel to All We Were Promised because there are so many promises unfulfilled in this first writing. If she does write a follow-up story, I'll be first in line to get a copy. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 416 pages
Published: May 2023

I did! I heard about Kitty Karr where I hear about a lot of my new reads - from Book of the Month. And I heard from author Crystal Smith Paul as she shared some of her inspiration and research behind the historical fiction novel, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, in Book of the Month's podcast, Virtual Book Tour.  

The premise of this book is an interesting one. Kitty Karr, a white actress from the old Hollywood era dies in 2017 and leaves much of her multi-million dollar fortune to three wealthy Black women (the St. John's) prompting speculation all around even from her benefactors. The story vacillates between Kitty's upbringing in the segregated south to her prosperous Hollywood career as an adult and Elise St. John's present-day life as a celebrity. Throughout this 400+ page novel, the reader learns how the two time periods and lives of those around them are intertwined. 

I had high hopes for this book as it was also part of Modern Mrs. Darcy's Book Club's Summer Reading Guide. I really wanted to like this book, and after listening to Paul on the podcast, I was really invested in how she came up with this plot. I had hoped that some of the history she included was fact rather than fiction. The additional background gave the story more depth, but overall I was underwhelmed. The book simply fell flat to me. There were too many characters that were introduced but not needed, and the book was too long. I think the author could have benefited from heavier editing. She even noted in the podcast that she could have lived with these characters for a long time, and the reader can certainly tell that, making the plot weaker. The ending felt rushed, like perhaps she was meeting a deadline, and I was left feeling largely unsatisfied. 

Recommendation: I think Ms. Paul has potential, and I would give her writing another try. She had an intriguing overarching idea, I think she just needs a tighter execution. This one just didn't quite do it for me. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More