In 1923, Hattie Shepherd leaves Georgia for Philadelphia as part of the Great Migration, hoping for a better life. Soon after arriving, she loses her infant twins to pneumonia. Each chapter of the novel follows a different one of the children she later bears, from the 1920s to the 1980s, showing their struggles with illness, faith, sexuality and money, while Hattie remains stern and hard to reach.
Readers who like family sagas told in separate portraits will appreciate how one mother's character shapes many lives. It suits those interested in African American history and the way a major migration plays out in individual homes.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2012
- Language
- EN
