Revelations

by Charlotte Phoenix

November 2004, investigative reporter Claudia Reynolds Thornton is stunned when 30-year-old family secrets surface, creating a present-day crisis. In her quest to understand the circumstances surrounding the secrecy, she discovers more family secrets, past and present, which challenge her values and beliefs. Through the firsthand accounts of her mother and female ancestors from three prior generations, Claudia is swept along on a fascinating journey through American history from rural Mississippi in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century to Ohio and Michigan in the early Twentieth Century and eventually to New York in 1974. Exploring her ancestors' emotional evolutions against the back drop of romance, racism and ritual responsibility, Claudia is struck by the enduring faith and courage the women show as they face heartache, danger and disappointment. Reflecting on their collective narratives from the past, Claudia discovers surprising truths about herself and her family that help her handle her present-day trials.

440 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2014

Reviews

[Anna Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how there are some books that are as adored and as cherished as an old good friend? Books that somehow have mood-changing enchantment contained within the first few pages? This is the kind of book for me. I’m not going to spill the beans too much about this book because I don’t want to ruin it for you and to some extent, I also don’t think I can ever do it justice.
Claudia Reynolds Thornton, an investigative reporter, is taken aback when 30-year-old family secrets came to light, creating a present-day crisis. In her pursuit to get to the bottom of the family secrecy, she tracks down more mysteries, past and present, which challenge her values and beliefs. Exploring her ancestors' emotional evolutions against the backdrop of romance, racism and ritual responsibility, Claudia is struck by the enduring faith and courage the women show as they face heartache, and disappointment. Reflecting on their collective narratives from the past, Claudia discovers surprising truths about herself and her family that help her handle her trials.
I thought this book is excellent. A wonderful, well-written book, it covers the lives of multiple generations of a single family. Phoenix seems to really know the art of well-timed revelation, waiting until just the exact moment to let something slip, giving a different angle, or totally blow your mind. Although most readers describe it as a fast read, I read it slowly because each chapter revealed secrets about a different generation and gave me insights regarding human behaviour and changing social climates in America that I wanted to contemplate for a while. When I finished reading, I closed the book, let out a big sigh of contentment and sadness at the same time. The characters in this book feel real. They have real problems and real flaws, but they are also appealing and good—just like real people. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they actually existed. On the other hand, it’s so beautiful and nostalgic-feeling that you can’t help believe that it’s also a story—and a good one. I think this is a great piece of historical fiction. I wish all fiction books were more like this—well-written, well-executed, telling an interesting story without weighing too heavily or moving too lightly. I highly recommend it.

By Sarah Carter

[Mary Pink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family history is important

I liked reading about the characters' part they a journal. I enjoyed the storytelling! I liked how names were given... the Bible and a true hero! This book was not what I thought it was going to be! It is a page turner!! I learned a lot about myself they the characters! It helped me understand my life a little better! Thank you, soror, for writing this work of art!

[Andrea Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good I actually wanted to jump in the book and beat some of the people up my own self