This turned out to be a great read. At first I did not know if I was going to like because the main character Summer was so shallow in the beginning. I love how the author used time travel as a way to bring out the historical parts in the book. It felt like I was watching a movie as I was reading and I could not put it down. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely check out her other books. one of the best historical fiction books I have read so far this year. The summary made it sound as if the author was familiar with Octavia Butler's Kindred. I was hoping for a well written story about the about time travel to the antebellum south, so far I'm unimpressed. The writing is mediocre and the narration sounds naive. The book packed with clichés about relations between whites and blacks like the “angry black woman” who “blames” the main character for the slaveholding of her ancestors. After about 10 pages I had to check the Amazon author page to confirm what I already knew: the author is a white woman. In my opinion novels dealing with slavery, civil rights, and/or the black-white race dichotomy are just not as strong in this voice (The Help, anymore?). I know everyone can't be Butler or Morrison, but if you are going to tackle the subject matter I would rather not feel like I'm reading a story written for a five year old who knows nothing of U.S. history, it is offensive.
What do You think about Tanglewood Plantation (2000)?
It was just ok. I didn't care for the ending.
—lsebourn
