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The Truth About Awiti
2015 Foreword Reviews INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Finalist
It is undisputed many tropical storms and hurricanes start off the coast of West Africa. There is a commonly held belief these natural disasters are not natural at all. Rather, these massive storms and the damage and fatalities they cause are intentional -- retaliation by restless spirits impacted by the transatlantic slave trade. Their destruction sweeping through the Middle Passage, Caribbean and many Southern slave holding states. Awiti is one of these spirits. But there is more to Awiti than creating hurricanes. As those who have encountered her love and wrath will attest - there is so much more.
The Truth About Awiti is a historical fantasy novel that will leave readers questioning the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the physical and spiritual realms.
It is undisputed many tropical storms and hurricanes start off the coast of West Africa. There is a commonly held belief these natural disasters are not natural at all. Rather, these massive storms and the damage and fatalities they cause are intentional -- retaliation by restless spirits impacted by the transatlantic slave trade. Their destruction sweeping through the Middle Passage, Caribbean and many Southern slave holding states. Awiti is one of these spirits. But there is more to Awiti than creating hurricanes. As those who have encountered her love and wrath will attest - there is so much more.
The Truth About Awiti is a historical fantasy novel that will leave readers questioning the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on the physical and spiritual realms.
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2015
72 people are currently reading
1701 people want to read
About the author
C.P. Patrick
2 books149 followersChristine A. Platt is a historian and storyteller of the African diaspora. She holds a B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of South Florida, M.A. in African Studies from The Ohio State University and received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law.
Her debut novel, The Truth About Awiti, was published under the penname CP Patrick and won the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal for Multicultural Fiction. The Truth About Awiti is currently used in high schools, colleges and universities to teach the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Christine’s highly anticipated children series, Ana & Andrew, will be published in January 2019 (ABDO Books/Calico Kids).
Christine currently serves as the Managing Director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University under the leadership of National Book Award-winning author, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. She is a proud member of the Association of Black Women Historians and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Additionally, she is an Ambassador for Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
You can follow Christine on Instagram via @theafrominimalist, where she interacts with thousands of friends and fans on minimalism and, of course, books.
Her debut novel, The Truth About Awiti, was published under the penname CP Patrick and won the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal for Multicultural Fiction. The Truth About Awiti is currently used in high schools, colleges and universities to teach the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Christine’s highly anticipated children series, Ana & Andrew, will be published in January 2019 (ABDO Books/Calico Kids).
Christine currently serves as the Managing Director of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center at American University under the leadership of National Book Award-winning author, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. She is a proud member of the Association of Black Women Historians and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Additionally, she is an Ambassador for Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
You can follow Christine on Instagram via @theafrominimalist, where she interacts with thousands of friends and fans on minimalism and, of course, books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 10, 2017
I didn't know what to think about this book after finishing it late last year, but the fact that I'm still thinking about it as of mid January makes it worth at least 4 stars. This is a take on the trans–Atlantic slave trade that is unlike anything I've read. The Truth About Awiti spans continents and decades and that alone is impressive because the author takes care to change the dialect of the characters as the stories move around the globe. I say stories because it seems to me this book is written as a collection of stories with Awiti being the tie throughout. I've only seen one other novel set up similarly: The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat. This novel got off to a slow start for me because I didn't realize what was happening with the structure, but by the end I was in awe of what I'd read. I cannot describe what is in this book. I will not try. I will just say that it reminds me of something someone told me long ago: Turnabout is fair play.
November 7, 2015
There are books and characters that stay with you, lingering long after the story is complete, you’ve closed the cover, and placed the book on your shelf. Then there are those that haunt you, finding a place in your bones, moving through your blood, inhabiting a piece of your soul.
The Truth About Awiti haunts.
Through a series of interconnected stories, CP Patrick brilliantly weaves her historical narrative of the slave trade and its continued effects on people, society, and the human spirit. An incredibly powerful piece of fiction - so much so that many times I had to step away from it for a few days to let my body and mind recover from the horrors relayed - Awiti is also beautifully written, Patrick’s prose sometimes brutal, other times soothing, always enchanting.
Readers will come away from Awiti with comparisons to Tananarive Due and Octavia Butler, which is all good and true, but Patrick is her own woman and Awiti truly stands alone. Historical fiction is rarely my go-to genre, but Patrick is so skilled she manages to make you forget the “historical” aspect and simply get lost in her fiction, and what a world it is to get lost in.
Bravo! to Patrick and her pen. I cannot wait to see what she’s creating for us next.
The Truth About Awiti haunts.
Through a series of interconnected stories, CP Patrick brilliantly weaves her historical narrative of the slave trade and its continued effects on people, society, and the human spirit. An incredibly powerful piece of fiction - so much so that many times I had to step away from it for a few days to let my body and mind recover from the horrors relayed - Awiti is also beautifully written, Patrick’s prose sometimes brutal, other times soothing, always enchanting.
Readers will come away from Awiti with comparisons to Tananarive Due and Octavia Butler, which is all good and true, but Patrick is her own woman and Awiti truly stands alone. Historical fiction is rarely my go-to genre, but Patrick is so skilled she manages to make you forget the “historical” aspect and simply get lost in her fiction, and what a world it is to get lost in.
Bravo! to Patrick and her pen. I cannot wait to see what she’s creating for us next.
April 21, 2015
WOW! Such a great book! I have never thought of myself as a fan of fantasy fiction, but this book has made me question that. The Truth about Awiti was captivating and such an easy read. I could not put the book down, thus finishing it in 3 days (business days). I don't want to give up too much about the book, but I must commend the author for being able to tie together actual events with fantasy fiction. This book brought awareness of many events surrounding enslavement of African Americans, especially the emotional affects. I emotionally connected with the characters and could feel the pain, love and few moments of joy shared within the characters. The Truth about Awiti not only brought forth awareness of African American history, but also the affects of broken hearts and families. The words and flow of the story made all events feel so real. There was a storm that was brewing as I travelled from Seattle to Atlanta and I found myself asking,"Is that you Awiti?"
May 27, 2016
I have been drawn to study the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade since college, when I read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave in conjunction with Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved. My pursuits on the topic ranged from the academic to the emotional, and are driven by something I cannot name. From my first novel, Receive Me Falling, to my current, untitled work in progress, the division between races and class recurs in my themes, even when I do not deliberately set out to address it.
I met C. P. Patrick at a book signing, and when we began speaking about her writing, she mentioned her novel The Truth about Awiti. Never having heard the theory that hurricanes were born of restless slave spirits, I was immediately drawn to the legend, and the fact that before each major hurricane recounted in her book (including the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys, featured in my novel, Hemingway’s Girl), a grave crime against an African slave, an African-American, or indigenous American had been committed. Because I am also drawn to mysticism and spirituality, I connected with the idea.
The Truth about Awiti is a difficult book to read. I had to put it down repeatedly because it so unflinchingly portrays those grave crimes against black humanity that I needed time to process and to grieve. There were many stories I never knew, and these people and places and horrors must never be forgotten.
In terms of the writing, I was struck by how perfectly Patrick embodies the voice of each new character. It was as if I could hear their languages, dialects, and voices in my ear. Patrick is able to capture the immediacy and potency of oral tradition in narrative form, which makes for an intimate reading experience. It’s like sitting at a fire listening to stories from the mouths of survivors.
The Truth about Awiti is one of the best books I have read in 2016. Book clubs should consider adding it to their rosters. The discussion the novel stimulates will be profound. C. P. Patrick has a forever-fan in me, and I cannot wait to read her next book. I give The Truth about Awiti my highest recommendation.
I met C. P. Patrick at a book signing, and when we began speaking about her writing, she mentioned her novel The Truth about Awiti. Never having heard the theory that hurricanes were born of restless slave spirits, I was immediately drawn to the legend, and the fact that before each major hurricane recounted in her book (including the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 in the Florida Keys, featured in my novel, Hemingway’s Girl), a grave crime against an African slave, an African-American, or indigenous American had been committed. Because I am also drawn to mysticism and spirituality, I connected with the idea.
The Truth about Awiti is a difficult book to read. I had to put it down repeatedly because it so unflinchingly portrays those grave crimes against black humanity that I needed time to process and to grieve. There were many stories I never knew, and these people and places and horrors must never be forgotten.
In terms of the writing, I was struck by how perfectly Patrick embodies the voice of each new character. It was as if I could hear their languages, dialects, and voices in my ear. Patrick is able to capture the immediacy and potency of oral tradition in narrative form, which makes for an intimate reading experience. It’s like sitting at a fire listening to stories from the mouths of survivors.
The Truth about Awiti is one of the best books I have read in 2016. Book clubs should consider adding it to their rosters. The discussion the novel stimulates will be profound. C. P. Patrick has a forever-fan in me, and I cannot wait to read her next book. I give The Truth about Awiti my highest recommendation.
March 30, 2022
A fresh voice! Intelligent and swift writing coupled with a passion for history and the people of its time. Not a single word wasted.
May 4, 2016
The Truth About Awiti is a delightfully haunting book about unrequited peace and the effects of American slavery. Many books discuss the mental, emotional and physical demons of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the horrors it inflicted upon people, families and nations. However, few books dare to explore the spiritual aspect. And perhaps even fewer explore the spiritual ramifications of slavery within a fictional narrative. But there’s a twist, Patrick’s stories are based on real events. The Truth about Awiti is a unique historical fiction that touches each of your senses. It’s a haunting tale, with the propensity of being true. Historians and fiction readers alike will appreciate Author Patricks’ extensive historical research and sheer creativity. Be prepared to finish this book in one sitting. You wont want to put it down.
The Truth about Awiti, follows Awiti Akota, a special young African girl of the Luo tribe. She loses her family to whites that raid her village, taking her loved ones to eventually become slaves. Confused, Awiti believes that the white raiders are there to eat them, perhaps because they lick the sides of the African’s faces. This is definitely a book to read with Google or your favorite search engine nearby as many of the cities, events and scenarios are tied to true events. Readers won’t be able to appreciate the entirety of this book without understanding and connecting Patricks’ words to the true events they are based on. Readers doing so will learn that slavers often licked Africans seeking those tasting the saltiest. For they believed that the saltier their sweat, the better they retained water and would be likely to survive the long voyage to the Americas.
Awiti manages to escape to a nearby village. Sad, scared and angry, she’s determined to find her family, lest avenge their deaths. In the new village, Awiti is presented with a unique opportunity from a handsome man that wins her heart. She is offered the gift of immortality, in exchange for her mortality. Initially excited about the opportunity to live forever, Awiti accepts without fully understanding the cost of such a gift. Awiti sets out immediately on her quest to find her parents and siblings. It isn’t long before she learns the truth of why Africans were stolen, to live lives of servitude at the evil hands of slave owners. Awiti then incites torrential rains, storms and death on the very lands African blood is shed and where her ancestors’ spirits plead incessantly for revenge.
It isn’t long before Awiti learns that her immortal powers, although legitimate, were bestowed upon her by an outcast amongst other immortals. So now, the lonely Awiti missing her family, is now also lonely amongst other immortals, being ostracized from their community. She faces a tough decision of either living a life in isolation as the other immortals have requested, or continuing her quest of death and revenge.
Beginning in the 1600s and ending with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Awiti spends centuries wrecking havoc all over America to avenge the hardships, deaths and sorrows of her people, her ancestors. Throughout the pages, readers will encounter valuable life lessons and moments of reflection. Many will enjoy reading this book with a friend, to have someone else to discuss and digest this jarring read with.
Patricks’ book addresses the intergenerational pain suffered by African Americans. It is a creative depiction of the grief, pain and revenge that lives within the Black collective conscious today. Awiti is the superwoman that Black readers crave in a slave narrative. Minus the humor, Awiti can be compared to D’Jango in literary form.
I believe that all too often, collectively many believe the docile, obedient and submissive image, America portrays of slaves during slavery. America tends to sweep its transgressions under a mat and look the other way. Yes, there were a “few” that fought back but they were the exception, not the norm. However, Awiti challenges those beliefs, in this book each and very slave depicted was upset about their condition and wanted freedom, by any means necessary. This is a cathartic read for those not wanting to believe the happy, content slave narrative fed to us all too often.
In fact, just last year in 2015, book publisher McGraw- Hill apologized publicly for circulating American school books which indicated that Africans immigrated to America to work on agricultural plantations voluntarily. Completely omitting the horrifying truths of slavery for future generations to learn and be aware of.
In a country so determined to hide the ills of slavery, the Truth About Awiti is a deliberate reminder of the past and and perhaps, since Awiti is after all, immortal, a means for avenging future revenge.
For the full review and others, please visit my book review blog BritLit Review
The Truth about Awiti, follows Awiti Akota, a special young African girl of the Luo tribe. She loses her family to whites that raid her village, taking her loved ones to eventually become slaves. Confused, Awiti believes that the white raiders are there to eat them, perhaps because they lick the sides of the African’s faces. This is definitely a book to read with Google or your favorite search engine nearby as many of the cities, events and scenarios are tied to true events. Readers won’t be able to appreciate the entirety of this book without understanding and connecting Patricks’ words to the true events they are based on. Readers doing so will learn that slavers often licked Africans seeking those tasting the saltiest. For they believed that the saltier their sweat, the better they retained water and would be likely to survive the long voyage to the Americas.
Awiti manages to escape to a nearby village. Sad, scared and angry, she’s determined to find her family, lest avenge their deaths. In the new village, Awiti is presented with a unique opportunity from a handsome man that wins her heart. She is offered the gift of immortality, in exchange for her mortality. Initially excited about the opportunity to live forever, Awiti accepts without fully understanding the cost of such a gift. Awiti sets out immediately on her quest to find her parents and siblings. It isn’t long before she learns the truth of why Africans were stolen, to live lives of servitude at the evil hands of slave owners. Awiti then incites torrential rains, storms and death on the very lands African blood is shed and where her ancestors’ spirits plead incessantly for revenge.
It isn’t long before Awiti learns that her immortal powers, although legitimate, were bestowed upon her by an outcast amongst other immortals. So now, the lonely Awiti missing her family, is now also lonely amongst other immortals, being ostracized from their community. She faces a tough decision of either living a life in isolation as the other immortals have requested, or continuing her quest of death and revenge.
Beginning in the 1600s and ending with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Awiti spends centuries wrecking havoc all over America to avenge the hardships, deaths and sorrows of her people, her ancestors. Throughout the pages, readers will encounter valuable life lessons and moments of reflection. Many will enjoy reading this book with a friend, to have someone else to discuss and digest this jarring read with.
Patricks’ book addresses the intergenerational pain suffered by African Americans. It is a creative depiction of the grief, pain and revenge that lives within the Black collective conscious today. Awiti is the superwoman that Black readers crave in a slave narrative. Minus the humor, Awiti can be compared to D’Jango in literary form.
I believe that all too often, collectively many believe the docile, obedient and submissive image, America portrays of slaves during slavery. America tends to sweep its transgressions under a mat and look the other way. Yes, there were a “few” that fought back but they were the exception, not the norm. However, Awiti challenges those beliefs, in this book each and very slave depicted was upset about their condition and wanted freedom, by any means necessary. This is a cathartic read for those not wanting to believe the happy, content slave narrative fed to us all too often.
In fact, just last year in 2015, book publisher McGraw- Hill apologized publicly for circulating American school books which indicated that Africans immigrated to America to work on agricultural plantations voluntarily. Completely omitting the horrifying truths of slavery for future generations to learn and be aware of.
In a country so determined to hide the ills of slavery, the Truth About Awiti is a deliberate reminder of the past and and perhaps, since Awiti is after all, immortal, a means for avenging future revenge.
For the full review and others, please visit my book review blog BritLit Review
July 9, 2016
This book breaks me, and I don't know if I will ever be the same again. Some stories hunt you forever...
I picked this up knowing well what it would do to me. The author's writing style AMAZES me beyond words. It is unique and powerful. Nothing like what I've experienced before.
I'll be eagerly waiting for her next novels.
The Truth About Awiti is the first African American history book I read.
I picked this up knowing well what it would do to me. The author's writing style AMAZES me beyond words. It is unique and powerful. Nothing like what I've experienced before.
I'll be eagerly waiting for her next novels.
The Truth About Awiti is the first African American history book I read.
September 8, 2015
I found book this a little slow to start off, but once I got into the story, it turned out to be a very enthralling read. A nice collection of tales involving different times and different people, but central to these stories is the character of Awiti.
September 2, 2015
The Truth About Awiti is a powerful look into how slavery still affects people to this day.
It's weird, because the thing is written in the form of short fables, each linked together by Awiti's influence. There isn't too much characterization of Awiti as the girl, but there's a great deal of characterization of Awiti as the immortal. She's hellbent on avenging the deaths of her people, and believes that some sacrifices must be made in order to make her point.
What I really loved about this was how different scenarios were portrayed as the years progressed. We get the POV of a male slave confined below deck on a slave ship. We get a young girl who is a product of rape from the master. We get a midwife who helps women "take care of" unwanted pregnancies from rape. We even get other immortals.
The author does a brilliant job of portraying these. They're strong enough to evoke powerful emotions--disgust, pity, love--but not so strong that it leaves you exhausted after each section. Had it been like that, I would have taken weeks to read it. My emotional tank would have been utterly depleted.
I can't help feeling that this would be a great tool in the classroom too. I won't get into it too much in a book review, but there's countless studies about the effect of slavery/poverty on black people. People fight affirmative action, they fight that there is such a thing as feelings of white superiority. Particularly with what's happening in the US right now, this is extremely relevant. There is PROOF that black people are still being oppressed, and particularly black women. There's something to be said about growth--at least we got rid of slavery finally, right? But there's still a long way to go. So Awiti's storms are still needed.
You keep doing what you have to, Awiti. Until we learn our lesson.
(I received this in a First Reads giveaway.)
It's weird, because the thing is written in the form of short fables, each linked together by Awiti's influence. There isn't too much characterization of Awiti as the girl, but there's a great deal of characterization of Awiti as the immortal. She's hellbent on avenging the deaths of her people, and believes that some sacrifices must be made in order to make her point.
What I really loved about this was how different scenarios were portrayed as the years progressed. We get the POV of a male slave confined below deck on a slave ship. We get a young girl who is a product of rape from the master. We get a midwife who helps women "take care of" unwanted pregnancies from rape. We even get other immortals.
The author does a brilliant job of portraying these. They're strong enough to evoke powerful emotions--disgust, pity, love--but not so strong that it leaves you exhausted after each section. Had it been like that, I would have taken weeks to read it. My emotional tank would have been utterly depleted.
I can't help feeling that this would be a great tool in the classroom too. I won't get into it too much in a book review, but there's countless studies about the effect of slavery/poverty on black people. People fight affirmative action, they fight that there is such a thing as feelings of white superiority. Particularly with what's happening in the US right now, this is extremely relevant. There is PROOF that black people are still being oppressed, and particularly black women. There's something to be said about growth--at least we got rid of slavery finally, right? But there's still a long way to go. So Awiti's storms are still needed.
You keep doing what you have to, Awiti. Until we learn our lesson.
(I received this in a First Reads giveaway.)
February 24, 2016
I'm not even going to lie; this book startled me. I sat, pensive at my computer, seeking the right words to describe this book, for quite some time before reviewing. I started the weekend with three books under my belt and The Truth About Awiti, by CP Patrick dominated my reading schedule. I couldn't leave it, my heart aching from the bits of historical tragedies.
I finally came to realize, I'd developed a sort of 'Love/Hate' relationship with the book. I became entranced in what felt like a lilting, poetic, historical emprise, bearing a sense of both melancholy and triumph. The story is powerful, emotional, upsetting even. I quickly understood why it received so much acclaim.
The book is an atheneum of lives, a collection of entries from the living and the dead, spanning hundreds of years. Stories of how White Faces ravaged villages, warriors chained together while witnessing the rapes and murders of mothers, wives and daughters. Even mutinous battles on the sea where adulterous activities were commonplace. Each entry carried a theme, a purpose, that either told of a wrong, the dealing of wrong, revenge, remorse and acceptance. Most of them spoke or concerned Awiti, a bi-racial young woman who was gifted with powers of immortality. With her power, she exacted revenge, through billowing waves on the seas to wash away evil sailors, or thunderstorms of wind and rain on land. She creatively did so much more, but her sole purpose was to give those who'd done wrong to the Africans of the world what they deserved. She went everywhere, filled with a bitterness more hostile than any whipping from the Master, and made them pay... Other times, someone was...
Full review at http://bit.ly/1VEABqL
**Book was provided by author CP Patrick, for an honest review..
I finally came to realize, I'd developed a sort of 'Love/Hate' relationship with the book. I became entranced in what felt like a lilting, poetic, historical emprise, bearing a sense of both melancholy and triumph. The story is powerful, emotional, upsetting even. I quickly understood why it received so much acclaim.
The book is an atheneum of lives, a collection of entries from the living and the dead, spanning hundreds of years. Stories of how White Faces ravaged villages, warriors chained together while witnessing the rapes and murders of mothers, wives and daughters. Even mutinous battles on the sea where adulterous activities were commonplace. Each entry carried a theme, a purpose, that either told of a wrong, the dealing of wrong, revenge, remorse and acceptance. Most of them spoke or concerned Awiti, a bi-racial young woman who was gifted with powers of immortality. With her power, she exacted revenge, through billowing waves on the seas to wash away evil sailors, or thunderstorms of wind and rain on land. She creatively did so much more, but her sole purpose was to give those who'd done wrong to the Africans of the world what they deserved. She went everywhere, filled with a bitterness more hostile than any whipping from the Master, and made them pay... Other times, someone was...
Full review at http://bit.ly/1VEABqL
**Book was provided by author CP Patrick, for an honest review..
August 5, 2016
Very well-written rendering of an immortal spirit seeking revenge for the great suffering and tragedies so many experienced voyaging from West Africa to North America. Even so, the pervasive lore behind the destructive tropical storms following the same path kidnapped Africans sojourned, and suffered unspeakable horrors, was a hard but gravitating read.
Parts of the novel that resonated best was Seraphina’s attempt to explain “the process” of life via the Great One, and as well there was some comfort reading the chapters Black River, Jamaica 1912, New York, NY 1957 and Waveland, Mississippi 1969.
Overall, a very quiet novel hauntingly omniscient of these great storms described.
Parts of the novel that resonated best was Seraphina’s attempt to explain “the process” of life via the Great One, and as well there was some comfort reading the chapters Black River, Jamaica 1912, New York, NY 1957 and Waveland, Mississippi 1969.
Overall, a very quiet novel hauntingly omniscient of these great storms described.
December 27, 2016
A truly amazing novel. Will write a proper review once I can better organize my thoughts, but if you are on the fence about reading it, you should just go for it!
February 22, 2016
Unique book, not perfectly edited; using lots of real historical events (like Igbo landing Georgia 1803) a power made of love and anger at the complete devastation of many cultures engendered by the transAtlantic slave trade, in the form of a beautiful African (half Portuguese via the rape of her mother) Luo woman who becomes immortal, is told to play a controlling role in some of the events from the 16th to the 21st century.
Each chapter is a separate vignette, often horrifying, some just downright ‘stand up, fight back’. A bit in the middle about other immortals trying to tell her what to do is just irritating - but since she chooses to ignore them, the book quickly recovers. There is something satisfying about believing that storms beginning on the West coast of Africa, that gain strength over the Atlantic’s City of Bones and wreak havoc and maximum damage in the South and in the Caribbean, where so much of the pain and torture took place are powered by the souls lost to the evil of slavery.
Each chapter is a separate vignette, often horrifying, some just downright ‘stand up, fight back’. A bit in the middle about other immortals trying to tell her what to do is just irritating - but since she chooses to ignore them, the book quickly recovers. There is something satisfying about believing that storms beginning on the West coast of Africa, that gain strength over the Atlantic’s City of Bones and wreak havoc and maximum damage in the South and in the Caribbean, where so much of the pain and torture took place are powered by the souls lost to the evil of slavery.
April 5, 2016
There are so many interesting and moving parts of this book that make the final masterpiece nothing short of an incredible novel. The way that C.P. Patrick was able to weave so many different perspectives together to tell one story helped to make the book multidimensional in that it caused me as the reader to become invested in the journey of Awiti as told by many people. Whether it be young, old, black, or white. Before reading the novel, I was under the impression that it would be another book about the life of an individual during the period of the Transatlantic slave trade. But by the time I finished, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this novel was much more than a strict non fiction tale; not only did it have some factual evidence in the types of natural disasters that was talked about in the book, but it had some interesting fiction elements along with a strong supernatural/ paranormal vibe. I would happily recommend this book for anyone who is seeking a combination of this book's elements
October 25, 2015
A collection of powerful and angering stories about slavery all connected through Awiti. I found myself trying to find this connection at the beginning of each chapter. Each presents stories of destruction and love and the healing process that Awiti goes through. Her heart is capable of so much love but she still can't get past the hate. She spends centuries trying to seek retribution while also trying to find peace that will never come for her.
The stories are well written but at times the historical truths are difficult to digest. Keep reading because each chapter has a different story to learn and to think about.
A few thoughts I had:
- Would it have been different if Awiti was older? She experienced so much pain at such a young age.
- Characters in the book could find peace, why not Awiti?
- Will the pain always be there?
- Spirits wanted to tell their stories. Will telling these stories through this book ease some of the pain?
The stories are well written but at times the historical truths are difficult to digest. Keep reading because each chapter has a different story to learn and to think about.
A few thoughts I had:
- Would it have been different if Awiti was older? She experienced so much pain at such a young age.
- Characters in the book could find peace, why not Awiti?
- Will the pain always be there?
- Spirits wanted to tell their stories. Will telling these stories through this book ease some of the pain?
January 12, 2016
This book is deeply affecting in a way that I wasn't entirely prepared for. The story is very unconventional, following an African woman named Awiti over hundreds of years after she becomes immortal and discovers that she has the power to exact vengeance for all the wrongs wreaked over the centuries on her fellow Africans. Each chapter is from a different point-of-view as the book covers over two hundred years of very sad history. Patrick conveys through Awiti the fact that the enslavement of Africans is a historical blight for which we are nowhere near to achieving atonement or gaining absolution...and perhaps we never shall. Patrick doesn't shy away from the notion that perhaps vengeance is, in itself, unjust -- but she also doesn't propose any easy answers. A very haunting historical fantasy.
February 17, 2016
Let me just say that normally any book that contains the word fantasy in the blurb, I immediately dismiss. This book was recommended by a friend, so I wanted to give it a go, and it was well worth it. It is not fantasy in the normal sense. This book is a chronicle of slavery spanning through the centuries from the 1600's to the present day. It looks at the spiritual idea that hurricanes and storms are revenge for the cruelty and savage treatment of slaves. Each chapter is a separate vignette of characters involved in the slave trade through time. The one character that ties them together in Awti.
This is a special book, which is written with truth and hooks the reader. It is gruesome at times but then the truth of this subject is gruesome. Don't let the word "fantasy" put you off. If you have any interest in historical fiction on this subject I highly recommend this book.
This is a special book, which is written with truth and hooks the reader. It is gruesome at times but then the truth of this subject is gruesome. Don't let the word "fantasy" put you off. If you have any interest in historical fiction on this subject I highly recommend this book.
January 6, 2016
Written review forthcoming.
March 9, 2017
This book broke my heart on many levels. I actually had to stop reading it to allow myself to mend. Powerful, tragic, and beautifully composed. A life changing novel.
March 24, 2016
An interesting concept of a wounded but undying African female spirit endowed with the power to wreck havoc on the white world over centuries through her embodiment of a Yemoja-type goddess force. But instead of fully developing this idea with a coherent story, and missing out on the opportunity to be a nice meditation on the nature of vengeance, the book seemed to me to settle into a pattern of playing a few variations of the same story in different time/place settings repetitiously, exploiting famous historical events in ways that don't lend any deeper understandings of them or the nature of how Africans have been exploited. In fact, the point of the main character is never really clear. Early in the book she appeared to be a symbol of power and redemption for African people, which was cool. But chapters later it seemed apparent the author simply wanted an interesting figure to serve as a backdrop for the author's desire to write about Black American history without the intent to redeem and embrace African history. That would explain why the author continuously praises Awiti's light complexioned skin, and included a sympathetic story about a loving lesbian relationship between the African heroine and a white slaver woman, two story elements that were really really confusing and disappointing.
April 14, 2016
The Truth About Awiti was simply phenomenal. It's almost challenging to write a review on such a masterpiece except to just say BUY THE BOOK! and READ THE BOOK!
Author CP Patrick so masterfully blends the horrific accounts of those who suffered during the transatlantic slave trade with fictional characters - both physical and spiritual - who seem so real that I made them be so in my mind while reading. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was reaching for more pages to turn to continue reading even MORE of the terrible stories of African Americans and what they endured over many decades of slavery.
There are few books that have the power to transform you and your view on life, history, and this great country, and The Truth About Awiti is one of them. This book should certainly be a must read AND discuss in every history class across the globe.
Author CP Patrick so masterfully blends the horrific accounts of those who suffered during the transatlantic slave trade with fictional characters - both physical and spiritual - who seem so real that I made them be so in my mind while reading. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was reaching for more pages to turn to continue reading even MORE of the terrible stories of African Americans and what they endured over many decades of slavery.
There are few books that have the power to transform you and your view on life, history, and this great country, and The Truth About Awiti is one of them. This book should certainly be a must read AND discuss in every history class across the globe.
October 17, 2017
This book was amazing. Mini review to come.
April 13, 2021
Wow this book is beyond amazing! It deserves way more hype!
I learned more about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in the short introduction of this book than I ever learned in public school. And don’t even get me started on the rest of the book! It completely transported me into different times, places, and characters - Places in which slavery and horrific racism has been prevalent for centuries. Despite the horrifying narrative (lots of trigger warnings and content warnings for this book!), the writing style was very accessible, emotional, and beautiful.
Each chapter and perspective was so dynamic and different from the previous chapter, but one thing always stayed the same: Awiti’s appearance always made me giddy. Her haunting, vengeful characteristics and personality felt so real and it was incredibly powerful. I loved her as a character and ached for her.
Five trillion gold stars. I will be recommending this book forever.
I learned more about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade in the short introduction of this book than I ever learned in public school. And don’t even get me started on the rest of the book! It completely transported me into different times, places, and characters - Places in which slavery and horrific racism has been prevalent for centuries. Despite the horrifying narrative (lots of trigger warnings and content warnings for this book!), the writing style was very accessible, emotional, and beautiful.
Each chapter and perspective was so dynamic and different from the previous chapter, but one thing always stayed the same: Awiti’s appearance always made me giddy. Her haunting, vengeful characteristics and personality felt so real and it was incredibly powerful. I loved her as a character and ached for her.
Five trillion gold stars. I will be recommending this book forever.
January 10, 2021
This book is historical fantasy at its finest. Awiti is a child born with supernatural powers in an African village at the start of the transatlantic slave trade. When her home is raided by slave catchers, she loses her family and is quickly tricked into a life of immortality. Devastated, Awiti uses her powers to bring destruction and death to particularly painful places—largely in the southern United States— for centuries to come. The more people that get to engage with this powerful collection of stories about the horrific layers of slavery and its legacy in the United States and beyond, the better.
November 18, 2018
I like the premise of this book. The writing is very solid. I felt the large number of short stories, interlinked with the common element of Awiti, began to dilute the impact of the book. I think the book needed to be tightened up so that the impact would be stronger. There was also a lot of unnecessary repetition that bogged down the pacing and the effect of the overall work.
August 23, 2020
Great book, the storytelling is beautiful and different.
November 8, 2015
Review : The Truth About Awiti is such an amazing book! I can’t put it down. CP Patrick’s writing got my heart and respect!
This book is such an awesome historical fantasy. Yet, it felt so real! All the time reading, I kept feeling like the things in the book really happened. But then, I had to remind myself that it’s a work of fiction! However, some (a lot) of the occurrence have happened to real life individuals.
Reading The Truth About Awiti, will make you realise that discrimination is cruel and disgusting.
The impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been horrible. How people discriminate a person based on their colour!
People around the world must always remind themselves, not to discriminate a person based on their race, religion, color, age and sex.
However, I didn’t quite understand the way of CP Patrick’s writing as there was too many point of views in her novel. Besides that, I didn’t get the chance to know more about the main character, Awiti. As the point of view, kept changing and Awiti didn’t mainly expressed herself as a main character.
Overall, I loved this book so much! I highly recommend, it to everyone! As it will teach you, about life and never to discriminate a person.
Sincerely,
Natasha (TheNatashaReads)
This book is such an awesome historical fantasy. Yet, it felt so real! All the time reading, I kept feeling like the things in the book really happened. But then, I had to remind myself that it’s a work of fiction! However, some (a lot) of the occurrence have happened to real life individuals.
Reading The Truth About Awiti, will make you realise that discrimination is cruel and disgusting.
The impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade has been horrible. How people discriminate a person based on their colour!
People around the world must always remind themselves, not to discriminate a person based on their race, religion, color, age and sex.
However, I didn’t quite understand the way of CP Patrick’s writing as there was too many point of views in her novel. Besides that, I didn’t get the chance to know more about the main character, Awiti. As the point of view, kept changing and Awiti didn’t mainly expressed herself as a main character.
Overall, I loved this book so much! I highly recommend, it to everyone! As it will teach you, about life and never to discriminate a person.
Sincerely,
Natasha (TheNatashaReads)
January 21, 2016
4.5 stars
This book started off slow for me. But after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. This was the first time in a while that I felt so many emotions while reading a book. The book begins with Awiti as a young girl. She is not her fathers. Although he loves her as much as if she was his own. Slave traders once captured her parents and raped her mother. Awiti was the result. Her parents escaped to a another village and had more children. But, that village is also raided. Awiti never sees her family again. Awiti escapes and is taken in to a village by a man that instantly falls in love with her. He's immortal and after they become lovers, exchanges his immortality for Awiti's morality.
Awiti is filled with rage. The book explores slavery and racism. The burning hatred she has for the people that enslaved her people.
The weather is (of course) a focal point. Is there a correlation between hurricanes during the slave trade?
Awiti makes things very difficult for the plantation owners and their descendants.
Told during various years and various viewpoints in different countries... This book is probably doing to stay with me for a long time.
This book started off slow for me. But after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. This was the first time in a while that I felt so many emotions while reading a book. The book begins with Awiti as a young girl. She is not her fathers. Although he loves her as much as if she was his own. Slave traders once captured her parents and raped her mother. Awiti was the result. Her parents escaped to a another village and had more children. But, that village is also raided. Awiti never sees her family again. Awiti escapes and is taken in to a village by a man that instantly falls in love with her. He's immortal and after they become lovers, exchanges his immortality for Awiti's morality.
Awiti is filled with rage. The book explores slavery and racism. The burning hatred she has for the people that enslaved her people.
The weather is (of course) a focal point. Is there a correlation between hurricanes during the slave trade?
Awiti makes things very difficult for the plantation owners and their descendants.
Told during various years and various viewpoints in different countries... This book is probably doing to stay with me for a long time.
November 23, 2015
Breathtaking. Captivating. Enlightening. There are not enough words to fully encompass the range of emotions for and love of The Truth About Awiti. Author CP Patrick masterfully weaves dark moments in history with elements of the spiritual and supernatural to transport the reader into the world of Awiti, and the destruction she creates.
Awiti is one of the most rich, complex and profound characters I have ever encountered. She not only transcends time, moving from century to century, she is able to immerse herself in different worlds and situations, thus illuminating the dark, cruel realities that so many faced in those times.
CP Patrick artfully brings to life the often-told tale that hurricanes are the spirits of ancestors that come from the coast of Africa to the former slave states to avenge the horrors they were subjected to. It's horrifying and beautiful all the same time. I was haunted by the imagery the author presented as it came to life and leapt right off the page.
The Truth About Awiti is a literary masterpiece that CP Patrick should be proud of. This novel easily will become one of the seminal texts in studies and discussions in the African diaspora.
Awiti is one of the most rich, complex and profound characters I have ever encountered. She not only transcends time, moving from century to century, she is able to immerse herself in different worlds and situations, thus illuminating the dark, cruel realities that so many faced in those times.
CP Patrick artfully brings to life the often-told tale that hurricanes are the spirits of ancestors that come from the coast of Africa to the former slave states to avenge the horrors they were subjected to. It's horrifying and beautiful all the same time. I was haunted by the imagery the author presented as it came to life and leapt right off the page.
The Truth About Awiti is a literary masterpiece that CP Patrick should be proud of. This novel easily will become one of the seminal texts in studies and discussions in the African diaspora.
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