Last month, I blogged about a book entitled, Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Wench is the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression. Check out my article.
We have gotten such a great response for this book...and the praise keeps coming! USA Today just gave Wench an awesome review. Read it right here!
If you haven't read Wench yet, please add this to your reading list. You will NOT be disappointed!
Enjoy!
-Bobby
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Last month, I blogged about a book entitled, Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Wench is the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression. Check out my article.
We received a great review from Jennifer M. Winberry, Principal Librarian, Extension Services, Acquisitions and Programming for the Hunterdon County Library. Here it is:
Set in the decade prior to the American Civil War, Wench tells the story of Lizzie and three other slave women who are brought to Tawawa Resort in Ohio each summer by their masters who have taken these women as their mistresses. Lizzie, from all appearances, and in her own mind, is treated very well, is considered a favored slave on her plantation, and Drayle shows a considerable amount of affection toward her and toward the two children she bore for him. Over the years, Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet have formed a strong summer friendship and are mostly accepting of their roles in life until the summer a fourth woman, Mawu comes into their midst and says the word aloud that until now the others only dared say to themselves: freedom. Dangerous and determined to escape, Mawu sets off a chain of events that brings tragedy to each woman, but that also offers a chance for each woman to change the course of her own destiny, whatever may come. The women will slowly work their way into your mind and heart, especially Lizzie who grows so much over the course of the book, as each searches for her own freedom and the strength to live with her decisions.
-Jennifer M. Winberry
Hunterdon County Library
Many thanks to Jennifer and everyone at the Hunterdon County Library! I hope you add Wench to your reading list.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
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When I was on vacation recently, I had the opportunity to read a fascinating and eye-opening book. Wench, by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (on sale in January 2010) is the story of three female slave mistresses and the friendship they built despite living in a period of oppression. Every summer, slaveholders would take their slave mistresses to a place called “Tawawa House”, a resort in Ohio that had a main building and several cottages where the slave master and slave mistress would co-exist as a couple. It was very well known, yet a very well kept secret.
Wench focuses on three women, Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet, who each year along with their slave masters would reside in Tawawa House. These women built a lasting bond and always looked forward to seeing each other. They were content and enjoyed their time at Tawawa House…they were in short, “happy”…or so they thought. Along comes a fourth slave mistress named Mawu, who rocks their standard way of living and thinking. She also plants the idea of something very forbidden…escape to freedom. When a tragedy strikes the resort, the lives of Lizzie, Reenie and Sweet are never quite the same.
What I appreciated about Wench is the way in which the author really captured the lives and thoughts of these women. Dolen Perkins-Valdez removes their masks and taps into their very soul. It made you see that (in their minds) they confused little liberties with being truly happy and free. While they may have had the ability to read (a skill that slaves were not allowed to have) or didn’t have to do as many chores as the other slaves on the plantation, they were still dehumanized and degraded. In addition, this book really made you feel like you were there in that period of our country’s history, experiencing the highs and many lows in their lives. I could not put this book down.
I am SO excited about this book that I would love to hear your comments. I will send free copies of Wench to the 12 lucky people who send us a comment or an email at librarylovefest at harpercollins dot com. If you would be so kind as to send a brief review of the book, I would greatly appreciate it! I hope you find Wench as revealing and heartbreaking as I have.
Enjoy!
-Bobby
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In March, I wrote about the House at the End of the Road, written by W. Ralph Eubanks, Director of Publishing at the Library of Congress and his search to find the truth about his maternal grandparents; Jim Richardson, a white man and Edna Richardson, a light-skinned black woman. W. Ralph Eubanks will be interviewed by NPR’s Talk of the Nation scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th. Listen in as he discusses the House at the End of the Road and the fascinating journey of discovering his unique racial and cultural identity. For more information, visit:
http://www.npr.org/
-Bobby
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Imagine growing up in a family not knowing the real story of your ancestors. The House at the End of the Road explores one man’s journey of discovering his unique racial and cultural identity.
The House at the End of the Road, takes us back to Prestwick, Alabama in the year 1914. This book tells the story of W. Ralph Eubanks, Director of Publishing at the Library of Congress and his search to find the truth of his maternal grandparents; Jim Richardson, a white man and Edna Richardson, a light-skinned black woman. The House at the End of the Road also brings back memories of a time in our country’s history, where racism was alive and well and racial identity not only divided a family, but also (in some cases) made the difference between life and death.
Check out this video of W. Ralph Eubanks as he talks briefly about his quest.
I was completely captivated by this story. The House at the End of the Road takes you to a time where interracial marriage was not only looked down upon, but was considered illegal. It takes you to a place where who you identified with determined your social class and ultimately your future. On a personal note, I couldn’t help think about my family who lived in a small town very similar to Prestwick, and how they were able to live in a time where just your very existence was considered wrong.
The House at the End of the Road also reveals how Eubanks’ grandparents were able to instill love, tolerance and understanding in their children to prepare them for a world that made them feel as if their love was taboo. These lessons were in turn passed down to the generations that followed. They did an amazing job teaching that love and content of character and should always outweigh any notions of racial identity. I truly hope you add this to your reading list.
-Bobby
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