👶👶👶👶 Yellow Crocus, by Laila Ibrahim

How I love a book whose characters are so real, so multidimensional, that I can’t help but feel as though I’ve spent a lifetime with them. Mattie was such a character. I hold such a special place in my heart for her; what a tenderhearted, generous, and gracious woman! The care the author took to develop her protagonist was very evident.

Lisbeth was another endearing character; I loved her and I hated her, often within the span of just a few pages. I also found her to be a bit too naive with regard to slavery as she grew older, especially given that she grew up on a well-to-do plantation.

The story, itself, was well-told: the plot engaging, and the scene very vivid. However, I was torn about the ending. I just hoped for more for both characters, and couldn’t understand why a relationship was unattainable at that point in the story. I shed tears for them both, and was left with a hollow feeling in my heart. Having said that, perhaps this is why the novel will stay with me for years to come; it was replete with emotionally charged scenes that were as incomprehensible, as they were unforgettable.

I will also mention that the continual, detailed descriptions of breastfeeding were distracting. I take no issue with breastfeeding, and think that it is a beautiful part of motherhood; but I must say that there comes a point when its exhaustive explanation can go overboard (yes, even when the main character is a wet nurse). It seemed to take away from the story a bit because it was so excessive.

Additionally, I admit that the story had a more fortuitous outcome than what would have presumably happened in the South during that time period. Most situations would not have ended so serendipitously for both slaves and abolitionists alike. However, it is these moments of hope and redemption that made this novel such a joy to read.

Read 2/17/15