This novel, set around a century ago, deals with too many issues that are still too relevant: race, class, police violence, xenophobia, and sexism. Mr. Sitwell and Jennie are servants for a white middle class family whose fortunes are on the decline. When an investor offers to mass produce a barbecue sauce Mr. Sitwell created with his caricatured image on the bottle, it sets in motion a chain of violent events that seem both random and inevitable. A decade later, the story follows Jennie who is now a business owner and budding entrepreneur. But she finds her attempts to mass market a salve she created stymied by the shadow of her brief working relationship with Mr. Sitwell, who is now known as The Rib King.
This story was thought-provoking but I said some issues with pacing (a too slow beginning, a great middle, and a hasty conclusion.) I loved the character of Jennie from the jump though, and I did overall enjoy the book.
This story was thought-provoking but I said some issues with pacing (a too slow beginning, a great middle, and a hasty conclusion.) I loved the character of Jennie from the jump though, and I did overall enjoy the book.