Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

This is the thread for the discussion for The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.

Great! I’ll start it tonight as well. How about I follow your lead as to what and how much you want to read and discuss?

Abby wrote: "I'd love to join as well. I picked this up at the library and would so appreciate reading it in community. May I join you both?"

Absolutely, Abby! We’d love to have you. I admit I only got through the first ten pages last night before I fell asleep. We should have a schedule up very soon.

I will put a schedule up a little later today.

A very pretty cover!!!

Here is a link to Margaret Wilkerson Sexton being interviewed on NPR:
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/02/775664...

The Revisioners has three storylines, which are the names of the chapters to help the reader understand who is narrating and what is the time period.

Ava - 2017
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855

The book I have has 280 pages so I thought we can read and discuss in 4 chunks (70 pages each).

Proposed schedule:

Chunk 1 - now - through Wed Nov. 27 - pages 3 - 76
Includes:
Ava -2017
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Ava -2017

Chunk 2 - Nov. 28 - Dec. 4 - pages 77 - 145
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Ava - 2019
Josephine - 1924

Chunk 3 - Dec. 5 - Dec. 11 - pages 147 - 207
Josephine - 1855
Ava - 2017
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Ava - 2017

Chunk 4 - Dec. 12 - Dec. 18 - pages 209 - 276
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Ava - 2017
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Josephine - 1924
Josephine - 1855
Ava - 2017

I know this is the holiday season so we can adjust this schedule, if necessary.

I will say I am finding this book very addictive.

Beverly wrote: "The Revisioners has three storylines, which are the names of the chapters to help the reader understand who is narrating and what is the time period.

Ava - 2017
Josephine - 1924
Jo..."

Thanks, Beverly. I’m gonna read right along as the schedule and not read ahead (as I typically do). I have a rather dense NF book I’m reading too so I can try and work my way through this. Thanks!

This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite interesting being a caretaker for her white grandmother and being paid for it. What an unusual arrangement. I do find her relationship with her mother quite interesting though.

Were any of you familiar with a doula? I had to look it up. I guess it’s different than a midwife in that a doula provides support and physical comfort and doesn’t actually deliver babies. Had never even heard the term before. Go figure.

Don’t know much about 1855 Josephine in just three pages. But Wilkerson Sexton certainly set it up perfectly to pique my interest. What’s going on here?

The book sort of forms a similar structure to A Kind of Freedom. She seems to be quite adept at this style.

I’m gonna hold off reading more til we get into the second part. Any other thoughts?

Here’s a question for you. Does Wilkerson Sexton’s immense storytelling skills remind you of anyone in particular? There’s a certain author she reminded me of while reading her first book and now is back with me for this one.

I was about to post my initials thoughts on The Revisioners when I saw Columbus has already posted his.

I remember it was the first chapter of A Kind of Freedom (AKOF) that grabbed my attention and wanted me to read more.

I also felt that with the first chapter in this book and actually thought the first chapter I actually thought the first chapter (Ava) was a stronger chapter than the first chapter of AKOF.

It provided the tension to let me know that the arrangement of living with her white grandmother was not going to go well.

While we as readers probably suspect this but I loved what Ava's son, King said after only spending a couple of hours in the house -"I'm telling you, I have a bad feeling about this house. Didn't you feel it when you walked in? It's like walking into a refrigerator and shutting the door behind you."...."I have a bad feeling about her."
"Not all kinfolk is skinfok," he says.

And Ava is not sleeping well in this house - she is having ghastly dreams.

Of the three storylines at this point I am more interested in Ava 2017 and Josephine - 1924 that is probably because we learned the most them in this first chunk.

Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite interesting being a caretaker for her white grand..."

Yes, I knew what a doula is and it seems I have been hearing this term more lately. Beside it being mentioned here, I have also remembered it being used in another book recently (quite can't remember the book at the book but I am suspecting it is Girl by Edna O'Brien). Also I have been watching The Handmaiden's Tale" and I believe that June's mother was a doula.

The word I had to look up was - "mirliton" (p.15). It's a type of squash and the unofficial squash of New Orleans.

[Side note: I was in the supermarket the other day and I saw an ice cream flavor I was unfamiliar with - Creole Cream Cheese Ice Cream - so I picked up a pint to try. When I came home I googled it and saw it is a popular flavor in New Orleans, Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast. And yes, I am addicted and hope to find it again in the store.]

Yes, we did not learn much about Josephine - 1855, but I thought the telling line was the last line - "Most important though, I got to sit with the Revisioners, sing with them, pray with them. Foresee with them."

I thought that was a telling lie and definitely connected with what I read about Ava and King.

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite interesting being a caretaker fo..."

It seems like every time I read a book based in NOLA I find out new things specific to this city and nowhere else. Never fails.

Also, there’s a lot of food references in this book that’s really mouth-watering! Just delicious!

Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite interesting bein..."

Have you read The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom?

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite..."

No, but I really, really, really want to. I got it last week and dying to read it. Even before it won the NBA for nf. Have you read it?

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of her issues. Quite..."

Also, I heard her award speech was out of this world. I have to find it.

Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with Ava and all of h..."

Here is a link to her NBA acceptance speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Hit...

Yes, I have read The Yellow House and it will be one of my top reads this year.

I thought it was a nice blend of the intimate, social historian, and cultural critic.

I was glad for her win - especially since I thought it was a very strong NF finalist list.

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "This first section hasn’t really grabbed me just yet. I’m certain it’ll pick up soon.

I’m not yet connecting with..."

Oh my. Thanks so much for the video. Had no idea her partner was the director, Dee Rees. Two really phenomenal humans.

Columbus wrote: "Here’s a question for you. Does Wilkerson Sexton’s immense storytelling skills remind you of anyone in particular? There’s a certain author she reminded me of while reading her first book and now i..."

Do Tell!! (smile)

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Here’s a question for you. Does Wilkerson Sexton’s immense storytelling skills remind you of anyone in particular? There’s a certain author she reminded me of while reading her fir..."

I haven’t read this author extensively but the one that comes to mind is J. California Cooper

Abby wrote: "Hi Beverly and Columbus---Thank you both for welcoming me into this Buddy Read and I'm disappointed that I can't read the book with you right now. Look forward to future opportunities."

Thanks for letting us know.

New York Times chose The Revisioners as one of its notable books of the year.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...

Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Here’s a question for you. Does Wilkerson Sexton’s immense storytelling skills remind you of anyone in particular? There’s a certain author she reminded me of while..."

Interesting - What reminded you of J. California Cooper - was it about the spiritual aspects of the characters?

I am not quite if I feeling a J. California Cooper vibe yet.
One book that I read earlier in the year that I definitely felt a J. California Cooper vibe was In West Mills.

As mentioned, I read the book a month or so ago and regifted the ARC to a family member, so I'm relying on memory to participate.

Columbus - re: Connecting to the characters: I, too, felt more drawn to Josephine and her story than Ava, and could only hope that Ava's story would pick up as to not make me skim through her sections just to get to Josephine again. LOL! Ava's issues seemed to be a bit "manufactured," but I went along with it for the sake of the story - knowing we'd need some "drama" for the modern-day story line.

The Yellow House is in my possession and it's one I want to read before year's end.

I never read A Kind of Freedom - but I enjoyed The Revisioners, thinking I'll add it to the TBR for 2020.

The real fact here for me is I’m really not connecting with these characters at all. After reading A Kind of Freedom and then reading the synopsis for this book, I figured THE REVISIONERS would be a slam dunk. Not the case.

I thought the section that would pull me in would be Josephine 1924. That there would be an interesting storyline with the family dynamics and her being the owner of this 300 acre farm. The strange albeit interesting relationship with this white neighbor and the secrecy with her husband. All of that sounds great. But it’s just not connecting with me.

The 1855 Josephine has not really picked up at all. It’s now the least interesting story. I’m a little more engaged in Ava and her mother now that she’s taken over her mother’s role with the women and doula. Interested to see what happens there.

Beverly, after reading more I see the J. California Cooper comparisons were a little premature. Maybe only a small section of the book reminded me of her style.

I’m glad you both liked it/liking it. I would love to hear more about what in particular you’ve enjoyed about it. Strangely enough for me, it’s not the writing at all but the fact that I’m just not finding the characters here that interesting. This was not the case at all with her first book.

Beverly, what’s that quote about not every book is for you but there's a book for someone...ooh, I bungled that one but you know the one I’m referring to.

I am back from overeating for a couple of days. (smile)

I have finished the second chunk.
This second mainly focused on Josephine 1924, a little bit of Josephine 1855, and even less of Ava 2017.

Overall, I guess my impression for this section is that for me it was a little flat as it did not advance the story for me.

While I do not mind storylines that go back and forth and/or multi-story threads, I do need to feel that I am in that specific period I am reading about and a little more about how the past affected them and/or what what about a specific period could help explain what is happening in the future periods.

I guess I am saying not enough "reveals" to the pending questions I have. I know that some reviews have said that at the end there is a reveal how the three storylines are connected, so not necessarily feeling that now (which is 1/2 way through) so will be a little more patient.

Mocha Girl wrote: "As mentioned, I read the book a month or so ago and regifted the ARC to a family member, so I'm relying on memory to participate.

Columbus - re: Connecting to the characters: I, too, felt more dr..."

I am about 1/2 through the book and as I am reading Ava - I wonder what she is not seeing about what seems to me a pending disaster that her son and mother sense.
Does Ava not have the "second" sense to see that this does not feel right?

A Kind of Freedom was a more linear storyline that followed one family through several generations.

For me one of the strengths of A Kind of Freedom is that how we went through the generations we read more about the political events of each time that affected the characters of the period and the decisions that the characters make.

Columbus wrote: "The real fact here for me is I’m really not connecting with these characters at all. After reading A Kind of Freedom and then reading the synopsis for this book, I figured THE REVIS..."

I too thought that Josephine 1924 would be the most interesting sections for me as I was excited to read about a time period that we doe not necessarily read that much about regarding Black people and their histories/success from slavery to being successful.

But, I thought this storyline Josephine 1924 in this part "hinted" at the pending disaster with the white neighbor and her unfriendly unsuccessful husband.

Columbus wrote: "Beverly, what’s that quote about not every book is for you but there's a book for someone...ooh, I bungled that one but you know the one I’m referring to."

"Every book is not for everyone, but every book is for someone." (smile)

Columbus -

Where are you in the book?
Have you finished or is this a DNF book for you?

I ask because I have finished the book - mainly because when I read chunk 3 - up to page 207 - I really had nothing to really say except moving right along nothing really stood out for me to discuss that was not already said about wanting to know more about this or that.

I am not saying this as a negative, but some books work best discussing in sections and others work best to discuss after finishing the book.

Beverly wrote: "Columbus -

Where are you in the book?
Have you finished or is this a DNF book for you?

I ask because I have finished the book - mainly because when I read chunk 3 - up to page 207 - I really had ..."

Beverly, I should finish this up tonight or the morning. Would you prefer to wait and just discuss it in its entirety?

Columbus wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Columbus -

Where are you in the book?
Have you finished or is this a DNF book for you?

I ask because I have finished the book - mainly because when I read chunk 3 - up to page 207..."

Columbus -

Whatever works for you.

Ok, I just finished the book. Did you notice in the acknowledgments all the books she listed as being indebted to? I’ll certainly be checking out those.

I must admit, the second half of this book was much better than the first half. I can appreciate all three sections though: 1855; 1924; 2017. That being said, this book didn’t really work for me. From the very beginning, I could never connect or have any sort of emotional attachment with any of these characters. Which is strange because if someone were to provide a complete description of this book without giving away plot lines I would think this would be a book I would absolutely devour. Just from various reviews from others, I really thought this would be the book for me.

What’s your thoughts. Did you like it?

This is a 3 star book for me. The premise was excellent, the execution so-so, the character development and story pretty lackluster.

Maybe I’ll use the expression I often hear from people on Goodreads: Maybe it’s me and not the book.

Ok, I have more to say.

I thought the author didn’t really meld these storylines together satisfactorily. They all just felt like separate parts to me. For some reason (possibly my error) I thought these stories would not necessarily blend but come together in a more cohesive manner.

Also, the spiritual gifts of healing and seeing just didn’t connect with me the way some others have done in the past. It just felt added-on.

As you can see, I hate it when i’m a little disappointed in a book I was truly expecting to enjoy or even love.

I did post this book to my social media accounts though and will continue to spread love for this author. I will definitely read more by her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5JR-3WhN...

Columbus wrote: "Ok, I just finished the book. Did you notice in the acknowledgments all the books she listed as being indebted to? I’ll certainly be checking out those.

I must admit, the second half of this book ..."

Yes, the bibliography at the end was a wonderful addition to the book.
I enjoy when author do this for fictional works as it allows me to learn more about a particular aspect of history mentioned in the storyline.

Interesting that you used the word "appreciate" to describe what the author does with the three distinct time periods to tell the story.

I am not sure if I felt the second half of the book was better than the first half, I was more settled into the stories by the second half and felt I understand the time/place and so the characters actions were right for the time period.

Another word that came to mind when I finished reading the book (but I am not quite sure if this explains what I mean). I thought the storylines were "gracefully done".

Columbus wrote: "This is a 3 star book for me. The premise was excellent, the execution so-so, the character development and story pretty lackluster."

As I get older and probably more mellow, it seems at times I have a hard time "rating" a book.

I did think this was a solid book.
I think the book did a good job of showing how the past is the current and also influences that future.
Brings to mind the issue of intergenerational trauma and how it appears in each successive generation and the issue re: memory becoming part of DNA.

I also thought the storyline showed the challenges of "freedom" and what it means in different time periods and how the characters managed the oppression around them sought to find their "freedom"

Overall, I am leaning towards a "3" rating.

Columbus wrote: "Maybe I’ll use the expression I often hear from people on Goodreads: Maybe it’s me and not the book."

Well, it seems the "pressure" is more and more about the books that "wows".

But each of us as a reader have our own unique reading style and reading experience with similar stories that we bring each time we read a new book.

Columbus wrote: "Ok, I have more to say.

I thought the author didn’t really meld these storylines together satisfactorily. They all just felt like separate parts to me. For some reason (possibly my error) I though..."

I agree with what you said.

I did think that this book was more subtle in its approach when addressing the themes and the connection between the storylines.

I thought it was interesting that the story came full circle with Josephine working in the big house and Ava working in the big house and there was a family connection in each case.

But in all the stories - education was important and seen as a way to "improve" their lives and there were the sacrifices that were made.

Columbus wrote: "I did post this book to my social media accounts though and will continue to spread love for this author. I will definitely read more by her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5JR-3WhN......"

Yes, I would read future books by the author.

Beverly wrote: "Columbus wrote: "Ok, I just finished the book. Did you notice in the acknowledgments all the books she listed as being indebted to? I’ll certainly be checking out those.

I must admit, the second h..."

It’s essentially why I like buddy reads or group discussions period in that I can get a different perspective of a book. I like the points you brought up here.

I inevitably compare books by authors and of course this one is no different. I was really expecting to love these characters like I did in her debut. It just didn’t happen though.

Still glad I read this though.