"A lyrical, powerful debut novel about a family of Afro-Puerto Rican women spanning five generations, detailing their physical and spiritual journey from the Old World to the New" [quoted from the inner sleeve]
I have become more interested in reading a story of slavery through a family of women. Llanos-Figueroa addresses this by beginning with Fela, the introductory generation, who has the desire but struggled with becoming pregnant. She and her husband perform a tribal ritual to initiate the procreation of a child but is captured and sold into slavery before it is finalized. Determined to see this to completion, Fela's lifeline is a stone that carries the soul of her future child and Mother Oshun, the goddess that will allow for the manifestation.
If you are interested in how women balance sacrifices made for children and determination to fulfill ones own desires read this book.
If you recognize the importance of a support system for women through a community of women from generation to generation, read this book.
If you're curious as to how strong women address seeing their dreams manifested in relationships, read this book.
And if none of what I said above is applicable to you, read it anyway.
Until next time...
Mella
