Page From A Tennessee Journal (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This is a very interesting book from a black woman's view. It takes place in 1914 in Tennessee and you see how different things were then for a black woman who was single or whose husband was not around. AnnaLaura's husband left her just after the tobacco crop they sharecrop for a landowner is in. She has 4 children with the oldest just 12. The owner of the land takes a liking to her and although he treats her well and thinks he is in love with her she knows this can never work. A Lot happens but you really get an up close view of how things were handled then. I would recommend this book if you liked The Help. Not the same but good. This was a well written book with an interesting setting, but I did not enjoy the premise of the story. None of the characters are particularly likeable and the ending is not satisfying for me personally. I know it's set in another time period, but I have to question the fact that ALL the male characters felt they could cheat on their wives without issue, but women didn't have the same options. I'm not convinced that's entirely accurate. It's certainly something that would be hard to verify with a history book.I was especially struck by the fact that were numerous scenes describing sex that was essentially rape, but from the rapist's point of view who found it sensous. I felt betrayed as a reader, being lead into thinking it was consensual, only to discover in the next chapter (from another character's point of view) that it wasn't. I wanted Annalaura to be free of all the abusers in her life, but the ending didn't give me much hope of that. It was a real downer. I wouldn't recommend it, but I give it four stars because it held my attention and definately had me wondering what would happen at the end. What did happen wasn't that believeable though. It's probably more like three and half stars.And one last gripe, the word 'bile' was overused. It's a strong word and doesn't need to be used every other paragraph at the end. It's rediculous that a man would leave his wife with no word for a year and be surprised she wasn't waiting around for him when he came back, and the thought of it making him want to vomit constantly was silly.
What do You think about Page From A Tennessee Journal (2010)?
Completely enjoyed this, about survival and personal strength. Vivid characters and story.
—collinshannah1
I liked this book up until the very last chapter...then it ruined it for me. :(
—nampepsi
