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There are currently 32 member reviews
for Remembrance
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Barbara P. (Hixson, TN)
Remembrance
This ended up not being the book that I expected. It was more about the "voodoo" beliefs that transcended over time rather than the history of the native Haitians. At times I was enthralled with the story and at other times I thought the story dragged. I loved the authors prose and would be interested in reading other novels she has written or will write.
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Patricia L. (Seward, AK)
Remembrance: place and time
Remembrance is both a place and a remembrance of time passed. Bouncing between the mid 1800's to the present, Remembrance, the book, is the voice of slaves and their heirs, as they live their lives within the confines of slavery and what has become for many a similarly oppressive environment in today's world. The place is a safe haven for slaves where they can live unfettered by the "blancs" who harass, intimidate and brutalize them in every other time and place. Remembrance is a place where life is lived as it should be. To get there is a mystery that includes the good fortune to meet a few trusted souls and then be led on the Underground Railroad to peace and tranquility…or is it a destiny? Woods creates real characters who are believable even as they preform magical feats that serve to allow Remembrance to be accepted as a safe haven. There are even a few humorous exchanges in dialog that lighten the atmosphere and make the characters human.
This book is recommended for those who wish to gain a greater understanding of slavery and the open wound that continues to fester for many. Slightly wordy but worth the effort.
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Judy G. (Carmel, IN)
Remembrance--of the central fire
I would give this book a 4.5 rating if I was able to do so. Very enjoyable and engaging read.The necessary description of tragedy experienced by slaves seeking freedom was overcome entirely in the moment by the community scene at the central fire in Remembrance.Those most likely to enjoy the book are readers "willing to suspend their disbelief" in order to soak up and hold onto the magic of this writer's storytelling skills. Those readers can't help but become enchanted in a story that so rarely has warm, memorable outcomes. I believe there will always be havens like Remembrance as long as we close our eyes and remember our dreams.
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Nancy D. (Raleigh, NC)
Surviving
Remembrance by Rita Woods is the story of slavery and four women connected through generations. All four ladies at some point feel hate and anger, and how they deal with these emotions and where this anger leads them is a study in their strength and reliance. Gaelle turns her anger toward something different and perhaps evil. Margot turns her emotions toward something constructive. Winter knows that she is different and when the safety of all that she loves becomes jeopardized, she realizes her real potential. Mother Abigail and her friend Josiah, are the thread holding everyone together through a mixture of spirituality and mysticism. In the end, each woman learns that her strengthens, weaknesses, hate, anger and love all go into making her the woman she becomes and a survivor.
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John W. (Saint Louis, MO)
Can't Wait for the Sequel
I really enjoyed the book and found it well written. The author has that unique gift of describing the location and events where the reader can visually imagine themselves part of the story. While I greatly enjoyed the book, I found the description of the book a little misleading – I was expecting a historical fictional story. I appreciated learning more about life in Haiti and New Orleans in the 1700s during the time of slavery.
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Amber H. (Asheville, NC)
Wonderful Story!
I really enjoyed this book. The story was well written and kept me engaged. The descriptions of location and characters were beautiful. I also appreciated learning more about the experiences of slaves, including the history going back to Haiti in 1700s.
There were some details of each character that I found a little hard to follow at the beginning. I found myself going back to previous chapters to re-read the details.
Overall, I think this is a wonderful book and recommend it others!
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Terrie J. (Eagan, MN)
Interesting plot around slavery
This was a really interesting novel, It took a horrible piece of our history (slavery) and built a plot around a place that slaves could go to be free. It was well written, following different characters in different time periods. The characters were vividly described and it was easy to follow which character and time period the book was describing. It was nice to think that a place like Remembrance could have existed to allow slaves some freedom once they escaped from their slavers. It provided a bit of hope. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a combination of history, fiction and character development.
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