![]() ![]() I made Paul, my husband, have a conversation with me about the book cover. I received a copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. The relevance of this story right this very minute in our country should and does give the reader pause to reflect on the continued systematic racism and think about how to move forward. ![]() The story became all the more meaningful when I read in her note at the end of the book that she “drew largely” from Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Texas Narratives, Part 1. ![]() We haven’t learned enough from our history, we need to look deeply in the mirror. In an interview (thanks to my friend Libby for the link to the Library Journal article), Atakora says: “ Stories of slavery in America should be told and told and told. The unfolding story of these secrets as the character’s truths are divulged kept me more than captivated wanting to know Rue’s fate. While the things that happen during “Slaverytime “ are certainly horrific, life in the aftermath of the War is not easy, but reflects the complexity of what freedom meant to the former slaves, left without a “marse”, with decisions to make, with secrets to be kept or not. While Atakora doesn’t continuously dwell on the atrocities, these horrific deeds, there are occurrences of the inhumane treatment - a lynching, a man ordered by his “marse” to whip the woman he loves. It’s not easy to read and why should it be ? It’s about the awful injustice of slavery. Most of the novel is in alternating chapters focusing on Miss May Belle, a healer, a midwife, a conjurer of curses and in the years after the war, on her daughter, Rue as she reluctantly, but necessarily takes on her mother’s work. In this amazing debut, Afia Atakora took me to this plantation, somewhere in the South with a narratives of the time before the Civil War “Slaverytime” and just after, “Freedomtime”. Healing, haints and Hoodoo, slavery, secrets, love and legacies. The ending, though surprising, was just about perfect. Definitely will go on my favorites shelf, and it will take a strong contender to displace this for my favorite of the year. So many things happen in this book, the details, descriptions are incredible, all serve to make this a compulsive read. Their lives during slavery was often beyond terrible and after, the freedom they have still enactes a high cost. War, the slaves stay on at the plantation, now ownerless, and their lives take many twists and turns. The story follows a slave conjuring woman and her daughter Rue, which is also my granddaughters name) and the last mistress of the house Verita. What makes this book so special is that I didn't feel like an observer but was drawn into the story, feeling as if I were a part of what was going to happen. The book covers the period before the Civil War and after. With nary a misstep in plot, tone or character develop, Atakora takes us to a slave holding plantation in the South. This is another book that I would place in that class, another never to be forgotten story. Many years back I read a book, The Healing, that made a huge impression and a book I have never forgotten. My first five star book of the year and a first novel to boot. And now she knows she must face her fears – and her ghosts – to find a new way forward for herself and her people.Ĭonjure Women is a story of the lengths we’ll go to save the ones we love, from a stunning new voice in fiction. It has shaped her life and her mother’s before her. What secrets does she keep amidst the charred remains of the Big House? Which spells has she conjured to threaten their children? And why is she so wary of the charismatic preacher man who promises to save them all? When sickness sweeps across her tight-knit community, Rue finds herself the focus of suspicion. But this new world brings new dangers, and Rue’s old magic may be no match for them. Times have changed since her mother Miss May Belle held the power to influence the life and death of her fellow slaves. The other is that Miss Rue – midwife, healer, crafter of curses – will know what to do.īut for once Rue doesn’t know. That’s one thing the people on the old plantation are sure of. The pale-skinned, black-eyed baby is a bad omen. ![]()
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