Family
From Publishers Weekly
In this beautifuly textured first novel by the author of the acclaimed short story collection Homemade Love , the history of one slave family becomes symbolic for all slaves and slaveholders. Clora, the granddaughter of a slave and a slaveholder, refuses to accept her life as chattel and, as did her mother, escapes slavery by committing suicide. She had tried to poison her children first, but they survive and Clora’s spirit narrates their story, beginning with her daughter Always. Although her siblings pass for white to escape, dark Always endures the misery of slavery including frequent rape by the slave owner. Stealing his gold to save for anticipated freedom, she risks her life to learn how to read. When she and his wife give birth to sons at the same time, Always switches the babies, of like complexion. Her son grows up in freedom, while she raises the other as a slave–a masterful metaphor for the psychological bondage that slavery imposed on sl…
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“Family” is a book that must be read. It is a touching, powerful book. This is one of Ms. Cooper’s most dynamic books. “Family” is a generational book. It is sensational. Much praise for “Family.”
“Family” shared insights into the institution of slavery. The bitterness a race suffered, but yet the courage of that race to survive. “Family” is about a mother, who did not want her children to live as she was forced to live or to endure the misery forced upon them, but in which they had no control. “Family” is moving. Indeed, some of the events will bring tears to your eyes. “Family” is about survival.
Ms. Cooper is an exceptional author and has truly captured the essence of what it is to be a ‘family.’
This was a page-turner. Some books we must almost force ourselves to finish but this story is very compelling. When I first began reading, I had to do so very slowly so that I could understand what was happening. The reason was because the narrator of this book is herself a slave from the mid-1800’s and therefore speaks with the slang and southern accent of that time. Once I got used to that I liked it because it made the story feel more authentic. I felt that it again reminds us of how inhumane slavery was and still is; that we as people must never allow for it to reoccur in todays world or future though, sadly, it still exists out there in other countries and forms. The ending was so glorious and made me feel wonderful for the characters. It is in my opinion, a great book that everyone could benefit from reading but you may have to be in the mood for it since some of it’s content is more than disheartening