Grace: A Novel

This luminous novel is narrated by a dead girl. Naomi is 17 years old. She is a Black slave who led a short, cruel life. She died giving birth to her daughter-but her spirit lingers on earth because she cannot bear to leave her. The book alternates between Naomi's memories and her daughter's life as she watches over her. This novel is emotional, deeply touching, and horrifying when it describes the cruelties of slavery. What struck me the most, however, was the author's amazing use of words to paint descriptions so real that the reader can almost see, hear, smell, taste, and feel along with Naomi. A novel written like poetry, but at the same time gritty and true to life. A remarkable book.

I had a little trouble following who was who the way the chapters and timelines were set, but I got the core of the story and the amazing valor lived. I loved the writing and deeply poetic descriptions of so many emotions, actions, scenery, smells, thoughts. Wonderful and worthwhile reading; I feel the need to stand and salute those valiant lives. Kind of in a daze. Well. Moving on, now I need to read whatever else she’s written!

This was beyond breathtaking all along. I became so enmeshed in the characters. The skipping from one time frame to another was fascinating and done iǹ a way that was easy to keep up with. For fans of historical fiction, the understanding of the descent of madness, the ferocity and desperation of a first love in any form, and the interactions of humanity in all it's complicated forms, this is above and beyond perfection for me. Thank you Ms. Deon for this experience! 💖🙏

Ummm , it seems that I am in a small minority with this review. I really wanted to like this book. I had read so many great reviews and historical is my favorite genre. It was an interesting concept. The book is narrated by a mother and daughter. However, (and this is not a spoiler, you learn it on the first page), the mother is dead. Interesting, but for most of the book I was never sure which woman was narrating. As I said, this was confusing to me. To make matters worse, one man was in both women's lives, but he had different names depending on who was telling the story. At this point, I'm not even sure that is right. I felt that a lot of the spoken language wasn't really used in that era. There was an angry Jewish madam. I never understood why she was so angry, or why she did the things she did. It took me weeks to read this because I'd often get so confused that I would have to stop reading and just walk away. When I picked it back up, I'd often re-read it, hoping for clarification. Didn't work. I will say that the ending was great. I just wish that everything leading up to it was as good.

I will never be the same. That's what popped into my head when I finished reading this award-winning, best-selling book. It's genius. To me, it ranks with the writings of Dickens and Rowling for characterizations and surprises, and for following the lives of multiple people. The book, Grace, is set before, during, and after the Civil War, not on battlefields but in the lives of the people, primarily a slave girl and her family, and those who come into their lives. The characters are complex, nuanced individuals. For those considering what ages might be appropriate for reading the book, just know that there are mature topics throughout, such as prostitution and gambling, murder and rape. For me, the themes of character growth, love, and heroism counterbalanced the look into the dark side of humanity, and left me feeling satisfied as I finished the story.

Great read. Hard to put down the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, was because the ending was too neatly tied together. Otherwise it was excellent.

Give yourself a blessing. Read this book! The story is powerful, the writing is glorious and transcendent. It's the kind of story that will stay with me, popping up at odd moments. I haven't been this moved by a book in quite a while. The story simmered with underlying tension and fear. But, remember, the title is Grace, and there is much of that throughout, with an ending that births Hope. Just a few lines that touched me: "Hazel's my guide, my light in darkness, one of them start that like a handful of little moons were shrunk to pebbles, then flung to heavens where they sat." "Her skin is still smooth and it's charcoal black--a color only God could paint and make look right." "It's been said that justice is getting what you deserve. And mercy is not getting the bad you deserve. Grace is getting a good thing, even when you don't deserve it." "So, I don't know how many generations on American soil you got to live before you're called 'American,' or if English has to be your first language." "You cain't be black and angry and not be punished for it." "They wear their oranges and yellows and bright blue garments like they been saving up a rainbow since Africa." "His shoulder hang from hope removed, his once joyful face a blank expression." "Brittle sycamore leaves cartwheel across the yard in celebration." "I'm covered in sky. It passes over us in a baptism of colors: blues, whites, and the yellow sparkle of sunshine." "Her hair that was all pinned up this morning's been danced loose on the sides..." "It's been over four years since the end of the Civil War and the folks are still angry, Confederate flags still fly."

Loved the pace and back and forth in time frame. Historical fiction novels of this caliber keep me engaged. Loved this book

purchased as a Christmas gift and recipient seems pleased

This book was difficult to follow--- I never finished it as couldn't follow a story --- I really didn't enjoy this book at all--