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ecerkvenik's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.5
Really really loved, so explicitly lesbians, such a good story
imjustannaok's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
The story of ivoe is a testament to the art of living. her father's absence due to incarceration highlights the unfairness to her family & black folk. Broke my heart. Lovely and wretched sapphic characters. I need more of this type of queer writing
remigves's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sunnie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
audaciaray's review
4.0
So, so worth reading for the threads woven around black life in the early 20th century in Texas and Missouri, black run newspapers and the stories they cover that white supremacist papers don't (present tense intentional in that sentence), black lesbian love, women's resilience, and so much else. The ending feels rushed but I'm excited to read more from Barnett.
lindseyzank's review
3.0
*3.5 stars*
Ivoe, an African American, Muslim, lesbian girl turned woman is a rebellious character who likes to challenge the status quo with her mere existence. The novel traces her coming of age, starting in 1898 at 9 years old and ending in the mid to late 1920s when Ivoe is in her 30s. I learned so much about life in Texas as a Black Muslim family. Barnett is clearly a scholar; she weaves her story with so much information about what life was like in both Texas and Kansas at the turn of the century for Black citizens. In detail, she depicts not only the physical and financial effects of segregation and Jim Crow laws but also the deeply emotional and psychological ones. She covers a lot of ground: from transportation and housing segregation to mass incarceration and chain gangs to the challenges facing Black business owners. Barnett also incorporates Black intellectual thought (a la DuBois and Washington) in the newspaper stories that Ivoe writes, and I found that discussion, albeit maybe a little bit too scholarly for the average reader, fascinating and informative. But this story is also a love story between Ivoe and the love of her life and how their interests in writing and journalism inextricably bind them. More lesbian characters and love stories are needed in literature, in my opinion, and this one, while not the most romantic or satisfying (it’s not the main focus of the story) is inspiring, considering all of the oppression and obstacles (both internal and external) that Ivoe and her lover have to overcome to be together.
Ivoe, an African American, Muslim, lesbian girl turned woman is a rebellious character who likes to challenge the status quo with her mere existence. The novel traces her coming of age, starting in 1898 at 9 years old and ending in the mid to late 1920s when Ivoe is in her 30s. I learned so much about life in Texas as a Black Muslim family. Barnett is clearly a scholar; she weaves her story with so much information about what life was like in both Texas and Kansas at the turn of the century for Black citizens. In detail, she depicts not only the physical and financial effects of segregation and Jim Crow laws but also the deeply emotional and psychological ones. She covers a lot of ground: from transportation and housing segregation to mass incarceration and chain gangs to the challenges facing Black business owners. Barnett also incorporates Black intellectual thought (a la DuBois and Washington) in the newspaper stories that Ivoe writes, and I found that discussion, albeit maybe a little bit too scholarly for the average reader, fascinating and informative. But this story is also a love story between Ivoe and the love of her life and how their interests in writing and journalism inextricably bind them. More lesbian characters and love stories are needed in literature, in my opinion, and this one, while not the most romantic or satisfying (it’s not the main focus of the story) is inspiring, considering all of the oppression and obstacles (both internal and external) that Ivoe and her lover have to overcome to be together.
manaledi's review
3.0
I've started and stopped this review almost as many times as I put this book down in the middle to read something lighter. This book deserves its moniker as a literature "classic" - it's a quintessentially American story, both the omnipresent racism and the ideal of success against the odds. A lot of the discussion of criminalization of Black men rang true today as a forceful reminder of the way white supremacy reshapes and reinforces itself. I did think it was interesting, however, just how accepted Ona and Ivoe's relationship was - although it may have been a stylistic choice to emphasize the limitations of racism rather than misogyny or homophobia.
kxmulligan79's review
3.0
This book was so slow. There were parts that I really enjoyed but it took a lot for me to finish. I don't like giving authors less than 3 stars but honestly this was more like 2 1/2 stars for me.
megatsunami's review
4.0
This was like the fiction version of "Ida B. Wells: A Sword Among Lions." Beautifully, creatively written. The rhythm of the book took a little getting used to (lots of scene breaks), but I felt like it was an original way to approach a story with such a long time range.
carlcarlcarl's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Incredibly beautiful, a truly powerful book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Rape