What do readers think of Remembrance by Rita Woods? Write your own review.

With thanks to BookBrowse for the opportunity to read and preview this remarkable book by first time author Dr Rita Woods. I have always loved the magic in novels by Isabel Allende and Alice Hoffman,so truly loved this story woven together by Rita Woods.
It follows young slave Abigail from Haiti in 1791 just growing into her powers as the island erupts in the slave rebellion. In New Orleans 1857,18 year old slave Margot,losing her promised freedom,escapes to the dream of Mother Abigail's Remembrance sanctuary. In present day Ohio,nursing home aide Gaelle is caring for Winter,Mother Abigail's successor, as her own powers are discovered.
The characters and their stories are beautifully written and weave an amazing story. I highly recommend Remembrance. On a personal note though...the description of being able to taste the vomit at the back of her throat was a bit overused!

4 stars Thank you to Forge and BookBrowse for the chance to read this book. Published January 21, 2020.

A book of mysticism - not witches - but mystics, each with their own power. Their own past and an eye to their own future.

This book follows three women, from Mother Abigail who builds Remembrance and maintains it's Edge, to Margot 60 years later, to Winter an elderly woman in a nursing home. From the 1700's to the current day. Haiti to New Orleans to Ohio. A stop on the Underground Railroad, always protected. All women running from slavery and trying to make a life of their own. Josiah, forever young, as he ages. What is his attachment? And Gaelle, the nurse, how does she fit in? A story of three women living in different time periods, yet all connected. All having a mystic power.

It took me a minute to get into this story, but once I did I could not put it down. Historical content, slavery and sacrifice, mystical connotations, all create a page turner. Learning the stories of these women was like a quantum leap - space divided and time stood still. Not all questions are answered for you, it takes some thought to understand this book. Who is the all powerful one? Who has an untapped power? Again, where does Josiah fit in?

Many surprises in this book. If you follow where it leads, the outcome is simple. But you must meld the stories together and find how the three women connect.

This book is haunting, it is intriguing, it settles heavily into your mind. You ask yourself what you would do over and over again. It melds the history of slavery with the biases of today. It throws you off balance with abrupt changes, yet holds you firmly in it's grip.

This is a debut book by Dr. Woods - and a fine book, it is.

As I was reading this book I kept thinking,
"Why am I reading this book? It is so strange." That said, I couldn't put it down. The mysticism, the characters, and the plot were so fascinating that I had to keep reading. There were several things that I didn't understand why they were in the story, and I was disappointed in the ending because so many questions were left unanswered. All of that said, I'm glad I read this book.

When I started Remembrance I wasn't sure I would like it. The beginning of the story was confusing to me. Not sure where the story was going and who was who. I even wrote down the characters names at the beginning. The historical part though at the beginning was interesting, so I decided to keep going and I'm so glad.The story told by many different characters gives you a look at how different each individual felt about life, slavery, love, voodoo and what happens in Remembrance. You will almost believe there was such a place as Remembrance and wished there had been.

I struggled a bit with this story, trying to keep the three timelines straight. There were a lot of characters to keep track out. As a result, I never felt a connection to any of the characters, except perhaps a bit with Abigail because of the horrors she encountered and her role throughout the rest of the story. This book is a blend of historical fiction and the supernatural, which makes perfect sense with the Haiti and New Orleans settings. I thought the present-day portion of the book was the weakest part. I understand the purpose of that portion, but it was weakly developed, unlike the other two portions.

It isn’t until a little over 100 pages into the story when it is revealed that Remembrance is a place – a sanctuary for blacks who have escaped slavery. It was at this point that I really became interested in the story.

I look forward to reading more by Rita Woods. If you are a fan of Octavia Butler (I certainly am), I think you will enjoy this book.

I received an Advance Reading Copy of “Remembrance” from the Forge, the publisher (Forge). All opinions expressed here are solely mine.

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.

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.

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.