Scan barcode
redcupbookclub's review
5.0
How historical fiction should be done!!! The backstory that the author offered really lays the foundation for how the story unfolds. Although on the surface the book is about the need for the creation of the national Black press, it touches on so much more. Jim Crow. How segregation and racism destroys the Black family. Why mentorship is so important. It helps bust the myth of the runaway Black father. The author also chronicles the inevitable push-back that Black activists receive from White mainstream, and from some in the Black community.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the book however, is the relationship between Ivoe and her former teacher. It is one of the few times that a lesbian relationship has been given a thoughtful, balanced and natural place within the story; without being fetishized. I love this book.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the book however, is the relationship between Ivoe and her former teacher. It is one of the few times that a lesbian relationship has been given a thoughtful, balanced and natural place within the story; without being fetishized. I love this book.
readingwithhippos's review
4.0
I voted in our city-wide primary election today. When I arrived at my polling place, I was greeted by five enthusiastic poll workers—and exactly zero other voters. Sure, it's just a primary for a municipal election, but I can't say I was filled with hope for the future of our fair metropolis.
More often than not, politics leave me feeling hopeless and sad. I vote, and I'll continue to because I value the privilege, but because my personal political views don't align with the majority in my state, I usually feel like my dissenting voice is completely drowned out. But I'll keep showing up, keep voting for people who support libraries and schools, because it feels irresponsible not to.
Ivoe Williams, the hard-headed protagonist of Barnett's new novel, doesn't let a little opposition get her down, even though she has much more to deal with than a few city councilmen who don't support public libraries. As an African-American woman with dreams of becoming a newspaper reporter around the time of World War I, to say Ivoe faces an uphill battle is a massive understatement. But instead of wringing her hands, she gets to work.
Barnett visits Ivoe at various points of her life spanning a number of years, from her childhood in rural Texas to her middle-age trip to Paris with her lover, Ona. Ivoe encounters setback after setback, and at times it appears even to her that she'll never achieve her professional goals, but she has a close-knit family that supports and encourages her as well as plenty of journalistic skills. I loved her conviction in the face of the staggering racism of Jim Crow America.
I always appreciate books that fill the holes in my education, and I knew embarrassingly little about what life was like for African Americans in the years between emancipation and the Civil Rights era. Jam on the Vine provides a well-researched and emotionally charged window into that part of our nation's history. To add historical weight, Barnett mentions in her author's note that many of the news articles Ivoe writes in the novel are in fact taken from real articles published at the time. My inner word nerd went wild at that.
If you enjoy historical novels, this one should definitely be on your list. Ivoe's determination to expose injustice made me want to stand up and cheer.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
More often than not, politics leave me feeling hopeless and sad. I vote, and I'll continue to because I value the privilege, but because my personal political views don't align with the majority in my state, I usually feel like my dissenting voice is completely drowned out. But I'll keep showing up, keep voting for people who support libraries and schools, because it feels irresponsible not to.
Ivoe Williams, the hard-headed protagonist of Barnett's new novel, doesn't let a little opposition get her down, even though she has much more to deal with than a few city councilmen who don't support public libraries. As an African-American woman with dreams of becoming a newspaper reporter around the time of World War I, to say Ivoe faces an uphill battle is a massive understatement. But instead of wringing her hands, she gets to work.
Barnett visits Ivoe at various points of her life spanning a number of years, from her childhood in rural Texas to her middle-age trip to Paris with her lover, Ona. Ivoe encounters setback after setback, and at times it appears even to her that she'll never achieve her professional goals, but she has a close-knit family that supports and encourages her as well as plenty of journalistic skills. I loved her conviction in the face of the staggering racism of Jim Crow America.
I always appreciate books that fill the holes in my education, and I knew embarrassingly little about what life was like for African Americans in the years between emancipation and the Civil Rights era. Jam on the Vine provides a well-researched and emotionally charged window into that part of our nation's history. To add historical weight, Barnett mentions in her author's note that many of the news articles Ivoe writes in the novel are in fact taken from real articles published at the time. My inner word nerd went wild at that.
If you enjoy historical novels, this one should definitely be on your list. Ivoe's determination to expose injustice made me want to stand up and cheer.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
passionyoungwrites's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.0
Reading this allowed me to see that even back then black women struggled and even more so with an education. Fathers wanted more for their families and still couldn’t solely provide. Incarceration never changed for Blacks. And employers were biased, three strikes of you were black, educated and female.
I was surprised to see how the story included a lesbian relationship. Many people don’t believe it but black people been gay..
🗞️
In the story we see Ivoe’s mother , Lemon, and her aunt Mary- Belle, both descendants of slavery.
Seeing Lemon shift her perspective of change was interesting. As well as Ivoe learning how success brings jealousy in friendships and past lovers too. Y’all the girl burned her hair with a perm, threw her summer application in the trash and burned down her home all in the span of ten years.
But just like now, a hater’s gonna hate.
🗞️
Throughout the story Ivoe sees her way through struggles, finds the importance of connections and education and finds love and success in the end. If you’re a historical fiction lover, this one is for you! Because I definitely didn’t know Black Journalism was a thing back in 1916.
I was surprised to see how the story included a lesbian relationship. Many people don’t believe it but black people been gay..
🗞️
In the story we see Ivoe’s mother , Lemon, and her aunt Mary- Belle, both descendants of slavery.
Seeing Lemon shift her perspective of change was interesting. As well as Ivoe learning how success brings jealousy in friendships and past lovers too. Y’all the girl burned her hair with a perm, threw her summer application in the trash and burned down her home all in the span of ten years.
But just like now, a hater’s gonna hate.
🗞️
Throughout the story Ivoe sees her way through struggles, finds the importance of connections and education and finds love and success in the end. If you’re a historical fiction lover, this one is for you! Because I definitely didn’t know Black Journalism was a thing back in 1916.
annie__bananie's review
5.0
Barnett's novel checks so many boxes for me. After realizing that my bookshelves were dominated by white straight men telling white straight male stories, I knew I needed to expand my horizons--and "Jam on the Vine" expands them in so many directions. Following Ivoe in her journey as a queer black woman in turn-of-the-century America is an intimate, challenging, rewarding path. Each character is richly three-dimensional and I could have read an entire novel about any of them, but Ivoe shines the brightest as she nurtures her passion for reading into a passion for story- and truth-telling. Her development isn't a straight line, which makes me appreciate her all the more. The women who cross paths with Ivoe each leave their own mark on her that inspires me to think of their parallels in my own life; not only was reading this book a development of my literary horizons, but of my personal horizons as well.
anna_near's review
2.0
This was such an interesting premise and I am forever disappointed that I didn't like this book.
It started out promising and revolved around the main character's family. The dynamic between characters and exploration into the struggles they endured was interesting and I actually really liked it. Ivoe seemed like a great character. However, after the story moves along, Ivoe becomes very 1 dimensional and the pacing completely goes off the rails. The writing confused me and I had to reread so much just to understand what was happening. The POV changed between paragraphs which was so distracting. Some of the plot lines, particularly the romance was ridiculous and pulled me out of the narrative. I kept reading for the plot advertised in the blurb, but she doesn't even start the aforementioned newspaper until 90% of the way through.
An interesting tribute to black history, and if it was edited better I think it could've been a more enjoyable read. But as is, it's just forgettable
It started out promising and revolved around the main character's family. The dynamic between characters and exploration into the struggles they endured was interesting and I actually really liked it. Ivoe seemed like a great character. However, after the story moves along, Ivoe becomes very 1 dimensional and the pacing completely goes off the rails. The writing confused me and I had to reread so much just to understand what was happening. The POV changed between paragraphs which was so distracting. Some of the plot lines, particularly the romance was ridiculous and pulled me out of the narrative. I kept reading for the plot advertised in the blurb, but she doesn't even start the aforementioned newspaper until 90% of the way through.
An interesting tribute to black history, and if it was edited better I think it could've been a more enjoyable read. But as is, it's just forgettable
librarista's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
midnightmarauder's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Jam on The Vine follows the story of Ivoe Williams, a girl growing up in the fictional town of Little Tunis, Texas, during the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Her favorite activity is reading, and she'll read practically anything she gets her hands on, yet, her main choice is always newspaper, which she steals from her mother's employer.
Ivoe is very attentive to the world around her. In it, she notices that people with her skin color are persecuted for simply existing. She urges to tell the stories of those people, whose struggles are wholly ignored in media, such as the newspapers she reads.
Her gift for reading and writing give her the opportunity to go to college, something that her family weren't able to do. There, she meets Ona, her professor in her printmaking class, and later, her girlfriend.
Ivoe works hard at her craft, pushing to tell the world about black people's plight in a nation that prides itself on democracy and equality. But, setback after setback bring her down and nearly cause her to give up. It is through both Ona and her family that she finds the courage and strength to follow her dreams and open the first female-run black newspaper, Jam on the Vine.
I really enjoyed reading every single page of this story. As a black lesbian, I especially enjoyed seeing the love between Ivoe and Ona and how it blossomed over time. I also loved Ivoe's family, and how much they lifted her up and supported her dreams. Their own respective stories kept me turning the pages. It is a well-written, loving story about perseverance, hope, and love, all wrapped up into one.
Ivoe is very attentive to the world around her. In it, she notices that people with her skin color are persecuted for simply existing. She urges to tell the stories of those people, whose struggles are wholly ignored in media, such as the newspapers she reads.
Her gift for reading and writing give her the opportunity to go to college, something that her family weren't able to do. There, she meets Ona, her professor in her printmaking class, and later, her girlfriend.
Ivoe works hard at her craft, pushing to tell the world about black people's plight in a nation that prides itself on democracy and equality. But, setback after setback bring her down and nearly cause her to give up. It is through both Ona and her family that she finds the courage and strength to follow her dreams and open the first female-run black newspaper, Jam on the Vine.
I really enjoyed reading every single page of this story. As a black lesbian, I especially enjoyed seeing the love between Ivoe and Ona and how it blossomed over time. I also loved Ivoe's family, and how much they lifted her up and supported her dreams. Their own respective stories kept me turning the pages. It is a well-written, loving story about perseverance, hope, and love, all wrapped up into one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Racism, Violence, Classism, Death, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Blood, Confinement, and Misogyny
Minor: Abortion, Vomit, War, Abandonment, Excrement, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
dannb's review
4.0
This book is chocked full early 20th century US history... and is written with the kind of subtlety that believes the reader is smart enough to 'get it.'
melissagomis's review
4.0
This historical fiction novel was at times more historical than fiction. I really enjoyed the characters, but felt like a few of them weren't as fully developed as they could have been. The focus of the novel was on the history of African American newspapers in America and the treatment of African American's in the late 1800s-early 1900s. There were some major plot points, but they weren't the focus of the story. For example, Ivoe and Ona's house got damaged by fire after Ivoe's ex-girlfriend visits. There was very little coverage of this in their story. I don't read a lot of historical fiction so it will be interesting to see if it is all written in the same way.