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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Property won the Orange Prize for Fiction (now called the Women's Fiction Prize) in 2003. I have a long term goal of reading all 24 (well, 25 once they announce this year's winner next month) of the winners of this award. This book puts my count of "winners read" at 12 (woah, I'm half way there...)
This was a relatively short read (just under 200 pages) and the first book that I've read by this author. The book is set in the 1800s near New Orleans. The narrator is a young woman, Manon Gaudet who is in an unhappy marriage and tells of her thoughts regarding her relationship with her husband and the slaves in her household with her primary focus being on Sarah, a slave that was given to her as a wedding gift by her aunt.
Manon's voice is cold and severe. She doesn't sugar-coat anything in her story and has a realistic view of her place in the world. As much as Sarah is Manon's property, Manon realizes that she in turn is her husband's property and has no hope of an independent or happy life.
This was a relatively short read (just under 200 pages) and the first book that I've read by this author. The book is set in the 1800s near New Orleans. The narrator is a young woman, Manon Gaudet who is in an unhappy marriage and tells of her thoughts regarding her relationship with her husband and the slaves in her household with her primary focus being on Sarah, a slave that was given to her as a wedding gift by her aunt.
Manon's voice is cold and severe. She doesn't sugar-coat anything in her story and has a realistic view of her place in the world. As much as Sarah is Manon's property, Manon realizes that she in turn is her husband's property and has no hope of an independent or happy life.
mya_kershaw_dann's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
becki_c's review against another edition
3.0
First off I have to say truly I came to this book with high expectations. A good friend had recommended it to me. The book starts off well - an unusual, rather disjointed form of writing giving quick insight into the young woman’s mind.
It was the ending, the lacking of so much, the promise of getting into the minds of the characters and then nothing... and again .... the ending. It ruined the whole book for me. For me it was a book that left me feeling empty and dissatisfied. It wasn’t a book about the South really; it was a short novel about a disillusioned, crazy young white woman who was too lazy to change what was around her.
It was the ending, the lacking of so much, the promise of getting into the minds of the characters and then nothing... and again .... the ending. It ruined the whole book for me. For me it was a book that left me feeling empty and dissatisfied. It wasn’t a book about the South really; it was a short novel about a disillusioned, crazy young white woman who was too lazy to change what was around her.
campbcar3's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kwonset's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
itiafurniture's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A tough read, but decently written. The author doesn’t descend too far into Manon’s consideration for the plight of the enslaved and her contribution to the depravity, which was a little frustrating. The pace was well-timed and bits were rather eloquent. The ending left much to be desired, and had me feeling a bit like “what’s the point?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Sexual assault
kathieboucher's review
4.0
A well-written but discomforting book about slavery from inside the head of a woman slaveholder in 1820s Louisiana. The concept of unreliable narrator works very well in this book, giving the reader lots to think about.
ashley_choo's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure about it. I guess it was good because I was intrigued til the end, but I was left confused about what the message of the book was.
ja3m3's review
5.0
In this riveting book Martin has captured the brutality and cruelty of slavery as seen through the eyes of Manon the mistress of a failing plantation in Louisiana. Because none of the characters are likeable we are able to see the slavery south in an objective, unsentimental way which makes the story that much more compelling and frightening. But the story is not just about slaves as “property.” It is also about the enslavement of women during this time period who because of American laws are the property of their fathers and their husbands. Highly recommend.