Rather a bleak book about the complexities of the slavery system in the southern United States in the 19th century, based around the obscure historical fact that a few free Black and mixed race people also owned slaves. It doesn't say much about how people fought or undermined the system, but is mostly how Black people survived it (just), suffered untimely deaths because of it, and the creeping moral corruption it caused to the slave owners.

reserved for a book ring

About to be sent out on a bookring. Only one UK person can post internationally so I've had to mix up the order of asking a bit. It will go UK-US-back to UK as follows:

mafarrimond
lucy-lemon
bookowl1000
Lord-Trotsky

Then:

Rrrcaron
nat4lee
nattabee - book is here
eblanco001
ladyofunicorns

Then back to me

Hope you enjoy it!

The book has finally arrived. I will read asap.

A really enjoyable read. A heart wrenching tale of slavery and its effects on both slaves and "masters".

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting on to Lucy-lemon

Arrived today. Going to London tomorrow for work, but hope to read when I get home.

I've tried and tried and tried, but I cannot get into this book. I think it's me, rather than the novel. Will be sending to BookOwl this afternoon, along with another book.

Thanks for sharing :-)

Arrived safely in the Wye Valley today.

I liked the way that the book was not overtly moral; it described quite traumatic events in a very matter of fact way without making judgements. In a way that emphasised the fact that such events were normal at that time and people did not think that there was anything wrong with selling someone, splitting up families or using such harsh physical punishment. I was unexpected to see how easily someone who was once a slave could then go on to be a slaveowner...no empathy at all.

I did not get on too well with the style as I am a person who prefers a more linear story. I sometimes found that way that it jumps around in time to be a bit confusing. I also lost that inner urge to keep reading in order to find out what happens, as I already knew what was going to happen to the character anyway, that just comes down to personal preferences.

I have been working a lot over the last couple of weeks and have not had a lot of time to read. I know that this novel did not really grab me as I did not find myself not wanting to put it down and trying to avoid all mt paperwork in order to keep reading.

Thanks for sharing. I already have the address of the next person and will put it in the post tomorrow.

Arrived safely with me. I shall read it as soon as I can and send it on.

Finally finished! Sorry it took me so long. I had a real struggle to get into this novel. I did think of passing it on only a quarter read but, I'm so glad I didn't. I loved the unsympathetic, matter-of-fact way the horrific treatment of people was described. It reflected the attitude of most people of that time and place saw the world and made it all the more real and abhorant. It really drove home the way the mutilation of people was seen as no different than, say, branding cattle. My only other point of reference for novels of this time in American history is Alex Harvey's Roots which I enjoyed very much. This novel is not my usual choice of book but I'm very glad I read it.

In it's time with me, this book has been to the Glastonbury Festival as well as several other outings and has probably travelled over 600 miles.

Once again, sorry I have had it so long. I will post it on as soon as I get the address.

Thanks for bookringing it and including me.

Posted to Rrrcaron today. Hope you enjoy it.

Received this book in the mail. I have a book in progress, but this is next!
Ruth

A wonderful book! A generation of slaves and slave owners' told in an epic way. So glad I was able to read this. Sending on to next reader....
Ruth

Thank you for continuing this book on it's journey! As a Virginia historian myself, novels dealing with the American Civil War and all it's ramifications on society here in America (especially people of African-American heritage, whether they were slave or free) are what I enjoy reading most.

I'll be sitting down to read this one.

This turned out to be a very good book, and a very accurate picture of the way things were here in Virginia. While the families and place names are mostly fictional, what they represent is very, very real.

What I like most is the author's ability to tell this story without shying away from what are still very uncomfortable topics 150 years later here in Virginia. Good job.

This book is being released by the post to fellow bookcrosser nattabee in Kentucky. May it find a fair wind to travel on.

This book is safe here in Kentucky...actually got it about a week ago, but I've been so busy that I kept forgetting to JE...sorry about that! I will get to the book soon. Thanks for letting me participate.

I am sorry for hogging the book for so long...this caught me at a bad time. I am going to go ahead and pm the next person, and probably won't be able to finish it. Sorry!

I had this book back from Nattabee (with a few freebies, cards n bookmarks - thank you very much!) some time ago. I'm getting slack at journalling things. It got an interesting response, I might try it as a bookring again sometime.

This was given away to a charity shop some time ago and hasn't been heard of since.