A review by sandysmith
Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It's an interesting intergenerational story of a family of black women spanning historical moments in US black history. Going from the 1940s to the 2000s, and told from 4 points of view. Beautifully written but at times confusing as sometimes it was difficult to know which person was narrating, as all timelines used the same terminology eg mother daughter sister. Hazel having the perfect black love and living through segregation, her daughters August and Miriam in the Dr King and Malcolm X era, and their children Derek, Joan, and Mia. Mia is the only woman's voice not heard, which is a shame. Loads of trigger warnings include racism, rape, domestic violence, gang warfare, gun violence, police brutality, to name a few. So it's more of a 3.75 stars, so I settled on a 4. A debut worth reading, beautiful if a tad confusing.  
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