Five-year-old Clara Bynum is dead, drowned in the Potomac River in the shadow of a seemingly haunted rock outcropping known locally as the Three Si...
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Jan 03, 2010
Margaret
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An interesting family & neighborhood history of Black Georgetown USA in 1925 - racism - segregation etc. Johnnie Mae(10) is responsible for her sister Clara (5) - while Johnnie and friends are swimming in the forbidden Potomac -Clara who was left sitting on a rock drowns. Johnnie Mae doesn't know if she drowned her or let her drown or if she just fell off the rock. Lovely pages about the black church's funeral and all the wisdom of family friends. For instance: the first sentence reads, "
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Nov 19, 2009
Tony
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The first thing to know about this book is that it basically has no plot -- it's more a series of loosely connected vignettes that, when taken as whole, combine to give the reader an impression of African-American life in the 1920s in a particular neighborhood in Washington, D.C. So, while the book does open with a beautifully rendered chapter in which the 12-year-old protagonist's sister drowns in the Potomac river, that tragedy doesn't lead to the kind of linear story with clear resolution man
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Jan 28, 2010
Maya
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I almost gave River, Cross My Heart one star, but decided that since I actually bothered to finish it, it deserved more than that.
The book is about the impact of a little girl's drowning on her family, notably her big sister. It's a bit like a coming of age story, we follow the big sister through her preteen years and see how the family deals with the loss of their youngest daughter as well as the surviving daughter's changing ways.
The idea seemed like it could work, but More...
The book is about the impact of a little girl's drowning on her family, notably her big sister. It's a bit like a coming of age story, we follow the big sister through her preteen years and see how the family deals with the loss of their youngest daughter as well as the surviving daughter's changing ways.
The idea seemed like it could work, but More...
Nov 14, 2010
Victoria
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 18, 2011
J
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(FROM JACKET)Six-year-old Clara Bynum is dead, drowned in the Potomac River in the shadow of an apparently haunted rock outcropping known locally as the Three Sisters.
In scenes alive with emotional truth, "River, Cross My Heart" weighs the effect of Clara's absence on the people she has left behind: her parents, Alice and Willie Bynum, torn between the old world of their rural North Carolina home and the new world of the city, to which they have moved in search of a better life f More...
In scenes alive with emotional truth, "River, Cross My Heart" weighs the effect of Clara's absence on the people she has left behind: her parents, Alice and Willie Bynum, torn between the old world of their rural North Carolina home and the new world of the city, to which they have moved in search of a better life f More...
Oct 27, 2009
Holly
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I just couldn't get into River Cross My Heart. The story opens with the tragic death of a young girl, and the following plot always comes back to that scene, and how a family and neighborhood are changed because of the death. I don't know if it is because the reader doesn't know the character that passes away, but because there were so few details I couldn't sympathize with any of the characters, but rather felt that I was reading the news.
Breena Clarke writes beautifully about 1920 More...
Breena Clarke writes beautifully about 1920 More...
Jan 28, 2011
Kristin
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River, Cross My Heart is the story of Johnnie Mae, a young black girl living in Georgetown in the early twentieth century. The book begins with the accidental drowning death of her younger sister Clara and continues through the next year. There really isn't much of a plot, it simply explores the continuation of the lives of those who lose someone they love.
The book was quite engaging and I loved the beautiful lyrical prose. Although the story largely follows Johnnie Mae in the aftermat More...
The book was quite engaging and I loved the beautiful lyrical prose. Although the story largely follows Johnnie Mae in the aftermat More...
Mar 12, 2011
Dyana
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This book is more of a character study with profound insights than one with a plot. Eight-year old Clara Bynum accidentally drowns in the Potomac River. Her twelve-year old sister Johnnie Mae, an excellent swimmer, was supposed to be watching her and tries repeatedly to find her under the murky water. The story is about the effect Clara's death has on family and friends and especially Johnnie Mae - a coming-of-age story. There are also entertaining descriptions of other people who live in th
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Feb 05, 2009
Chana
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There were parts of this book that I thought were great and parts I really didn't get. I loved all the history of black Georgetown. It was so well-written that you felt like you were practically there. What I didn't understand were the malevolent forces in the river (2nd book I've read this year with this theme and it is only Feb. Creepy!) nor did I understand the incident with the hot water and then the very bizarre ending. I had to conclude that Johnnie Mae was ill since her sister's deat
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Dec 10, 2010
Charlotte
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If you haven't read this book, don't bother. I don't think it has one redeeming quality. Its written as if the author asked 30 people what Georgetown was like for African Americans in the 1920's and then felt obligated to add every detail to the book. There are parts of the book that are completely disjointed from the story line and make no sense as to why they are included in the novel. Even the vocabulary is odd. Like most of the Oprah books, its written in an African American dialect- mo
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Nov 15, 2009
Breena Clarke has presented a very good re-enactment of a time in history that has mostly been presented only in a negative and less than favorable light. She does not over simplify, or negate the hardships of slavery, but presents that time in history in a framework of hope. In Stand the Storm, Clarke takes invites the reader to take the journey to freedom with the Coats family. I was especially pleased to see that the Coats' were skilled in the field of textiles.
Take a journey of hope wi More...
Take a journey of hope wi More...
Jul 08, 2008
Mary
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The star of this book was the setting, 1920's Georgetown, in Washington DC which was a segregated African-American neighborhood in those days. The author pictured well-maintained houses and peaceful, orderly neighborhoods populated by people who at least gave each other the respect and deference denied to them by the outside world. The routineness and viciousness of the racism of the outside world were shocking. The book lets you feel what it is like to live in a world where every single thin
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Apr 04, 2011
Linda
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This Oprah book is about a family where one little girl drowns in the Potomac while the other older sister was suppose to be watching her. The family is African American and live in Georgetown in D.C. It is interesting to read about the different types of black families and the social codes and watch points amongst the African American society at the time (1920's). The guilt of the sister and the sorrow and anger in the mother is spread out to see. A fast read.
Dec 10, 2009
Susan
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You could almost taste the water of the Potomac River. I did learn The Three Sisters rock formation actually does actually exist in the Potomac and that is the setting for the drowning which happens in the first chapter of the book. In contrast to my last book read, The Help, this settting is Georgetown, Washington DC in the 20's, but all the female charaters are The Help once again. Blacks were flocking to Georgetown to escape the south and this book doesn't dwell on the race issue as much as
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Oct 18, 2011
Jane
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A "coming of age" novel for a young girl faced with the death of her young sister Clara...she was responsible for taking care of her when it happens. I like this book because it combines historical elements with psychological elements. I've read some of the reviews and am a little surprised by those who give it only three stars or less. I read it slowly and enjoyed listening to the inner voice of Johnny Mae.
May 17, 2011
Heather
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 02, 2009
Katie
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Let me preface...I didn't read this because it was an Oprah Book Club book....having said that...it was really good. It was one of those books that is really well written, not a lot happens, can't wait to get back to it, have a hard time understanding while you're drawn in kind of book. I would recommend it if you like books with African-American stories.
Jan 23, 2009
Kim
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It was OK. I should know better, I rarely like the books that are part of the Oprah Book Club (no offense Oprah). But some of them sound really good so I give them a shot and then I'm disappointed. I felt the plot in this book wasn't developed very well but it did give a good feel for life after emancipation but before equal rights was like.
Jul 29, 2011
Maria
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There were parts of this book that I loved and others that were just barely OK. It was a compelling story of a black family in 1920's Georgetown. It's a time and place that was interesting to read about. The writing was a bit uneven and so I wasn't drawn in by the story as much as I expected to be. I'd probably give it 2.5 stars.
Sep 24, 2009
Dianne
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The story is about the impact on a community of a young girl drowning. But the larger story is about the black community at Georgetown in 1925. Fascinating glimpse into a part of history I knew nothing about. Good writing, terrific characters, overall upbeat novel, in spite of the tragedy involved. Highly recommend.
Jan 27, 2009
Jan
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This book was pure poetry. I had to re-read many of Clarke's beautifully scripted prose, as I wanted to hear them in my head again.
This details the lives of a black family in the early 1920's and the prejudice and social climate in which they exist. It was tender and taught me much about this era.
This details the lives of a black family in the early 1920's and the prejudice and social climate in which they exist. It was tender and taught me much about this era.
Mar 18, 2009
Cara
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I vaguely remember this book. When I finished it, I do remember thinking that it was a pretty boring read. I gave it two stars because it obviously wasn't bad enough for me to stop reading it... After reading this, I wrote off any book that was an Oprah selection for a very long time.
Apr 10, 2009
Mary
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Strong Women that hold their community together.
Johnnie Mae is Spunky and keeps her beloved Clara's spirit alive - I love that
Ella uses holistic healing - wish I could study that more.
Alice, Ina, & I share a sisterhood kindred spirit of caring for their family & friends.
Johnnie Mae is Spunky and keeps her beloved Clara's spirit alive - I love that
Ella uses holistic healing - wish I could study that more.
Alice, Ina, & I share a sisterhood kindred spirit of caring for their family & friends.
Oct 27, 2009
Carla
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A little slow at points, but a good story of how a family and community are affected by grief. The author did an amazing job of making African-American Georgetown in the 1920's a character unto itself. It was really interesting to learn about Georgetown from that era and match it with the reality of what Georgetown has become today.
Jan 09, 2011
Mary
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Loved this novel for its depiction of African American lives during the 1930s in Georgetown. Though the story was sad and reflective about issues of segregation, ultimately the main character triumphs.
Apr 29, 2009
Christi
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This was a good book. The lives of the characters were illuminating but at times the characters seemed only partially formed. That didn't detract from the telling of the story, just left me wanting more.
Jul 27, 2009
Molly
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This book had believable characters who really develop and deepen following a tragic accident. I liked the role water and swimming played in the novel, mostly because I'm such a water baby myself...
Oct 08, 2010
Denise
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I would call this a "slice of life" piece. Not big on plot, but interesting and well written. Lack of a strong ending kind of let me down, because it really is just that--"a slice of life."
Sep 06, 2010
Mindy
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I liked this book. it was a sweet cute read about a little girl growing up in a time in the South when blacks were given more freedoms. A great book for a quick read on a summer afternoon.
Sep 15, 2011
Joan
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This is a debut novel about a black community and young girl growing up in the 1920s. The language and attitudes are interesting. It was a bit slow and not much plot,
