Grace | 
pickIntertwining stories about a mother a daughter, one killed right after the birth of the other, this book ensnares you from its first sentence. As you read about Naomi forced to become a runaway slave and hide in a brothel you are also watching with her as her daughter grows up at the end of the Civil War. Both are little more than girls when subjected to brutality making this book difficult to read at times but it was impossible to put down.
I am emotionally wrecked and I am only a few pages in😩
so-soParts of this story of a mother and daughter, each trying to live free in the South of the 1840s and 1860s, were excellent, but there was so much melodrama and more than a few anachronisms.
pickWhat an amazing book. My heart broke for the characters and all they went through. The dual timeline was great and I couldn‘t stop reading.
pickThis book is so good. I loved so many of these characters, even while my heart was breaking for them. Fantastic historical fiction, and the narration is perfect.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so excited to get home from my trip to open my #cupidgoespostal gift from @Yeah_I_Read ! Thank you so so much! I am very excited to read all the books. The candy was much appreciated too and my kids were thrilled with the goodies you included for them. Thank you for thinking of them!! ♥️💝♥️💝
pickAmong the many great books about American slave experiences published recently, Grace more than holds its own, and re: readability/memorable characters/emotional punch-packing, it's near the top of my list. I so wish that stories like this - ones that demonstrate how slavery is not a static point on a historical timeline but rather that it continues to haunt American culture and people in embodied ways - would get into many, many more hands!
pickWow! This was such a beautifully written & powerful story. As it weaves between Naomi's story of escaping a plantation & a cruel Massa to a life in a brothel led by a Jewish Madam intent on preserving Naomi's innocence & that of her daughter, a slave that could pass as white as the end of the civil war brings turbulent times in the South. The entire story is told by Naomi after her death & her spirit will hold you captivated.
I actually won a giveaway! Hope it's good!
I got this book yesterday, after hearing about it on #allthebooks! Also I'm going to use it for #takemetochurch because of the title, Grace! #lyricalapril
I put on a loop of podcasts to play all night because it helps me sleep – strange, I admit, but it has worked well for me for many years. I just woke up, it's 8 AM in Tokyo, in the middle of this podcast interview with Natashia Deón, who I had never heard of before. I think I'm in love! ❤❤
http://otherppl.com/natashia-deon-interview/
"But there are some stories that mothers never tell their daughters—secret stories."
pickSo so so good. There has been so many great books with similar themes. Dare I say this might be the best, even better than Underground Railroad.
#seasonsreadings2016 #lastbooksstacked I'm sure this will change several times throughout the day. If there's anything I know I can count on day-to-day, it's that I'll discover another book (or 12) that I want to read.
Next book on my TBR on the wonderful week off.
Today's Audible daily deal was too good to resist. ❤️
so-soGrace was a bit uneven in execution but there were definite moments of "whoa." The first sentence just hurt, especially when you realize who the narrator is. While I know it's unfair to compare this first book to others, other first novels I've read this year were significantly better (Mothers, Behold the Dreamers, Homegoing, Here Comes the Sun to name a few).
An amazing morning! I met the wonderful @wellreadblackgirl and we talked about books and our changing country, and how we both think GRACE is underrated. And she joined Litsy! I told her it's only the best place on the Internet. Please show her some love, Littens! 💗💗💗
pickI've read numerous books about the horrors of slavery over the years and I believe that Grace ranks as one of the best. The book did start out somewhat slow for me and I ended up putting it down for a while. However, when I picked it back up, I was immediately drawn back into the story and did not want to put down. I felt that the characters had depth and the depictions, though graphic, gave the story credibility. Well done 👍🏽
Spending the afternoon multitasking: Reading and drinking coffee. ☕️😀
Excited to start this one!
This book sounds fascinating, and based on this interview http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-natashia-deon-20161007-snap-sto... the author sounds fascinating, too.
pickHoly moly. This is an *intense* read. It's life story of a girl named Josey, narrated by her mother Naomi... who is dead. Naomi was a slave in 1840s Alabama before she escaped and was later murdered. I don't think I took a breath for the first 30 pages.
Finished "Smoke" and after a lunch and work out break, back to it with "Grace"! Book two here we go ;) #24in48
pickA beautiful story of a brutal era. Heart wrenching, tragic and hopeful all at once. Tied for Best of 2016 for me. Sigh. ❤️💔📚
"It's always how white men came to own things: 'If you can define it, you can own it,' they'd say. 'If you can define it, it can be fought for, killed for. A woman, a slave, a cow, dirt, an idea.' And it is what happened. Thousands lost their lives."
It's not *quite* finished yet, so my new backyard mini-studio is just being used as a reading nook for another few weeks. OH IF I MUST!
pickThis book is beautifully written and totally gripping. It is definitely worth a read.
Was in Detroit all week, then a quick trip to Mackinaw City (amazing) yesterday, home again today and tomorrow I'm leaving to head up north to pretty much the same area, just on the Canadian side this time. So tonight, I read. A lot.
The American asked if I want to go to dinner and fireworks or if I wanted to be dropped off at the bookstore while he picked us up something to take home. Easy choice!
I was allowed to go to two bookstores today! Yay!
IT'S THE WEEKEND!!! That means weekend reading. @Liberty just finished GRACE by Natashia Deón, and is wading through her office for a new book. What are you reading this weekend? ?
pickWhile incredibly brutal (HOMEGOING readers, maybe wait a bit), this is a remarkable debut novel about a runaway slave and her daughter that will dazzle and break your heart.
I know I say it all the time, but y'all are really wonderful. I'm so proud to be part of such a great community of book lovers. And such a respectful community! Not everyone likes the same books, and that's okay! How boring it would be if we all agreed all the time. YOU ALL ROCK! 😘
