Welcome to Litsy!

This is an amazing look into prior civil war in the South. How races crossed yet were still treated poorly. I really enjoyed the attention to detail and character development. I would definitely recommend this read.

This was such an incredible book. Pheby is promised her freedom on her 18th birthday. She‘s forced to leave the sheltered life she‘d been living and sent to the infamous Devils Half Acre. But Pheby is smart and she‘ll do what she must to survive. So powerful and at times a whole lot uncomfortable to realize just how brutal life was for the enslaved. Truly a book we should all read. #bookspin #mayreadinglist. @TheAromaofBooks

4.5 out of 5. A well written page turner! Some detailed harrowing scenes so check triggers before embarking on this reading journey.

#29
This was a great book if I do say so myself. Listening to the story and the narrator doing such a great job. I loved it, very well written and a book I would recommend.

This historical fiction was inspired by true events and people. Parts of it was really hard to read/listen to because of the violence and inhumanity, but it was well written and worth the read.

I couldn't put this one down. As I tried to put myself in Pheby's shoes several times throughout, I knew I would never be able to come close to understanding that level of hell. My favorite stories combine truth and fiction and according to the Author's Note, this story has blended the two into delicate terror perfectly. I really appreciate the finality to the story in the epilogue that ties into real history.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The amount of mint to mix with cow manure to make tea fur consumption.”
I can‘t even begin to imagine…This book is soul stirring and will sit with me.
Excerpt From: Johnson, Sadeqa. “A Novel.” Simon & Schuster, 2021-01-12. Apple Books.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Inspired by a true event, the author will recreate a story of how would be the life of Mary Lumpkin, a mixed race woman, who had 5 children with Robert Lumpkin, known for his cruelty during his period in that jail between 1844 to 1865. The author provides references of these events and explains what motivated her to write this story. So sad and I know it was worse in the real time. Love the story and the writing style. 4⭐️

The story follows the story of a young woman who would go across any lengths to keep her children safe in the age of slavery

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yellow Woman grabbed me from page 1 and didn't let go. A beautifully written and heartbreaking novel about American slavery. I shall never forget Pheby Delores Brown.

Book #1 2022 / Virginia

#gratefulharvest #yellow

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love how Sadeqa Johnson read a sign on a historical marker on a nature trail and looked the couple up, then imagined this story based on that imagined life. How horrible to be a slave, and know your children‘s fates depended on preparing other slaves for the market. Pheby‘s story was rich and compelling. This historical novel shows a different view of plantation and slave life that‘s very detailed. Hard to read in places, but informative.

#86 of 2021. #juneholidayreads 6/20 #littenlisten #historicalfiction
Pheby was born to parents who were a slave and her master. She was treated a little bit better growing up due to this fact. After tragedy occurs, she is sent away from the plantation she grew up on and finds herself a common law wife. This is the story of what she endures to protect those she loves and hopefully be reunited with loved ones. This book was excellent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#curiouscovers #yellow

My next audiobook for #littenlisten .

It was a difficult to finish this. Not sure whether to feel pity or angry.

#GoodReads2021Challenge

Yellow Wife is set in pre-Civil War Virginia. Pheby is the daughter of a slave but has been promised freedom on her 18th birthday. As a result of a series of tragedies, Pheby finds herself witnessing evil in the form of her common law husband. Brutality is on full display. Racism, hate, culture, & colorism are revealed through Pheby's emotional tale. Truly one of the most incredible books I've read. Entirely worthy of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Add it to your TBR.

So I finally finished this book. It was a tough read to be honest and TBH 1 I don‘t normally read/enjoy historical fiction 2. I don‘t enjoy historical fiction set in slavery times. Despite this not being my normal genre I did enjoy this book. I could tell it was based on a true story and it was well written. The pacing at times was a bit off for me but overall it was good. Thankfully my cousins loves this genre and I will pass the book on to her.

I'm halfway through and simply LOVING this book. 💛

Time for my April Reading Wrap Up!

https://youtu.be/Avg3cfZCxvA

#readingwrapup #aprilwrapup #booktalk

Lots of action in this book about a slave wife to a slave jailer. I could only listen to it in batches. It was hard to listen to for too long. I really like how the author came to the story and what she did with it.

So good, be aware of triggers though! The only real problem I had was it felt too short! I want more. Not a bad problem to have 😁 I also recommend reading the author‘s notes at the end, she talks about her inspiration and research for the book.

A little outdoor reading today! Dogs playing in the yard while my heart gets ripped out of my chest. #readerlife

This was a real disappointment. The writing was graceful but this book lacked weight. After reading The Prophets (5 🌟) this was a let down. I would like to read some of this authors other work, but this was a miss for me. 2.5 🌟

This is why I love belonging to book clubs! I don‘t know if I would have wandered upon this gem if it hadn‘t been recommended.This is a story of a brave woman who made many important and decisions in order for her children to survive.The travesties that the slaves endured were difficult to read about.The author did a wonderful job of describing this horribly difficult time.Thank you again to the Sharon Virts Bookclub for this months selection.

Set in 1850s Virginia, this is the story of Pheby, a young woman who is sold to the owner of a notorious jail for slaves known as the Devil‘s Half-Acre. The novel was inspired by real life people and places, and was often difficult to read given the subject matter. My only issue with the book was the ending, which felt too abrupt. The novel isn‘t long, so I think another few chapters would have brought better closure to Pheby‘s story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The opening quote in Yellow Wife. It sure got me thinking...

Hello Littens!

I had a bit of a crazy week and spent more time unwinding by watching The Great Canadian Baking Show with my daughter than by reading. I did manage to finish two books—The Night Swim by Megan Goldin, which I liked, and One By One by Ruth Ware, which is my least favourite of Ware‘s books.

Pictured is my current read. We are under another stay at home order, so my only plans outside work hours are to read and watch baking shows 🍰

This quote is in the introduction to the tagged book. Very powerful

Heartbreaking, powerful and a bluntly written novel. It made me gasp at times and I felt the pain of the main character. One of the best novels I‘ve ever read.

I finished this a few days ago on a work trip. It was such a good book...it hurt my heart, but so very good.

This is my current read. It‘s a page turner so far.

Moving on to this book that I got from Once Upon a Bookclub!

Great story, very well written.

Great historical fiction novel about a slave who makes choices to protect her family and those she loves. Graphic and quick moving, Yellow Wife gives voice to those who didn‘t have choices. Great read for a snowy afternoon!

This is a tough one to review. I give it a pick because it is so well written, impeccably researched, the characters so fully realized. But be warned going into it, this is a frank and honest depiction of life at the Devil's Half Acre, a slaving post in Richmond VA. It pulls no punches in showing the cruelty and devastation in such a place. Many passages are extremely difficult to read.

This book was excellent! I was swept up into the story immediately and it did not let up. I felt the ending was a little rushed, but that is my only issue. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Finally getting to my latest #onceuponabookclubbox my daughter read it straight through, she loved it so much, so I‘m looking forward to it. Plus. Presents. I love these things! #ouabcVIP I have a discount code if anyone needs it!

Unfortunately this was the first book in along time I had to bail on. I got to chapter 4—the author writes wonderfully but that being said the subject matter was too much for me.

I was quite cozy this morning with my coffee and Yellow Wife by @sadeqasays I don‘t know what‘s going to happen as I‘m still pretty early in this read but I can say, run not walk and pick your copy up soon. P.S. Shout to my baby sis for putting me onto this amazing coffee. #readsoullitphotochallenge #sadeqajohnson #cozy

🎧A library hold just came through!😃

I highly recommended this well-written slave narrative. Told from the first person point of view, readers will follow the development of protagonist Pheby Delores Brown. She‘s a mulatto slave who can read books and maps and plays piano beautifully. She has high hopes of being set free for her 18th birthday, but that doesn‘t happen. Read to find out what happens next... The suspense is palpable. It is trauma filled so beware.

My sister sent this box from Once Upon A Time Book Club to me as a birthday present. In addition to the tagged book, the box has little gifts to open when you reach specific pages. I love this idea!

Grim but gorgeous take on an enslaved woman‘s life at the famous Richmond slave jail known as the Devil‘s Half Acre, making the best choices she can for herself, her children and her captured lover in the most dire, deadly circumstances. Hard to read at times but a powerful story of courage.

My current read. So good so far!

Warning: sexual assault and n word
This historical fiction story follows the real life story of Mary Lumpkin and the horrid Devils Acre. Well researched. I recommend reading up on them
Phelby went from being the daughter of her master and medicine slave to being put in her mothers same position in the next Big House. She does what she can to survive. None to pretty; a cold splash of reality of pre-civil war. Monroe‘s story broke my heart
#ouabc

This is an interesting story, based upon real characters pre-civil war. The character, Pheby, is based upon the real Mary Lumpkin, a slave forced in to a relationship with her owner. The story follows her as an enslaved young woman, thrust into a slavers jail to break her spirit, even as she was promised freedom
Historic fiction can be difficult readin, but times change. Stories help history stick
Just came out Jan 12 too
#onceuponabookclub #ouabc

🎉IT‘S NEW BOOK DAY!🎉 These are physical copies that I have on hand, but there are SO many more amazing books out today that I am excited about or looking forward to reading, including Tales From the Hinterland, Concrete Rose, The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, The Dangers of Smoking in Bed, The House on Vesper Sands, Across the Green Grass Fields. What are you excited to read? 📚❤️📚

3.5 STARS - This was a compelling & unflinching story based on the life of a mulatto woman who was born a slave and becomes mistress of a notorious jail in Richmond, VA that dealt with the punishment and sale of slaves. Look for it January 12/21.

My Review: http://bit.ly/YellowWifeReview