From the Bookshelf of Reading List 2009…
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What Members Thought
There is much to admire in this tiny little book. It is an ambitious novel tackling large issues (of race, sexuality, and family) with a certain subtle grace. I loved the use of multiple voices, and felt (for the most part) that each of these voices was authentic and resonant. Some of the language is simply lovely...and I was absolutely captivated by the chapters in which we hear Rachel as a child. I think the chapters in which Rachel is an adolescent, however, were a little less credible in ter
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It says a lot that this debut novel has already won The Bellwether Prize (an award for literary fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships). It says a lot that Durrow is being compared to Toni Morrison, Nella Larsen and the early Langston Hughes. What can't be said until you read it for yourself is how deeply the reader will grow to care for Rachel, the lone survivor of her mother's attempted murder/suicide (her brother and baby
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Rachel survives the tragic accident that kills her two siblings and mother in Chicago and moves to Portland, Oregon, to live with her grandmother and Aunt Loretta. As she becomes a teen she starts to question her identity as she is the child of a Danish mother and an African American solider [the author is of mixed racial heritage:] and tries to get answers by investigating exactly what happened on the fateful day. The story is told from three viewpoints, a boy who witnessed the accident and vow
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I enjoyed this book a lot, even though it took me a while to get into it. It is a very unique story with character who are worthy of a deeper look. I felt a little like this was more a shell of a book that needed a bit more filling in. But what there is is worth reading.
Probably my biggest gripe is that I had difficulty placing it in time. I am quite sure that it takes place in the early to mid 1980's, but there are phrases that are used by the characters that don't seem 80's to me, but more 90' ...more
Probably my biggest gripe is that I had difficulty placing it in time. I am quite sure that it takes place in the early to mid 1980's, but there are phrases that are used by the characters that don't seem 80's to me, but more 90' ...more
Beautiful book. It took me by surprise. I read it in two days.
Feb 24, 2010
Julie
marked it as to-read
Dec 29, 2010
Juliann
marked it as to-read
