Search - Cane River

This review was originally written for the audio version, but it holds true, obviously, for the print version. So I repeat it here with hopes it might help someone's choice of read.

Yes! This was an Oprah pick...but forget that. This is a great book anyway.

I spent the entire day listening to this 6 hour audio as I walked and gardened, then just sat on the stoop doing nothing but listening. Perhaps it was the readers, Shari Belafonte, Jo Marie Payton, and Edwina Moore, who seemed to take a generation each to read about. They breathed such life into the characters, such love and determination into their lives. Depressing--well, all Oprah books seem to be, at least those I've read. But this book was different. Of course it had its depressing moments, after all, a book about Black women set in the south during the 1800's would be, but then along would come these scenes that would lift you right out of that misery. Make you so proud and make you wish you knew these women.

Multi-generational, it somewhat reminded me of Roots, with the focus all upon the women.

And something I found very neat: the author, Lalita Tademy, did an introduction where she admitted that after finding the documents and such of these relatives, when she decided to write the story, she did not hesitate to use her imagination where things could not be proved.

This is long book but it reads fast. Historical fiction about three geenerations of women in Louisiana, follows their struggles in , up and out of slavery. Very interesting depiction of the culture of french and creole which is unique to that part of the country.

on a plantation of a Louisiana's Cane River, four generations of astonishing women battle injustice to unite thier family and forge success on their own terms

This is one of the best novels I have ever read. I purchased a signed hard cover because I think so highly of it.

Covering a century's period of time, "Cane River" tells the story of a family born into slavery. Four strong women--in their own ways--Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene and Emily each strive to better the lives of their children. It's a true story but has been fictionalized (like "Roots") and the author is a marvellous storyteller.

I thought this was a wonderful book, for me it was writen well and was very easy to read, I had no idea that it was one of Oprah's book club picks... but if her picks are this good, I need to pay better attention!!!