erykahjoy's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed "Praisesong for the Widow." The story was unexpected.
bookgardendc's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful book about rediscovering who you are - your history, your people, the place you come from, and all those little moments in life.
adambwriter's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting - echoes of Alice Walker (even more interesting that this book and Walker's The Color Purple wer published within a year of each other). Full review to come at roofbeamreader.com
lachellerising's review against another edition
4.0
Was recommended this book by a friend and then again by bell hooks in her book “Sister of The Yams: Black women and self-recovery” (a must-read), she mentions this book often. This was a lovely story about overcoming grief, rediscovery of self, the interconnectedness of the Black diaspora and healing.
snowmaiden's review against another edition
5.0
I found the first part of this book intriguing but rather prosaic. Avey Johnson, the main character who suddenly abandons her long-awaited Caribbean cruise on a whim, struck me as so staid, so prim, and so proper. I couldn't identify much with her at all. But then the second section, which flashes back to all the events in Avey's life that have made her so timid and so conservative, brought her to life for me. What middle-aged woman hasn't come to the realization that somewhere along the way, she took a wrong turn and has become something less than she might have been? And after she comes to this realization, there is nothing for her to do but search for a new path. I ended up loving this book, and I'm very glad to hear that it's about to be reprinted this year by McSweeney's. Maybe you'll love it, too!
jlyngalvin's review against another edition
1.0
I was forced to read this as part of my Women's Lit. class. It destroyed a piece of my soul.