Slave Graves supports an interesting, well-constructed plot. The ...
584994
Slave Graves supports an interesting, well-constructed plot. The characters became more three-dimensional as the story unfolds, and by the end of the book, they become fully understood by the reader.
  I found the lengthy narrative/descriptive passages slowed the action until the last few chapters when it exploded with breath-holding tension. More archaeological details than necessary can confuse the novice.
  However, that said, I feel this story has the potential for a riveting movie version! Its the stuff suspense is made of when real life comes smack up against the dark past.
4479840
The plot does a nice job of interweaving fact and fiction while racing to its conclusion (sorry folks - no clues here).  If you enjoy historical fiction and action, you'll enjoy this book.
3281716
Provided a good mix of history and character development.  Transposing chapters from the two main characters viewpoints made for interesting plot growth through a large timespan. I was very pleased to read that the Grimke sisters were true abolitionists and early champions for human rights.
624951
3.5 Stars rounded up

Opening at Lincolns assassination, we meet Meda, a young black woman in labor and the midwifes assistant, Sylvia, a young white woman.  When the child is taken from Meda by the father, and he orders that she be told it was stillborn, Sylvie is shocked, and haunted.  This sets the scene for these two women to present this story with their alternating points of view.

What emerges is a series of studies and moments, interconnected by that night, for Meda and Sylvie. Small moments that show people living their lives, relaxing and toiling, mixed with other moments that graphically and poignantly presented struggles, prejudices and the many intrigues that were in play.  I wanted more from Sylvie and Meda  their relationship as friends and more was certainly intriguing enough to warrant more words and pages, as well as a more satisfying conclusion to the more titillating moments.

What Im left with is moments of prose and description that are vivid and often poignant, darker scenes that highlight the dramatic divisions in the society - the black community with lives supported by and ruled by the existence of the Lazaretto Quarantine hospital, removed from the power brokers or even choices of self-determination are limited.  Theres a sense of different place, same issues that emerges for many of the characters we meet: the time for jubilant celebrations about the promise of freedom have quieted, and the reality of the attitudes haven't changed for most of the people in power.

A bit of unevenness in the plotting  moments of tension are easy to spot, and there were fewer moments where I truly wondered what would come next. What did work well was the insets of life, those quiet moments that allow characters to just be and exist. There were no moments of it should have been from the author, shes presenting a story that gives readers the feeling of being in the moment, seeing the time and the people as they were with all of their scars and warts exposed, and allows an entry into a moment in time that will encourage thought.  Not a perfect read, but engaging and intriguing even as I hoped for a few more pages and moments to truly give Sylvie and Meda the time they deserved.

I received an eArc copy of title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
3039762
The Known World by Edward P Jones is a beautifully written book with a host of rich characters.  But while I give Jones five stars for writing, I'd rate him three stars for the plot.

The Known World takes place in Manchester County Virginia before the Civil War.  Henry Townsend (31 years old) is a former slave who now owns 50 acres of land and 33 slaves of his own.  Townsend passes away in the opening pages, and we see how those around him cope with his death.  The Known World includes many subplots that are tied to Townsend's farm including slavery, the education of blacks, runaway slaves and the selling of free blacks into slavery.  Jones goes into great detail on some of these subplots, even though they're not all directly related to Townsend.  In this respect, the plot is complex and often disjointed.  Just when things start moving along at a faster pace, the book suddenly ends.

But what The Known World lacks in plot, it more than makes up for with its engaging characters and its simplistic yet elegant writing.  As for characters, there's the young and educated Caldonia, Townsend's wife.  Augustus and Mildred Townsend (Townsend's parents) are former slaves and strict abolitionists.  They are very disappointed that their son has chosen to own slaves.  William Robbins is Townsend's former owner, and treats his former slave as his own son.  Robbins loves his slave concubine and their children, yet treats his other slaves brutally.  Sheriff John Skiffington usually tries to do the right thing for the Townsends, despite the many bigots in his department who consider them no different than slaves.  Teacher Fern Elston is a free woman of color who could pass for white.  She has educated most of the free blacks in Manchester County.  And then there are the Townsend slaves including Moses, Priscilla, Elias, Celeste, and Alice.  Jones wrote the dialog in a way that I could just imagine these characters speaking.  When patroller Barnum Kinsey wants to give the sheriff bad news, he says "I wanted to tell you something and I have been working my mind so that the words tumble out in a straight line.  You know how that can be John."  Skiffington replies "I do Barnum.  Just set them words one by one and they'll do fine.  And we'll get to where we got to go."  The Known World also sheds light on the dirty little secret that before the Civil War, there were a number of instances of blacks owning other blacks.

The Known World is Jones' first novel, and I'm sure it's an omen of good things to come.
1875875
This is a well-told story based firmly in historical research (which the author shares in the notes).  Ms. Rinaldi took on the very challenging job of dealing with the  disturbing content around the history of slavery in the US in a careful and sensitive way.  She offers no tidy conclusions, but rather focuses on the complexity of the human interactions.  As a teacher, I have some hesitation offering it to my fifth graders because some of the language around the behavior and treatment of slaves may be jarring for them.  I would be interested to know how someone whose family experienced these times and events would react to it.
On the whole, though, I enjoyed the novel and learned quite a bit.
3571012
This historical novel is about the daughter of a plantation owner, and the slave nurse who raised her. The novel is thoughtfully written, and well researched as to the times.  Although the story line and characters are fictional, the events in the book are very believable, with the exception of one event.  But even this event, which seems too coincidental, would not necessarily be an impossibility. The book really delves into the expected behaviors of young white southern ladies of pre-Civil War times, and their relationships with their slaves. The emotions of the main characters are well developed, leading you to understand their anguish and conflicting feelings about their lives and the expectations of their social standings in society.
2526041
This book holds an interesting twist on Black American slavery as most books in this genre deal with tales of horror before anything else of note. The ribbon tier starts by showing how well Master Cunningham treats his slaves. He believed in feeding them a decent meal, dressing them in good clothes and not working them to exhaustion. He has his own demons to fight, but with the help of his wife, manages to overcome most of them. Life suddenly changes for Master Cunningham when his little boys dies and his wife swiftly follows. His faith in God appears to be rocked by the process and a mean streak a mile wide appears in his nature. His character is ultimately proud, devious and sly. It isn't long before it's his turn to depart this world, though, and his ranch, devoid of any direct heirs, passes to Jeb. It soon turns out that Jeb's journey isn't going to be any easier than his predecessor's.

I loved the numerous references to ribbons both with regards to the age old tree magic and within the chapter headings. I disliked the chapters which revolved around 'glowing green eyes' because whilst I appreciate that the slave is illiterate, having four or five pages of messy un-punctuated text makes for virtually impossible reading.

My Verdict? The Ribbon Tier is a realistic tale of black slavery and whilst it can be an intimidating and demanding read, it is very easy to submerse yourself in the world of pain, suffering and malcontent.
3709593
The plot takes you to several of the great mysterious archeological sites.  It invents hidden Chambers in them and past events that link them together.  Had a little too much description of gruesome deaths for my liking. However you can skip those parts.
2662261
This is a rare type of mystery novel: one that gives the reader an interesting plot to attempt to solve, but that also insructs that same reader on an aspect of history that is not normally known to the average person today. The plot involves the posible murder of several people, and the atempt by the son of one of them to find out who did it, and why. Intersperced within the plot, and quite relevant to it, is the role of stock-jobbing in England in the early 18th century, when trading was done in coffee houses. There is also a lot of information about the tenuous situation of Jews living in England during that period. The characters are all finely drawn, and the mystery is sufficiently full of twists and turns, and red herrings, that it will keep the reader turning pages far into the night. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to this excellent book quite soon!
3905846
I liked the historical elements which added to the movement of the plot. It was interesting to see the story from a women's point of view and follow her as she unwound the motive for the mysterious killings. A good read.
2694039
Evidently, this is the first fictional effort by the historian, Matthew Carr. His specialty (per the book jacket) is Islam in Medieval Spain. Not surprisingly, he combines his research on the era with an adventurous plot which follows the conventional "adventure book" style.

Islam has had a contentious interface with Western civilization for quite some time. Following the establishment of the religion and culture in Spain, interactions became even more fractious. That conflict is the foundation for this story. Interestingly, the church vs. state conflict marched on into the Spanish Civil War and was nearly as disputatious in the recent past as in the very distant past.

The protagonist is a magistrate representing the royal court. His prime adversary is the Church in the form of the Inquisition. He is accompanied on his quest by a retinue of faithful retainers, including a swashbuckling relative (an Errol Flynn type), a young and naive charge (as in Robert Lewis Stevenson's 17-year-old David Balfour), a dastardly and nefarious opponent (the Inquisitor from "Name of the Rose"), the charming, principled damsel (ruler of a principality under threat by the Snidely Whiplash-like father-in-law and her covert enemy, the bailiff) and the noble savage peasantry who rally to the defense of crown and all-that-is-good.

Although the plot and characters are certainly formulaic, the historical detail is interesting and the book moves along briskly. It's not quite in the same class as "The Three Musketeers" and definitely not the equal of the great "The Long Ships". Regardless, if you're an admirer of well-crafted adventure stories, this one is certainly worthwhile.
3650358
The book opens with a very well done, detailed profile of a once-wealthy woman--Mrs. Transome--who, like the estate she manages, suffers from dwindled resources.  George Eliot draws an interesting portrait of her, creating empathy and sympathy in the reader, yet also alluding in a quietly strategic way that "there is more to learn" about this woman and her circumstances.

Enter the long-traveling son, who has made his fortune in the middle east and has the potential to restore the estate to its former grandeur.  Indeed, he sets about doing this, and as that process begins, the other plots are ushered in.  There is a great deal of time and effort spent on the Whigs, Tories, and Radicals, which was interesting and yet prompted me to Google various terms on a frequent basis.  For us 21st century Americans, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since these royalist/anti-royalist/labor concepts were in flower.  The central plot, however, is the love story between the lovely Esther Lyon and her reluctant suitor, Felix Holt.  Felix seems to embody the pure voice of the common man, speaking with courage, selflessness, and unabashed virtue.  He is almost unbelievably pristine in his moral makeup, but he was still fascinating.  His prompting and nudging of Esther to abandon her pettiness and vanity has a surprisingly rapid effect on her, but this did not bother me, as I found the "early Esther" to be quite annoying and I--like Felix--very much wanted her to change.

Felix gets himself in some very hot legal water through a chain of events that seems a bit fantastical, but the plot moves along briskly.  I am so used to George Eliot and have so much respect for her that I don't mind her lofty and rhapsodic passages.  They are fine and they help make her the great author she is.
1585357
In this historical thriller by Peter Prange, Sophie is a young girl betrayed by her neighbors and the church at an early age, suffering through tragedy and religious persecution.  In the wake of that betrayal, Sophie moves to Paris and, years later (in the mid-1700s), is working as a waitress at Caf Procope, a cafe where many radical philosophers and "freethinkers" meet and confer.  Although Sophie tries to maintain a low profile and distance from the cafe patrons, she unwittingly falls in love with one of her regular customers, Denis Diderot, a famous philosopher (who also happens to be married).  As the romance develops, so too does the plot of the revolutionaries.  Diderot and his cohorts are developing an encyclopedia, something that those in power would consider revolutionary and threatening.  Sophie becomes embroiled in the scandal and her very life and freedom are threatened (along with her heart).

I very much enjoyed the political and religious underpinnings of this novel.  The backdrop of revolutionary France is described with acute and vivid detail and the premise is interesting and historically significant.  It is particularly jarring to think that something as basic (in modern times) as an encyclopedia could be so explosive and politically charged.  The dread of discovery and persecution by the characters is profoundly felt and adds a lot to the plot of the novel. That said, I thought the book was a little slow-starting and the romance between Sophie and Diderot a little bit overblown.  Anyone who likes historical fiction, particularly historical fiction involving religion-oriented power struggles, will like this book but it was a little lacking in narrative flow and authenticity in the romance plot to be truly spectacular.  If I could give half-stars, I would probably give this a 3.5 but overall I give it a 4 for strong historical content.
3719700
This novel presents a thoughtful account of the slave era in America's history. It has a somewhat eery resonance because Nat Turner was a religious zealot driven to mass murder by the inhuman treatment and dislocation meted out to slaves. His strategy is said to have been to strike terror into the hearts of slave owners in the hope that the slaves would then be left alone.
830297
Byron Lee Wade's "Slave Spy" marks one of the more interesting pieces of historical fiction published during this past year. While most writers focus on the Civil War or ancient Rome, Wade turns his attention to colonial Britain of the late 1700s and poses an intriguing proposition: What if one 17-year-old boy could end the trading of millions of slaves? With that, teenager Lazarus Perlman sets out upon an adventure to acquire the evidence needed to stop Britain's sanctioning of the slave trade. Along the way, he discovers something about himself and humanity while through his eyes modern readers learn about the horrid practice of slavers from that period...practices whose consequences America and much of the Caribbean still are dealing with today. A gripping read, Perlman's story is still as relevant in the 21st century as his adventure was of import during the 18th century.
2380254
Shannon Aimee was sure the handsome Earl of Northton was sincere in his declaration of love and his promise of marriage. Despite her parents protests, she travels to England with him to meet his family, along with her childhood friend Ian, who plans to study under the vicar in pursuing his goal to become a man of the cloth.

Gatehaven, the estate in England where Shannon is housed, is surrounded by a shroud of mystery and rumor. The manner in which she is received and treated by the earls family is puzzling and disturbing. Little does she know she has been drawn into a plot that centers around revenge and spins a web of evil.

Even though I did not sense any kind of scary element to the story, I did find it suspenseful. Gatehaven leads the reader into the world of dark practices and spiritual warfare issues. Although never graphic in its depiction of events, the book touches on the occult, witchcraft, and murder. Yet, there is a balance of the goodness of God and the triumph of good over evil. I especially liked the premise that Shannon, in pursuit of the thing she wants to obtain most, mainly her marriage to the earl, learns what has truly been her hearts dersire all along.

The author weaves historical events into her story, which takes the reader deeper into her setting of 1874 England. The brief introduction at the beginning of the book explaining the history of the people from which Molly Noble Bull draws her characters was interesting and helpful.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Gothic mystery and good versus evil plots.

I received this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.