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Summary: An Unforgettable Historical Tale of Survival
Review: Cane River is an unforgettable historical tale of how 3 generations of African-American women survived life before and after the plantation life. Each of these three women, Suzette, Philomene, and Emily have a unique story to tell, as they all made it through life in different ways. Each of these women is strong-willed and determined to make life easier for their families through each generation. However, this story could not have been told if not for the woman who this family came from, Elisabeth. Elisabeth is the glue that holds them all together.
The story starts with Elizabeth raising Suzette, and Suzette's tale of survival. Suzette was more submissive and did not like to cause any problems, as she always did what was told, and nothing less. Next, Suzette gives birth to Philomene, the strong-willed, straight forward one, who always stood up for what she believed. Philomene was very clever, and used her psychic abilities to help get her and her family ahead in life. Philomene's story is told, as she then gives birth to Emily. Emily's life is only a little easier, as she is the first in her family to read and write, and has the lightest skin. Each of these women endured hardships as women of color did back in those times, but it is very interesting how each one of them overcame these obstacles in unique ways.
Cane River is informative, dramatic, as well as entertaining.
You will have to read to find out more. I highly recommend this book to be added to any collection!
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Summary: I learned a lot from this book
Review: I never realized how much I didn't know about slavery until I read this book. I feel this book should be a part of everyone's "must read" list. I personally have a much better understanding of the hardships and struggles slaves were constantly burdened with.
Beautifully written.
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Summary: Cane River
Review: A captivating story of rural life in Louisiana in the early 1800's along the Cane River. This was the time of poor slavery versus prosperous plantation life. The author shares her side of the story including painful stories of slavery and her personal Creole heritage. She came from a line of strong mulatto women who started out as slaves. Because of their fair appearance, they became objects of white men's affections. They had many attractive children who eventually became educated. As the generations passed along, they soon rose to be successful business women and land owners. This is a story of pain and sorrow, but also one of personal triumph in the midst of unbelievable circumstances.
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Summary: What a Book!
Review: This is one of my favorite books. A beautifully written & loving history of a family's journey through time. From early America to present day history, Lalita Tademy guides us through a world that would be otherwise unknown to us. What an amazing book & an interesting read.
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Summary: A River of Family History.....
Review: Rich. Soulful. Interesting.
These words describe Cane River. As one becomes immersed in the book, the reader is knitted into the fabric of pride, love, and hardship. A wonderful historical novel!
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Summary: Mesmerizing Mixed Bag
Review: This novel intrigued and disturbed me at times. Fascinating, the knowledge that the characterisations were based on actual people and events with a rich assortment of photos and documentation to back it up. Ms. Tademy's eloquent style struck notes in my psyche. I don't think I could have stopped reading if I'd wanted to.
At the same time, this book carries the same "stamp" on it that other books of its kind share. While based on real life people and events it is a work of fiction and it's disturbing to me that the story repeatedly accents a negative response towards whites and Creoles in the story. That's understandable but it's not always convincing or realistic. It's difficult for me to understand why a slave woman would engage in an illicit affair with a man who did not own her who she did not really have any respect or regard for, then opt to remain in that relationship for two decades after the Emancipation and have several children with this man she neither liked nor wanted. It's easy enough to say she had no choice (as a slave) but what about after slavery when choice and consent can certainly be offered or withheld? Nor do I think it reasonable to assume her protector cared nothing for her when he presented her with a vast tract of property and provided lavishly for her and their children. That sounds like a family to me.
The antebellum slave system is a stain upon our country's conscience. But realistically, it was a system accepted by people at the time and it's unreasonable to depict all of one class as being too evil, jaded, or stupid to see this. It is equally unrealistic to depict the slave class as continuously exploited and miserable.
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Summary: Awesome story for first-time author
Review: Lalita Tademy has woven together a moving and heartwarming tale in her first novel, Cane River. Chosen for Oprah's Book Club, Tademy uses the skeleton of her family tree as the basis for this fascinating work of historical fiction. The author had personal knowledge as far back as her great-grandmother, who was born into slavery. She gave up a lucrative job to search out her family genealogy, which took two years to research and led to the writing of this book. Tademy was able to document as far back as Elizabeth, a kitchen slave who was sold from Virginia to Rosedew Plantation on the Cane River in Louisiana. The book traces the lives of Elizabeth and her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter (Suzette, Philomene and Emily). All four women were born into slavery, and all had children by white plantation owners (whether by force or by choice). They each had enough intelligence and enough drive to make sure that these men provided a better life for both themselves and their children. Each generation benefited in a different way from not having to work the fields to better living arrangements to education for their children and even the deeding of 163 acres of land. These four women also had the strength to keep their family together despite difficult times, and to even help them thrive into the 20th Century. But along with the successes, this is also a tale of heartache and tragedy. Slavery was never easy, no matter what the circumstances. Many times, a plantation owner would die and his slave families split up and sold to settle the estate. One happy slave couple were allowed to marry, only to have the husband sold up North because the executor of the estate wanted the wife to himself. Yellow fever, pneumonia, other diseases and childbirth claimed many lives. As each generation got lighter and lighter in complexion, there was the temptation to sever family ties and move to another part of the country so that they could pass as white (as one son actually did). After the Civil War, Emily lived in a common-law marriage with a Frenchman, building a house, running a store, and raising 5 children. When their house, their store and their lives were threatened by local whites, they were forced to separate. The Frenchman married a white woman, and the results were tragic. And despite the Civil War, blacks still had very few rights. When the Frenchman wanted to leave his estate to his mixed children (the only ones he had), they were denied because they were illegitimate. Of course they were illegitimate-it was illegal for mixed couples to marry. Tademy's research provides the reader with much to enrich this book including photos, drawings, maps, newspaper articles, wills, personal letters, tax records, and census lists. And although it is sometimes difficult to keep everyone straight in this story (a major problem with a book that spans 137 years and multiple generations), Tademy also provides us with a family tree to help. So if you're looking for good historic fiction or even a book to share with a book group, Cane River is an excellent choice. I would love to see Tademy continue this story in another book.
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