An American Story of Lasting Social Consequences
In many ways this book is epic, bringing to mind The Thorn Birds of decades ago. Here's why. It is an ambitious novel that covers a lot of ground under the umbrella of American history, race relations, and social commentary. However, what I liked was that the commentary was not heavy handed but a viable part of the plot. Facts are woven in to the conversations of very believable characters from the early 1900's.
Mr. Pound and Mr. Barclay, for example, are Southern white gentlemen (supposedly gentlemen, by the standards of that era and location) who openly discuss the characteristics of good servants: the poor Irish "often prove surly" while they are sure that "perfectly respectable colored will happily work as a servant." They think nothing of saying this in front of Mr. Barclay's Black cook. Then, Barclay seeks Mamie's confirmation of his opinion. The reader will cringe, sensing Mamie's discomfort and her need to play along with the men's faux intellectual analysis of genetic aptitude.
Much of the book is like that scene. Although told with a third-person narrator, the experiences seem more in alignment with and from the perspective of the servants: Black groundskeeper, Mr. Sitwell, and maid ,Jennie Williams. Their lives intersect for a while during employment at the lavish but struggling Barclay estate. The struggles stem from living beyond one's means as well as Mr. Barclay's gambling debts.
This book's older characters have vague memories of the Underground Railroad, and the plot seamlessly incorporates very realistic portrayals of the struggles of Black Americans to make a decent living as free citizens. Equally realistic is the portrayal of how easy it was in that time period to continue to subjugate humans of different races and income levels.. I recommend this book to adults not because of subject matter or language but because the pacing and writing style seem more like an adult book. I really enjoyed my ARC from Amistad Publishers and BookishFirst.
Mr. Pound and Mr. Barclay, for example, are Southern white gentlemen (supposedly gentlemen, by the standards of that era and location) who openly discuss the characteristics of good servants: the poor Irish "often prove surly" while they are sure that "perfectly respectable colored will happily work as a servant." They think nothing of saying this in front of Mr. Barclay's Black cook. Then, Barclay seeks Mamie's confirmation of his opinion. The reader will cringe, sensing Mamie's discomfort and her need to play along with the men's faux intellectual analysis of genetic aptitude.
Much of the book is like that scene. Although told with a third-person narrator, the experiences seem more in alignment with and from the perspective of the servants: Black groundskeeper, Mr. Sitwell, and maid ,Jennie Williams. Their lives intersect for a while during employment at the lavish but struggling Barclay estate. The struggles stem from living beyond one's means as well as Mr. Barclay's gambling debts.
This book's older characters have vague memories of the Underground Railroad, and the plot seamlessly incorporates very realistic portrayals of the struggles of Black Americans to make a decent living as free citizens. Equally realistic is the portrayal of how easy it was in that time period to continue to subjugate humans of different races and income levels.. I recommend this book to adults not because of subject matter or language but because the pacing and writing style seem more like an adult book. I really enjoyed my ARC from Amistad Publishers and BookishFirst.