This book took over my time and my heart. As an African (born and bred in middle class Africa), I was on the 'other side' of the slavery scenario: i.e. I knew nothing at all about it. I've read Roots, Amistad, Malcom X (all insightful...), watched the dreadful Gone with the wind...but this boook did one thing no other book did - it put flesh and bone and blood and heart and soul into cahracters, making me feel with them, cry with them, hurt and laugh with them, and understand slavery much more than I'd ever done (I actually felt sorry for Fredieu!). The funny thing is that this isnt a book on slavery - its a chronicle of the hopes and struggles of 4 generations of fantastic women and it just happens to be set in slavery times. I felt Suzette haunting me, waking me up to read this book, to finish it - the way Lalita felt (spooky ei?). I've tried to pass this book on to friends and family but no one wants to read it - America I don't feel is celebrating this book enough, it should be on the National Curiculum over there. You just don't know what you are missing by not reading this book. It is definitely the best read I've had in my 25 yrs on earth.
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