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julianananana's review against another edition
4.0
This is a love letter to strained mother/daughter relationships, and I loved it.
librarydancer's review against another edition
Initially really interesting, this book began to drag and I lost motivation to read it.
erinthelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book! The characters and the story are so vivid and emotionally complex. Mothers, daughters and the complicated challenges they have are explored in a historical context and what it means to be free or to have Libertie. Along with the tug of a good story I learned about free Blacks and female doctors in NYC in the 1800s and I also learned a lot about Haiti. I loved learning mixed with storytelling. There are so many different things to pull apart with this book it would make a perfect book club book.
reikista's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meabeck's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
laurapoulosky's review against another edition
4.0
I'm surprised this historical novel's average Goodreads rating isn't a bit higher. I found this book well written, with complex characters, beautiful settings, and a plot that kept me interested in Libertie's fate. I would recommend it to people who like realistic woman-centered historical drama.
liagiba_abigail's review against another edition
5.0
"Was freedom worth it if you still ached like that? If you were still bound on this Earth by desire?" .... the prose is gorgeous
begquilter's review against another edition
4.0
This book throughout it had me thinking it would have been more interesting if telling her mom's story. What I have grown up to think of as a strong women is a woman who goes through difficulties and does not run from them, someone who is making their way in a society or position that is not set up for them, and honestly may not be the most empathetic because they have had to harden their feelings to get through situations. This was not Libertie at all. She is a young girl who grows into a women who is cared for by a women like this. Then I started to think we'll maybe that is not the only definition of strong. I mean what would it be like to live in someone's shadow and what kind of strength does that take. What is it like to live with expectations of what you are going to do and what type of life. Many people even today live with this. This book explores that and shows how this women deals with these expectations of her loved ones, but also how she found herself and her true purpose.
curlytop_reader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5