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A review by leahegood
A More Perfect Union by Tammye Huf
emotional
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? No
4.0
Sarah and Henry O'Toole have much in common, yet the world they find themselves in deems them irreconcilably incompatible. Sarah is separated from her family by the slave auction block, Henry separated from his by poverty, famine, and death. When they meet, they're drawn to each other in the way of two gentle hearts who have experienced too much cruelty, but the obstacles between them may be insurmountable.
This story is written by a black woman married to a European man and is inspired by her discovery that her great great grandparents were also an interracial marriage.
The pain and injustice of life as a slave (and an impoverished Irish farmer) bleeds through these pages.
On that note, this is most definitely an adult novel with adult themes and content throughout.
Romance Though not excessively graphic, there are also a few consensual scenes that are not fade-to-black. Though I usually prefer these scenes to cut about a paragraph earlier than some did in this book, it felt in keeping with the SA portrayed to equally portray the loving relationship in the story.
Violence Implications of SA are throughout the book, beginning immediately with Sarah being touched against her will to make her more sexually appealing in the auction block. Though not unnecessarily graphic, there are a few scenes and flashbacks of SA that are not fade-to-black and portray the grotesque abuses slave women lived with daily. There are also a couple instances of beatings and slaves being mutilated after attempts to run away.
Language Mild swearing throughout, but not with excessive frequency.
Religion Sarah and her fellow slaves pray frequently, while their master believes he is a good Christian man based on his reluctance to whip his slaves and his prohibition on SA. Henry, the male lead, seems faintly cynical towards religion after losing his family to starvation.
This story is written by a black woman married to a European man and is inspired by her discovery that her great great grandparents were also an interracial marriage.
The pain and injustice of life as a slave (and an impoverished Irish farmer) bleeds through these pages.
On that note, this is most definitely an adult novel with adult themes and content throughout.
Romance Though not excessively graphic, there are also a few consensual scenes that are not fade-to-black. Though I usually prefer these scenes to cut about a paragraph earlier than some did in this book, it felt in keeping with the SA portrayed to equally portray the loving relationship in the story.
Violence Implications of SA are throughout the book, beginning immediately with Sarah being touched against her will to make her more sexually appealing in the auction block. Though not unnecessarily graphic, there are a few scenes and flashbacks of SA that are not fade-to-black and portray the grotesque abuses slave women lived with daily. There are also a couple instances of beatings and slaves being mutilated after attempts to run away.
Language Mild swearing throughout, but not with excessive frequency.
Religion Sarah and her fellow slaves pray frequently, while their master believes he is a good Christian man based on his reluctance to whip his slaves and his prohibition on SA. Henry, the male lead, seems faintly cynical towards religion after losing his family to starvation.