curleytwin2's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
I had a difficult time following the pace and plot of this book; it might have been easier if I had read it as a print book rather than ebook, but I'm not sure.
andrew61's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ursa Corregidora is a blues singer in post war in Kentucky and in the first chapter we as readers are confronted with her being the victim of an act of violence from her husband Mutt that leaves her requiring an emergency hysterectomy and unable to have children. We then follow Ursa through her life to the late 1960's as she leaves Mutt and falls into a marriage with club owner Tadpole. The heartbreak of childlessness is important as through her lineage the importance of link through generations is significant to all the women in the book.
The book is however more than an account of her life as Ursa is the child of a female line that have been the victim of rape by their slave owner the Portuguese speaking Corregidora. This man treated Ursa's great grandmother and grandmother as property so that he father's both Ursa's grandmother and mother. The shadow of slavery hangs over Ursa's life as the hatred of her name and origins is fundamental to her life and we learn more about her mother and grandmother through Ursa's exchanges with them in the narrative.
The book is a difficult read as Ursa references slavery but equally troubling as we watch her being treated so badly by men she encounters who similarly view her as their property mirroring the slavery notion. The book is peppered with the male feeling of ownership and Ursa despite her strength of character still seems drawn to men who mistreat her.
The dialogue through this book is striking as Ursa responds to her encounters with fierce wit and responses are like the music that is so much part of her character.
Ursa is a unique character, vital, but vulnerable, she is a force who is attractive to men and women and full of a fierce . She is also a sexual woman who enjoys men and enjoys sex with her partners just as she is absorbed by the music she sings.
It is not surprising that the cover includes plaudits from the great and good of American literature and also that Toni Morrison, an editor when it was published in 1975 championed this novel.
I would also recommend listening to the Backlisted podcast episode on this book which probably better expresses the enthusiasm I seek to put down here.
The book is however more than an account of her life as Ursa is the child of a female line that have been the victim of rape by their slave owner the Portuguese speaking Corregidora. This man treated Ursa's great grandmother and grandmother as property so that he father's both Ursa's grandmother and mother. The shadow of slavery hangs over Ursa's life as the hatred of her name and origins is fundamental to her life and we learn more about her mother and grandmother through Ursa's exchanges with them in the narrative.
The book is a difficult read as Ursa references slavery but equally troubling as we watch her being treated so badly by men she encounters who similarly view her as their property mirroring the slavery notion. The book is peppered with the male feeling of ownership and Ursa despite her strength of character still seems drawn to men who mistreat her.
The dialogue through this book is striking as Ursa responds to her encounters with fierce wit and responses are like the music that is so much part of her character.
Ursa is a unique character, vital, but vulnerable, she is a force who is attractive to men and women and full of a fierce . She is also a sexual woman who enjoys men and enjoys sex with her partners just as she is absorbed by the music she sings.
It is not surprising that the cover includes plaudits from the great and good of American literature and also that Toni Morrison, an editor when it was published in 1975 championed this novel.
I would also recommend listening to the Backlisted podcast episode on this book which probably better expresses the enthusiasm I seek to put down here.
sbb42's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
sorayasklya's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
katsherms's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful melancholic book about what we owe those who we came from and what we owe ourselves. A blues singer examines her ancestral story in light of a devastating tragedy. TW for assault, violence
andrea_ebers's review against another edition
2.0
Wenn mir erst das Nachwort die Geschichte näherbringt, dann habe ich mit den Figuren und dem Stil wohl so meine Schwierigkeiten gehabt. Gern hätte ich mich der Faszination ihrer vielbesprochenen Ausdrucksweise ergeben, aber ich empfand nach kurzer Zeit eher sowas wie Abscheu. Dazu kamen die sich ständig um Sex drehende Handlung und die unnahbaren, rohen Figuren. Ich bekam keinen Zugang. Wenn das Jones‘ Absicht war, dann Glückwunsch. Mission erfüllt.
aleag's review against another edition
I was unprepared for some of the subject matter....and it dawned on me that though THIS was a work of fiction, it most definitely was the truth for so many women during that time.
rafternorth's review against another edition
4.0
“I am Ursa Corregidora. I have tears for eyes. I was made to touch my past at an early age. I found it on my mother’s tiddies. In her milk. Let no one pollute my music. I will dig out their temples. I will pluck out their eyes.”
This is not one for the weak hearted, nor should you read it if you are easily triggered by sexual abuse, domestic abuse, pedophilia and incest. There are disturbing and very thorough descriptions of all of those here. But if you can stomach it read it because although it is ruthless there is beauty that can be found within the darkness, as well as an unbreakable strength that holds four generations of black women together.
Rating: 4 Stars
This is not one for the weak hearted, nor should you read it if you are easily triggered by sexual abuse, domestic abuse, pedophilia and incest. There are disturbing and very thorough descriptions of all of those here. But if you can stomach it read it because although it is ruthless there is beauty that can be found within the darkness, as well as an unbreakable strength that holds four generations of black women together.
Rating: 4 Stars