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Wench
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
wench \'wench\ n. from Middle English wenchel, 1 a: a girl, maid, young woman; a female child. Situated in Ohio, a free territory before the Civil War, Tawawa House is an idyllic retreat for Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their enslaved black mistresses. Its their open secret. Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at the resort, building strong friendships over the years. But when Mawu, as fearless as she is assured, comes along and starts talking of running away, things change. To run is to leave everything behind, and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances all while they bear witness to the end of an era. An engaging, page-turning, and wholly original novel, Wench explores, with an unflinching eye, the moral complexities of slavery.
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Octoberwoman
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!). Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2023

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JenniferEgnor
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

An absolutely heart shattering novel. A story of enslaved Black women, and the sacrifices they make in hopes of finding freedom. This novel takes you into the South, onto the plantation and further North when abolition was beginning. At times suffocating, always powerful. With a deep look into what life was like for enslaved women, this story also serves as a reminder of the meaning of Reproductive Justice, and Abolition. Highly recommended.

JenniferEgnor If not already banned, this book will be. Read it. 6mo
12 likes1 comment
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Evita
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Pickpick

3 out of 5

S3V3N This was one of my favorites. 1y
Evita 1y
4 likes2 comments
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S3V3N
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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I would want my college African American Studies teacher Mrs. Pam Chapman to find the tagged book on my table. It‘s intriguing, informative and incites deep conversation.
#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern We love the teachers that inspired us to discussions! Thanks for posting! 1y
S3V3N @ozma.of.oz Yes! 1y
TheBookHippie This is on my wishlist!! I Love teachers! 1y
S3V3N @TheBookHippie It‘s soooo good. 1y
25 likes4 comments
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sprainedbrain
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

I had no idea that southern slave owners would sometimes take their slave mistresses on vacation with them to a resort in free territory Ohio... I love a book that gets me googling.

This book was incredible: sad, infuriating, hopeful, and beautiful. Gorgeously written story with unforgettable characters—I finished this a week ago and I‘m still thinking about Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet, and Mawu. So painful, but so good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Reggie Ughhhh this book was sooo good but such a downer. I felt so bad the way he used her kids against her. 3y
70 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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S3V3N
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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1. Having to cook almost daily since restaurants were closed.
2. Health
#ThankfulThursday
@Cosmos_Moon

Texreader Oh right. I miss going out to dinner every now and then. 3y
Cosmos_Moon I hope eating in has at least saved money and maybe healthier, to look on the bright side 🥰 3y
S3V3N @Texreader I missed it. I have gone out a few times lately. Not as often as before. 3y
S3V3N @Cosmos_Moon Yes, I do eat healthier now. LOL 3y
24 likes4 comments
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S3V3N
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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DAB That Beverly Jenkins book look good. 4y
S3V3N @DAB I really enjoyed this one. I like all of her books. 4y
DAB @BeaG Thanks. I have added her to my reading list. 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚👍🏻 4y
OriginalCyn620 📚❤️📚 4y
28 likes5 comments
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S3V3N
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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🌹My friend recommended the book to because she knows that I‘m an avid reader. It was a hook that she thoroughly enjoyed and she knew that I would like it too. It was an excellent book. 🌹 I‘m grateful for good friends. #ThankfulThursday @Cosmos_Moon

Cosmos_Moon After reading the synopsis and others‘ reviews, it sounds very good! 4y
S3V3N @Cosmos_Moon It‘s ah-mazing. Characters and situations stayed in my head for a while. I learned a lot of history from it too. 4y
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
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S3V3N
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

Deep. I had to rewind a few times just to make sure that I heard correctly. Woosah

Bookpearl This...You‘re going to have several moments like this. It was a lot to digest but worth the read. 4y
S3V3N @Bookpearl I did. I finished it today. 4y
20 likes2 comments
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hollylynnbee
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Pickpick

One of the most important books I have read. It was sad, empowering, and happy. I didn't expect the ending but it was great. Please go find this book and read it!

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hollylynnbee
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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"One of them was hoping to give up what the other cherished and the third longed for." ❤️

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Reggie
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

It is the 1850‘s and 4 slave owners take their slave mistresses to a resort in the free state of Ohio. We meet Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet, and Mawu, as they form a friendship across 4 summers and what ideas being so close to “being free” gives them. I loved this book. It broke my heart, made me angry. It‘s about how the wants of your heart can make you blind to the realities in front of you. I was horrified at what better looks like when your life👇🏼

Reggie is shit. I recommend this book. A sad pick. (edited) 5y
GatheringBooks this sounds heartbreaking 💔 5y
hhavel Many thanks for recommending this book. It will most likely go on my 'to-read' list on another site. Can you guess what site that is? I'm not sure what flak I'll get for mentioning it here. Thanks again! 5y
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Reggie @hhavel we‘re pretty loving of all things books here so I‘m guessing GR. If you read this book I hope you like it. 5y
minkyb I would love to go book shopping with you. Just sayin‘. 5y
Reggie @minkyb If I‘m ever in the Northeast I‘m gonna look you up and we‘ll go bookstore hopping. 5y
minkyb And vice versa if I get to your part of the US! 5y
Cosmos_Moon Wow, great review. You‘ve convinced me. 4y
Cosmos_Moon @minkyb & @Reggie that sounds like fun! 4y
Reggie @Cosmos_Moon I read this 6 months after I read Octavia Butler‘s Kindred and a month before Marlon James‘s The Book of Night Woman. In high school I think the basic sentiment was that was slavery was bad. Those 3 books are what I call my personal slavery trilogy that really brought home the horrific reality of slavery. This book was great. I hope you like it. 4y
Cosmos_Moon The history is so horrific! I‘ve read a few non-fictions in the last few months that touch on this and it makes me so sad that this history of America has left such a scar on society that is continuously ripped open. I think Kindred is on my TBR, also, but haven‘t heard of 4y
Cosmos_Moon Now on my TBR! Thanks! 4y
74 likes4 stack adds13 comments
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juliegumdrop
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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tcheer4life
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Hold list Bookpage March 2018

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TheBookbabeblog84
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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sprainedbrain
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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#PiratesLife #WhatAWayToLive #wenches

I thought about poor Kyra from the Song of Ice and Fire series first, but then I realized I have this perfectly-named choice in my tbr. Snatched up in my quest to read all things historical fiction, and still sitting there. 😳

CrowCAH Perfect book, couldn't get any closer myself! 😊 Hopefully, you'll get the chance to read it soon. 7y
Sharpeipup Given the title, I was surprised by the cover. 7y
sprainedbrain @Sharpeipup and the subject! It's not about what you think it should be about. 7y
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MeganAnn This sounds really interesting! Stacked 😊 7y
RealBooks4ever Hmmm... 🤔 7y
Bookpearl I loved Wench! I still have to wrap my mind around a few scenes. 7y
Zelma @Bookpearl agreed! It's a really good book but a tough read at times. 7y
Sace This was a great book. 7y
120 likes7 stack adds8 comments
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LazyLimaLife
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

Accidentally finished this book tonight instead of tomorrow like I planned. It's heartbreakingly good. It's played with my head a bit and I've been eyeing people suspiciously all day. It's not "just" a book about slavery, but a book about despair and hope. And I loved the surprise nod to my mom's alma mater! Wasn't expecting that at all!

Sace I got this from my library last Friday. Just haven't opened up and started it yet! Thanks for the review. 7y
LazyLimaLife Hope you like it @Sace! 7y
7 likes2 comments
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LazyLimaLife
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez

At night, before she went to sleep in her cabin down in the quarters, she remembered Mawu‘s story and told herself that she was a god, a powerful god. Each and every day, she reminded herself of this so that she wouldn‘t fall backward. She was more than eyes, ears, lips, and thigh. She was a heart. She was a mind.

Sace Just put it on hold at my library! 7y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LazyLimaLife
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Ready for tomorrow's commute!

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amma-keep-reading
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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The heartbreak in this book combined with the heartbreak in the America of today is making me sick to my stomach. So emotional.

RinaBrahmbhattBarot Whole world is sad with America today...very sad! 7y
4 likes1 comment
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Liatrek
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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BestOfFates
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Yesterday, I accompanied a friend to a used bookstore so she could buy Ulysses. They didn't have a copy & I ended up spending $72 so the day did not go as planned. (I need an intervention.)

Karen3 Hahaha love this! So something I would do. 8y
Leelee08 That sounds exactly like me. I can't be trusted in a bookstore. 😂 8y
BookishFeminist /me every time I enter a library or bookstore 8y
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Soubhiville Hahahaha! I laughed so hard! But ya, I always leave with more than I intended to buy! 📙📘📗📕📔📚 8y
Lindy Woah! Impressive haul! 8y
kammartinez Since it's a used bookstore, you can at least console yourself with the thought that you bought nothing at full-price ;). 8y
BestOfFates @kammartinez True! I did the math & it worked out to $2.60 on average - it would have been lower if not for a few graphic novels which are always steeper! 8y
Hugoreads I saw 'bookstore ' and $72.00 and I felt a vicarious joy! Happy reading! 8y
58 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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jamreads
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez

"...perhaps whites did not understand how it felt not to be able to go where one wanted to go, dress how one wanted to dress. They took simple things like movement for granted." - Lizzie

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jamreads
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

I put off reading this book for a long time. I just didn't want to read another slave story. But this is more than the life of slave women in the 1800's. This story reveals the power, strength & courage of four women, the safe haven found in true friendships & the ties that bind the afflicted.

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Donna_sBookMinute
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Perkins-Valdez subtly and cleverly sparks the imagination by leaving things unsaid. Her implied word engages the reader to interpret the idea in his own frame of reference. Dialect was natural and not forced -- as I've seen in some attempts at fictionalizing the concept of slavery.

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Donna_sBookMinute
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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"Six slaves sat in a triangle, three women, three men, the men half nestled in the sticky heat of thighs, straining their heads away from the pain of the tightly woven ropes."

Donna_sBookMinute Some description, huh? The men were getting their hair braided. Yes, this author can "turn a phrase"; and comes out full throttle in her debut novel. Readers can look forward to more of this type of brilliant narrative in Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. 8y
3 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Donna_sBookMinute
Wench: A Novel | Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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Pickpick

The story covers three summers during the middle of the 19th century at an Ohio resort which was later named Wilberforce University. It opens in media res during the summer of 1852. Having found slaveholders in my family's history, I still couldn't believe the slave/husband-figure arrangements.

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