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Summary: One of Oprah's Best Picks
Review: I finished Cane River yesterday, and it haunts me like very few books do. I think part of that feeling comes from the wonderful photographs included in the book. Ms. Tademy has honored her ancestors by telling their story, which is heartbreaking at times, but ultimately uplifting.
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Summary: More than just fiction
Review: This is not your ordinary historical fiction. It's actually based on some real events and that shocked me. You can learn a lot about history in this book, especially about slavery. If I haven't read this book then I would know nothing about the Creoles and the war. I also learned some of the injustices that were inflicted upon slaves. It is entertaining and educational!
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Summary: A must read!
Review: I was given this book by a friend, and although it is not the type of book I would normally be interested in, I really ended up loving it. It is a story of pure survival, heartache and inner strength, and it tugs at every emotion you can possibly feel. What these characters are forced to endure and the hardships that they must encounter make this story one of the most compelling and engrossing novels that I have had the pleasure of reading.
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Summary: Wonderful book!
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite books. I loved it so much, I emailed the author to tell her so. If you love history, but don't mind it wrapped up into a little fiction, you will love this book. It made me want to drive to Louisiana and visit the places I read about. Can't wait for Ms. Tademy's next book!
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Summary: Could have been so much better
Review: Cane River was not the great read that I had hoped it would be. In my opinion Cane River was an average novel. There was nothing remarkable about the characters or the writing. I respectfully disagree with majority of the 5 star ratings this book has received. Ms. Tademy wanted to share her family history with us and I commend her effort if not the results. I agree with one of the reviewers when she wrote that facts and fiction didn't mesh. Even though Ms. Tademy makes it clear that this is novel and that she took creative licence with charcters. I kept questioning too many events wondering if they were fact or fiction. The second problem was Ms. Tademy's habit of skipping over large time spans without an explaination. She ends chapters abruptly and begins sometimes years later with no hint of what happpend in between. I don't expect every detail to be wrtten down but neither do I expect to feel as though I missed something. The biggest problem with this novel was the weak character develpoment. The characters don't have their own voice. I don't feel that I know any of the charcters. I know more about what they looked like than what they felt. Describing Suzette as dark with a pretty round face doesn't tell me how she felt about having her dreams of a better life stolen or her body and soul violated by a Frenchman who just reached out and took what he wanted. Philomeme suffered so much but we never heard her speak in her own words about her pain and suffering. Ms. Tademy told us how she felt. Only near the end of the book does Philomene
show her pain and hatred of Narcisse. Emily the "fairest one of all" was more developed but again Ms. Tademy spent too much time describing her looks. How many times do we need to be reminded that Emily had long silky brown hair or a thin "French" nose or that she was lighter that her Frenchman. They had this huge family of women who survived the worst life had to offer and they never really talked to one another! The one thing that Ms. Tademy did do a wonderful job of was conveying the love that these women had for thier children. This book had so much potential and could have been a truly great novel.
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Summary: Story of several generations of Black Americans in Louisiana
Review: Cane River by Lalita Tademy Here's a fictionalized story of Lalita Tademy's family history, recounted in CANE RIVER. Tademy, who quit her executive job with Sun Microsystems to write and research her family story, tells a fascinating tale about several generations of slaves and free blacks living in the bayous of Louisiana. She details each section with a segment of the family tree, photos of actual family members, and of course the stories of the men and women that made up her family, in particular Suzette Daurat, her daughter Philomene, and grand daughter Emily "Tite" Fredieu. Tademy was old enough to remember stories of her Grandma Tite, who died twelve years before Lalita was born. It was the stories of Grandma Tite that encouraged Tademy to do a thorough search into the history of her family. This book was not only a search of one's family and roots, but it is an interesting look at the life of Black America in Louisiana, a state that seemed to be a country of it's own, with social rules that were different from the rest of the South. Read CANE RIVER for what it is: a look into the story of one family, living through the various changes in American history.
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Summary: Wonderful in every aspect..
Review: Next to Cold Mountain,this was my next favorite book. I am always surprised that so many people have not heard of it. It deserves much more attention. It is a joy to read as the author takes you through the generations of these women slaves, yet it pulls you in to the reality of suffering and sacrifice. Beautifully written and an education in history, culture and empathy.
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Summary: Excellent Book!!
Review: There isn't too much to say other than that. GET THIS BOOK!! You will not be disappointed!
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Summary: New Perspective
Review: I found this book hard to put down. I have read other books dealing with similar issues, including "Roots" and "Beloved", yet this one presented another perspective that I have never really considered before. I never realized how difficult it still was for the freed slaves to truly escape the bonds of slavery. They were still persecuted by nosy, self-righteous, and hypocritical people who spent their lives worrying about the "depravity" of interracial families strong enough to try to live together as a family when it was so looked down upon by society. Each of the 4 generations of women, from Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene, and down to Emily, were strong and contributed something unique to their family history. Sure they all had their weaknesses like anyone else, but after reading about their lives, it was easier to see how skin color could be such an individualized issue for each of them. The author really was able to bring these women to life, helping me to gain an understanding of their motivations and strong ambitions for keeping their families together. Ms. Tademy has written a book to be proud of. I enjoyed the family photos and documents she included -- I thought they really added to a great book.
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Summary: An excellent read!
Review: Cane River paints a family portrait with strokes of the strength of women, the power of family, and the determination of the human spirit to be free in the lives of four unforgettable women. As these four women struggle through slavery as well as freedom, they are faced with the sexual advances of white men, loneliness, societal restrictions, prejudice, and a desire to provide their children more opportunity than they had. As Tademy envelops you in their lives, she brings humanity to history.
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