Let the Lion Eat Straw

by Ellease Southerland

'A family saga packed with birth, death, madness, rape, poverty; success - yet all in 180 pages of concise, poetically simple prose... a novel often.beautiful, always worthy of respect' Harriett Gilbert, Time Out. - Abeba Williams Lavoisier was born poor, black and illegitimate in America's rural South and grew up in Brooklyn. She was bright and pretty and her exceptional musical talent promised one avenue of escape, but her life proved to be a hard one, beset with disappointments, injustice and violence. Only through determination and sheer resilience of spirit would she be able to carve out a decent life for herself and her family. This is a moving and triumphant novel, written in rich, poetic prose that flows irresistibly on the cadences of black speech and gospel rhythms.- This book is a miracle... As a debut it is astounding; as an achievement it is even more so' Bernard Levin, Sunday Times.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Cheryl Durham]

This book was opened and predicated on the scripture Isaiah 11:6-8. Ellease Southerland penned a fantastic work that highlights the peaceful as well as tumultuous relationships that can exist in families and the efforts undertaken to making it bearable. This dichotomy is illustrated from start to finish. For example, the main character, Abeba is raised by a midwife up to the age of five and then her mother returns for her. She has the memories of NC and the midwife, Mama Habblesham, to sustain her while she attempts to navigate her life in NY (with her NY mom).

Abeba's life in NY affords her love from a stepfather, opportunity via of academics and it also introduces her to a life of music (doors that would most surely wouldn't have existed in NC). But, it has also robs her of an innocence (sporadic and a questionable relationship with her mother and incest by her paternal uncle). Both of these things would eat at her for some time. She eventually stood up to the uncle. She made the decision not to rock the boat with her mother...she wanted to really understand her.

Through it all, she excels, graduates and eventually marries (throwing away the opportunity to attend Julliard). Her early marriage is marred by manipulation from her mother (didn't think the man she married was good enough for her and that Abeba owed her obedience for birthing her), moved from NY to FL (family home of her husband) and loved and supported him while he battled mental illness (which was not revealed to her until the move to FL).

They would birth 15 babies...move back to NY...open a bakery...start a church...utilize her skills to whet the appetite of the community (music and the arts). Abeba's life would be cut short due to cancer. Her life is continued through not only her husband, but her children, her mother, the people she touched and the community in which she lived.

As in the beginning, so it was at the end: Abeba touched many lives...and so do we all. Southerland highlighted that although we are are a product of our birth....we are also a product of our choices. While we are here...we are "affected" by people and circumstances but we also get to "effect" people and circumstances. While we are living conflict, pain and death will always occur....but at the time of transition...fellowship can be peaceful.

[Wendy W]

I learned more than I can say.. sadness, melancholy, gratefulness to not have suffered such abuse.. very encouraging book for anyone stuck in despair.

[Patty]

This short novel has a very sparse writing style. It is the life history of Abeba, a strong-willed girl and woman, her suffering and joy.

[Brad Erickson]

The writing style was awful and the story ho-hum.

[Patricia]

Lyrical, style similar to Maya Angelou. Writing style sometimes hard to follow... a satisfying ending.

[Lauren]

I read this many years ago, finding it again was like visiting an old friend.

[Thankful Reader]

There were a number of times I wanted to put this book down or even throw it in the trash, but eventually I fell in love with this book. It was a painful & trying love, but in the end I fell in love. The sentence structure was difficult for me to become comfortable with. It was not until I decided to view the writing style as a stream of consciousness that I was able to relax into the words. Early on, I had trouble accepting the direction the novel was taking. As I continued to read, I realized the author could have gone into so many different directions with this novel. I would have loved to have known more about Mamma Habblesham's life and gifts. I would have liked for Angela to be more loving & her husband to continue living. Daniel's character challenged me the most, but in the end I came to respect him. Abeba! Ah, Abeba, initially, and throughout the book, I was not sure if she was choosing her life consciously, but by the end of the book I knew all was well with her soul.

[Blanca]

Beautiful book. When I was younger, during the summers, my mom would drop me off at the library for a couple of hours to break me away from watching Batman reruns and General Hospital all day.

Not really familiar with the mysteries of the Dewey Decimal System, I would roam the aisles looking at spines of books and read titles. Mistaking Let the Lion Eat Straw for a young adult title b/c it was a large print edition, I stumbled upon a lyrical and highly visual narrative history of Abeba Williams, a poor North Carolina child in the care of her grandmother who comes of age in bitter Brooklyn and strays off a path of promise and talent finding herself a mother of over a dozen children and discovers infatuation doesn't translate into love, much less a partnership with a demanding husband.

Apparently, this book was out of print for a while until a the new publisher decided to reprint it for audiences to discover.

An all-time favorite to be re-read.

[Laila]

This started out really strong for me but really lost its way at about the midpoint. I loved the scene with Abeba with her wonderful stepfather pantomiming the meaning of all the musical terms she was learning, it was so touching. The book went downhill after he died. It also got really tired when the author would switch to this, I don't know, lyrical style of writing? Here's an example.

She thought. Of that tiny room. September night. The Reader. She had cried herself sick. Fainted. Found herself surrounded by white. Hospital. Daniel and his brothers came. Sang in wide country voices, softly at her bed. Helped bring her home, when she was better. Helped out with chores. Cooked. Had supper waiting for Angela when she got home. Folded napkin on the table. Glass of water.

Jesus Christ, typing that was more tedious than reading it. It went on and on like that, then there would be an awkward switch to a more traditional style. I think this would have been a lot better as a short story.

[Yn]

I did not mind the writing style of this novel, but I really did not feel like I learned that much from it either. I felt the story was lacking in something. I'm not sure if it's the depth of the pain, and/or happiness, that should have come with her experiences that was missing; or if it was just a connection to the character was missing. Perhaps it's just that I felt my connection to this character numb in conjunction to her numbing to the pain in the world around her.

[Samara]

We were skillfully led on a journey of love, current events, family relationships and the Bible. Let The Lion Eat Straw is a brilliant analysis of personal experiences that take place in the author's life

[Shari]

Abeba Williams is abandoned by her mother only to be reunited 8 years later when she comes to take her “home” to NYC. She is a musical protege but forsakes Julliard to marry a singing preacher who steal her heart – together they have and raise 15 children. Interesting.

[Cassandra Hawkins]

This easy to read novel has meaning etched gently on each page and in every action. From the beginning to the end, you see the struggle of a family, who keeps moving and stand strong, while never giving up on each other. I truly enjoyed this book.

[Renee Davis-Henderson]

I think this book was brilliant. The author is a poet as well so sometimes chapters feel like long bits of prose. It’s a profound story about the uncertainty yet, certainty…? of life. The story moves fast but somehow is detailed enough to completely capture the reader.

[Martha]

Poignant story of a young African-American girl left with her grandmother for years, then later reclaimed by her mother for an unloving home in the North.

[Sherese]

This book is hella depressing.

[ohradiogirl]

Wow, such a powerfully written book. Often there were very few words, but the words chosen said so much. The writing was remarkable.

[Anta]

This book is sad and depressing.

[Gina]

Read in a few hours. Compelling story. Very sad, as indicated in other reviews. Well written.

[Marilyn]

rounded from 3.5