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A Woman of Endurance
Combining the haunting power of Toni Morrison’s Beloved with the evocative atmosphere of Phillippa Gregory’s A Respectable Trade, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa’s groundbreaking novel illuminates a little discussed aspect of history—the Puerto Rican Atlantic Slave Trade—witnessed through the experiences of Pola, an African captive used as a breeder to bear more slaves.
A Woman of Endurance, set in nineteenth-century Puerto Rican plantation society, follows Pola, a deeply spiritual African woman who is captured and later sold for the purpose of breeding future slaves. The resulting babies are taken from her as soon as they are born. Pola loses the faith that has guided her and becomes embittered and defensive. The dehumanizing violence of her life almost destroys her. But this is not a novel of defeat but rather one of survival, regeneration, and reclamation of common humanity.
Readers are invited to join Pola in her journey to healing. From the sadistic barbarity of her first experiences, she moves on to receive compassion and support from a revitalizing new community. Along the way, she learns to recognize and embrace the many faces of love—a mother’s love, a daughter’s love, a sister’s love, a love of community, and the self-love that she must recover before she can offer herself to another. It is ultimately, a novel of the triumph of the human spirit even under the most brutal of conditions.
A Woman of Endurance, set in nineteenth-century Puerto Rican plantation society, follows Pola, a deeply spiritual African woman who is captured and later sold for the purpose of breeding future slaves. The resulting babies are taken from her as soon as they are born. Pola loses the faith that has guided her and becomes embittered and defensive. The dehumanizing violence of her life almost destroys her. But this is not a novel of defeat but rather one of survival, regeneration, and reclamation of common humanity.
Readers are invited to join Pola in her journey to healing. From the sadistic barbarity of her first experiences, she moves on to receive compassion and support from a revitalizing new community. Along the way, she learns to recognize and embrace the many faces of love—a mother’s love, a daughter’s love, a sister’s love, a love of community, and the self-love that she must recover before she can offer herself to another. It is ultimately, a novel of the triumph of the human spirit even under the most brutal of conditions.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
133 people are currently reading
9585 people want to read
About the author
Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
12 books232 followersDahlma Llanos-Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City. She is a product of the Puerto Rican communities on the island and in the South Bronx. She attended the New York City public school system and received her academic degrees from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Queens College-City University of New York. As a child she was sent to live with her grandparents in Puerto Rico where she was introduced to the culture of rural Puerto Rico, including the storytelling that came naturally to the women in her family, especially the older women. Much of her work is based on her experiences during this time. Dahlma taught creative writing and language and literature in the New York City public school system before becoming a young-adult librarian. She has also taught creative writing to teenagers, adults, and senior citizens throughout New York while honing her own skills as a fiction writer and memoirist.
The 2009 hardcover edition of Daughters of the Stone was listed as a 2010 Finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize. In February, 2019 Dahlma self-published the paperback edition of Daughters of the Stone which won the 16th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards for Multicultural Fiction in 2020. In 2021, she was awarded the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship for Fiction. Dahlma's short stories appear in several anthologies, including: Bronx Memoir Project, Latina Authors and Their Muses, Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul, Breaking Ground: Anthology of Puerto Rican Women Writers in New York 1980-2012, and Growing Up Girl. Dahlma's work also appears in various literary magazines such as the Afro-Hispanic Review and Kweli Journal. English and Spanish language editions of Dahlma's second novel, A Woman of Endurance, are scheduled to be published in March 2022 by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins. Since her retirement, Dahlma continues to dedicate herself to her writing, speaking engagements, panels, and workshops. She resides in the Bronx with her husband, photographer Jonathan Lessuck.
The 2009 hardcover edition of Daughters of the Stone was listed as a 2010 Finalist for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize. In February, 2019 Dahlma self-published the paperback edition of Daughters of the Stone which won the 16th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards for Multicultural Fiction in 2020. In 2021, she was awarded the NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship for Fiction. Dahlma's short stories appear in several anthologies, including: Bronx Memoir Project, Latina Authors and Their Muses, Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul, Breaking Ground: Anthology of Puerto Rican Women Writers in New York 1980-2012, and Growing Up Girl. Dahlma's work also appears in various literary magazines such as the Afro-Hispanic Review and Kweli Journal. English and Spanish language editions of Dahlma's second novel, A Woman of Endurance, are scheduled to be published in March 2022 by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins. Since her retirement, Dahlma continues to dedicate herself to her writing, speaking engagements, panels, and workshops. She resides in the Bronx with her husband, photographer Jonathan Lessuck.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
September 12, 2023
This book hurt bad. The things this woman, Pola went through I honestly don’t know how she survived.
“Grief is relentless. It will eat your insides out and leave a carcass, that can help no one, not even yourself. Been acquainted with it more than once, and this I know: it will seduce you, pull you into darkness, and it will feed on your soul until there’s nothing left.”
There were many times I wanted to stop this book. It was too real and raw..too brutal and just too much. But I know how important it is to hear these type stories from cultures other than my own and I always want an empathetic heart so onward I went. This is a story of intense pain, torture and so much more, but more than that, it’s about the healing process Pola went through. It wasn’t fast, but a real process and the love story was quite the surprise. My heart is full and I lack words, but I’m so glad I read this.
“Grief is relentless. It will eat your insides out and leave a carcass, that can help no one, not even yourself. Been acquainted with it more than once, and this I know: it will seduce you, pull you into darkness, and it will feed on your soul until there’s nothing left.”
There were many times I wanted to stop this book. It was too real and raw..too brutal and just too much. But I know how important it is to hear these type stories from cultures other than my own and I always want an empathetic heart so onward I went. This is a story of intense pain, torture and so much more, but more than that, it’s about the healing process Pola went through. It wasn’t fast, but a real process and the love story was quite the surprise. My heart is full and I lack words, but I’m so glad I read this.
May 6, 2022
Such an important book about the slave trade in Puerto Rico.However it just didn’t work for me. It dragged on for so long without very much happening. There was just too many unnecessary details. It had to be at least 100 pages too long.
April 16, 2022
"Grief is relentless. It will eat your insides out and leave a carcass that can help no one, not even yourself. Been acquainted with it more than once, and this I know: it will seduce you, pull you into darkness, and it will feed on your soul until there is nothing left."
I am writing this review with literal tears in my eyes because I am so emotional. No one ever tells us about the gifts and talents of our ancestors, or about the things that brought them joy, or the power and healing of food and medicinal practices, or of the depths of their spirituality and the strength of their community. More importantly no one ever tells us that they survived because they had each other and that the bond of trust and endurance was their foundation.
A Woman of Endurance also spoke to me about the power of all-consuming grief and its ability to steal the joy of life. Through Pola I have felt the grief of what was stolen from the womb, have felt the abuse and loss of one's body, have experienced the loss of hope and faith and have longed for the memories of original homes.
But Pola's journey has taught me that being open to the healing process is what returns autonomy and brings possibilities for restoration. Grief aims to hold to you hostage and steal the joy that is found all around you. Community is essential for survival and our ancestors survived because they carried each other's burdens. They stayed tethered to their homelands through their spiritual practices and ancestral giftings and wisdoms. They remained open to each other and created spaces where joy was in abundance, joy was the glue that held everything together and joy was what fueled their endurance. Pola's story also taught me that the path of faith is never straight. There are times when we will get lost but we are never too far from our ancestors.
The inner warrior spirit is what kept Pola physically alive but it was the process of opening her heart to her newfound family that ultimately allowed her to usher in a new future & mend the broken parts of her heart. Thanks to @amistadbooks @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.
I am writing this review with literal tears in my eyes because I am so emotional. No one ever tells us about the gifts and talents of our ancestors, or about the things that brought them joy, or the power and healing of food and medicinal practices, or of the depths of their spirituality and the strength of their community. More importantly no one ever tells us that they survived because they had each other and that the bond of trust and endurance was their foundation.
A Woman of Endurance also spoke to me about the power of all-consuming grief and its ability to steal the joy of life. Through Pola I have felt the grief of what was stolen from the womb, have felt the abuse and loss of one's body, have experienced the loss of hope and faith and have longed for the memories of original homes.
But Pola's journey has taught me that being open to the healing process is what returns autonomy and brings possibilities for restoration. Grief aims to hold to you hostage and steal the joy that is found all around you. Community is essential for survival and our ancestors survived because they carried each other's burdens. They stayed tethered to their homelands through their spiritual practices and ancestral giftings and wisdoms. They remained open to each other and created spaces where joy was in abundance, joy was the glue that held everything together and joy was what fueled their endurance. Pola's story also taught me that the path of faith is never straight. There are times when we will get lost but we are never too far from our ancestors.
The inner warrior spirit is what kept Pola physically alive but it was the process of opening her heart to her newfound family that ultimately allowed her to usher in a new future & mend the broken parts of her heart. Thanks to @amistadbooks @bibliolifestyle for the gifted copy.
July 5, 2025
Important and Powerful, but Not Always Engaging
A Woman of Endurance by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa is a bold and heartbreaking novel set on a 19th-century Puerto Rican sugar plantation. It follows Pola, an African woman kidnapped, enslaved, and brutally forced into a life of suffering. Her trauma is deep, especially as she’s forced to bear children for others to profit from. The story is unflinching, and the author clearly did her research—but it’s not a book I couldn’t wait to pick up.
The emotional weight is real, but at times, the pacing drags. The writing can be dense, and the amount of Spanish used throughout—while authentic—sometimes pulled me out of the flow, especially when there wasn’t enough context to follow. I appreciated Pola’s resilience and the theme of healing through sisterhood and spirituality, but I often found myself putting the book down and taking long breaks before picking it up again.
This is an important story with a unique lens on the legacy of slavery in Puerto Rico. It shines when it focuses on connection and quiet strength, but it wasn’t the most gripping read for me. I respected it more than I enjoyed it.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.
A Woman of Endurance by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa is a bold and heartbreaking novel set on a 19th-century Puerto Rican sugar plantation. It follows Pola, an African woman kidnapped, enslaved, and brutally forced into a life of suffering. Her trauma is deep, especially as she’s forced to bear children for others to profit from. The story is unflinching, and the author clearly did her research—but it’s not a book I couldn’t wait to pick up.
The emotional weight is real, but at times, the pacing drags. The writing can be dense, and the amount of Spanish used throughout—while authentic—sometimes pulled me out of the flow, especially when there wasn’t enough context to follow. I appreciated Pola’s resilience and the theme of healing through sisterhood and spirituality, but I often found myself putting the book down and taking long breaks before picking it up again.
This is an important story with a unique lens on the legacy of slavery in Puerto Rico. It shines when it focuses on connection and quiet strength, but it wasn’t the most gripping read for me. I respected it more than I enjoyed it.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.
November 30, 2021
As much as things change (in this case, the setting is Puerto Rico), the horrors and cruelty of the intercontinental Slave Trade remain the same. Regardless of the locale, acts of depravity by overseers and owners are a constant. However, this novel shines a light into the darkness and showcases the humanity that dwelves within the enslaved community -- they forge bonds, build families, support and heal each other despite inhumane conditions and deplorable surroundings.
Pola survives the unimaginable: the violent capture from her childhood village, the tortuous Middle Passage, and when fortune completely abandons her, she is sold for “breeding” to a sadistic owner who uses her and other women for manual labor, biological function (childbirth), and incessant sexual abuse/exploitation. It is no wonder that she abandons faith in her gods and mankind. An event, which ends with her being beaten, disfigured, and sold at a pittance on the cusp of death to another plantation, provides an opportunity for change beyond measure.
The author offers graphic depictions of the hellish experiences (hard to read, but I appreciated the “realness” - no doubt many suffered similar fates), but balanced with moments of extreme tenderness, kindness, and love. She covered the gamut with the outstanding supporting cast of characters -- there are those who bend but don’t break, those who are self-centered survivalists, those who are cleverly generous and giving, those who are at the edge but are pulled back, and those who break mentally, emotionally, and/or physically.
Highly recommended for fans of Women's and Historical Fiction.
Pola survives the unimaginable: the violent capture from her childhood village, the tortuous Middle Passage, and when fortune completely abandons her, she is sold for “breeding” to a sadistic owner who uses her and other women for manual labor, biological function (childbirth), and incessant sexual abuse/exploitation. It is no wonder that she abandons faith in her gods and mankind. An event, which ends with her being beaten, disfigured, and sold at a pittance on the cusp of death to another plantation, provides an opportunity for change beyond measure.
The author offers graphic depictions of the hellish experiences (hard to read, but I appreciated the “realness” - no doubt many suffered similar fates), but balanced with moments of extreme tenderness, kindness, and love. She covered the gamut with the outstanding supporting cast of characters -- there are those who bend but don’t break, those who are self-centered survivalists, those who are cleverly generous and giving, those who are at the edge but are pulled back, and those who break mentally, emotionally, and/or physically.
Highly recommended for fans of Women's and Historical Fiction.
March 6, 2023
Read Around the World. Puerto Rico
“To be black and a slave and be born in this place is to know nothing but darkness. To be black and a slave who remembers the time before, is to carry a double wound, living in the darkness while constantly remembering the light. This warrior woman is wounded, lost, and still struggling against the dark. The light, not yet gone, still flickers in her eyes.”
A Woman of Endurance is a historical fiction by Puerto Rican author Dahlma Llanos-Figuero, the second book in a series, which can be read as a stand-alone story. It explores the 19th century Transatlantic slave trade to plantations in Puerto Rico.
Pola was born Keera, a Yoruba woman of West Africa. She is stolen from her home and people, and subjected to horrific conditions of the Middle Passage. Her life on the plantation is one of repeated trauma and brutality, being abused and used as a breeder of babies that are wrenched away from her at birth. She then moves to a second plantation where she finally experiences a little humanity and through a lost girl called Chachita finally rediscovers a place in her heart for love.
The story gives a vivid picture of life on the Hacienda. I found Pola to be a fairly passive character in the story. Although her suffering is detailed very explicitly and she endures, I didn’t feel we really got to know her. The romance is clearly with a man of worth and character but was not completely convincing for me. If you struggle with reading about abuse of women I would avoid this one, as this forms a large part of the text. Overall 3.5 stars for me.
“To be black and a slave and be born in this place is to know nothing but darkness. To be black and a slave who remembers the time before, is to carry a double wound, living in the darkness while constantly remembering the light. This warrior woman is wounded, lost, and still struggling against the dark. The light, not yet gone, still flickers in her eyes.”
A Woman of Endurance is a historical fiction by Puerto Rican author Dahlma Llanos-Figuero, the second book in a series, which can be read as a stand-alone story. It explores the 19th century Transatlantic slave trade to plantations in Puerto Rico.
Pola was born Keera, a Yoruba woman of West Africa. She is stolen from her home and people, and subjected to horrific conditions of the Middle Passage. Her life on the plantation is one of repeated trauma and brutality, being abused and used as a breeder of babies that are wrenched away from her at birth. She then moves to a second plantation where she finally experiences a little humanity and through a lost girl called Chachita finally rediscovers a place in her heart for love.
The story gives a vivid picture of life on the Hacienda. I found Pola to be a fairly passive character in the story. Although her suffering is detailed very explicitly and she endures, I didn’t feel we really got to know her. The romance is clearly with a man of worth and character but was not completely convincing for me. If you struggle with reading about abuse of women I would avoid this one, as this forms a large part of the text. Overall 3.5 stars for me.
October 28, 2021
A Woman of Endurance starts off with Pola's story as a slave. From the coast of Africa to the plantations of Puerto Rico, Pola's life has not been easy. Used as a "brood mare" at her previous plantation, Pola decides to take her own life. However, she is discovered, beaten within an inch of her life, and sold to a new patron. She recovers in the new plantation's infirmary, but has closed herself off, emotionally and physically. She goes through the motions of living, but maintains a chip on her shoulder and carries her anger like a badge of honor.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Written with such passion and feeling, I was transported to the Hacienda along with Pola. While the story itself was amazing, I found the chapter divisions a little confusing at first. However, as the story went on, the events became clearer and everything fell into place. I loved the strength of Pola's character, the truth behind her anger and personality, and the love she eventually learns to feel for those around her. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a story of redemption, healing, and the power of friendship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Written with such passion and feeling, I was transported to the Hacienda along with Pola. While the story itself was amazing, I found the chapter divisions a little confusing at first. However, as the story went on, the events became clearer and everything fell into place. I loved the strength of Pola's character, the truth behind her anger and personality, and the love she eventually learns to feel for those around her. I highly recommend this one if you're looking for a story of redemption, healing, and the power of friendship.
January 27, 2022
A Woman of Endurance by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa is a stunning historical fiction that will stay with me for years to come.
This is the unforgettable story of a woman taken from her home in Africa and enslaved into the Puerto Rican slave trade. The events, experiences, losses, unspeakable pain, and horrific experiences that Polita (Pola) is forced to undergo are heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, but also just as important is her resilience, response, courage, and strength.
Her story helps shed light on just some of the atrocities that took place to so many innocent victims that were forced into the slave trade. It is so important to never forget.
The author does an amazing job painting the landscapes, narrative, emotions, and the psychological and physical pain that was experienced by Pola and those surrounding her.
This is a book that all should read and one that I will remember for years to come.
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and Amistad for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/12/22.
This is the unforgettable story of a woman taken from her home in Africa and enslaved into the Puerto Rican slave trade. The events, experiences, losses, unspeakable pain, and horrific experiences that Polita (Pola) is forced to undergo are heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, but also just as important is her resilience, response, courage, and strength.
Her story helps shed light on just some of the atrocities that took place to so many innocent victims that were forced into the slave trade. It is so important to never forget.
The author does an amazing job painting the landscapes, narrative, emotions, and the psychological and physical pain that was experienced by Pola and those surrounding her.
This is a book that all should read and one that I will remember for years to come.
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and Amistad for this stunning arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/12/22.
May 29, 2022
This was an amazing, harrowing, surprising read. Pola's story is beautifully crafted. Highly recommend!
June 28, 2022
This review is as long and rambly as my thoughts about this book. Tl;dr: it was so close to being something amazing, but fell into some tropes southerners are way too used to hearing fall from racist lips as justification of enslavement (echoing 1840s rhetoric of slavery as a moral good). This is about how it comes across in reading and not any personal opinion of the author. I see fans of Gone With the Wind gushing over this, and people who like strong women characters who preservere and overcome odds, etc. I worry about so many getting their knowledge of enslavement in Puerto Rico completely from this book.
We need more stories about enslavement that doesn't match Southern US stereotypes. More in the Caribbean as well. This tries to do that. It wants to show the moments of joy grasped by the enslaved during their oppression and their resilience and humanity in the face of dehumanization. There is good, valuable stuff here. Pola (Keera) has an amazing journey and character rebirth. It has a character who is an enslaved Muslim, something quite common that many never consider.
But...
It fails by falling into some dangerous tropes with oh so much baggage. How to show an enslaved woman's strength without implying that it's so much about the "good master?" Racists love to tote that one out about how life was decent under a good master. This work ends on nearly that exact note. It even has near destruction of the plantation that the mistress leads the people into resurrecting.
There are horrors for sure. But all of the trauma of enslavement is put in just a few places - the Middle Passage, the first plantation where our protagonist was enslaved, and a sadistic overseer. Her "good" enslavers protect her from the overseer, get her out of the fields, care and find use for Simon after injury rather than selling him, and even provide anachronistic fancy clothes for the final celebration.
There are also dangers among the enslaved community, which they handle among themselves. This portion deserves better treatment and more attention in stories in general. Here, the outcomes are mostly facile. Not enough is explained. Enslaved woman goes crazy after being ostracized and wanders off, never to be heard from again? In a story that talks of the time, effort, and money that went into recovering this "lost propery?" How could this have worked in the very real scenario that you are mostly stuck with each other unless someone else decides that you aren't? The handling of Celestina did a much better job with this, relying on enslaved women's knowledge and blancos biases and assumptions.
Meanwhile, other details get too much attention. Random BDSM scene? Very convenient magical realism mostly needed for a single plot point?
I get that some of this is about the enslaved people's lack of knowledge. Pola will never know any more about what happened to Chachita, for example. Other things just felt like outliers to the story that distracted. The main issue is the relationship between enslaver and enslaved and that rhetoric. Overall, this is a knife's edge to walk and it almost, but didn't quite, work.
We need more stories about enslavement that doesn't match Southern US stereotypes. More in the Caribbean as well. This tries to do that. It wants to show the moments of joy grasped by the enslaved during their oppression and their resilience and humanity in the face of dehumanization. There is good, valuable stuff here. Pola (Keera) has an amazing journey and character rebirth. It has a character who is an enslaved Muslim, something quite common that many never consider.
But...
It fails by falling into some dangerous tropes with oh so much baggage. How to show an enslaved woman's strength without implying that it's so much about the "good master?" Racists love to tote that one out about how life was decent under a good master. This work ends on nearly that exact note. It even has near destruction of the plantation that the mistress leads the people into resurrecting.
There are horrors for sure. But all of the trauma of enslavement is put in just a few places - the Middle Passage, the first plantation where our protagonist was enslaved, and a sadistic overseer. Her "good" enslavers protect her from the overseer, get her out of the fields, care and find use for Simon after injury rather than selling him, and even provide anachronistic fancy clothes for the final celebration.
There are also dangers among the enslaved community, which they handle among themselves. This portion deserves better treatment and more attention in stories in general. Here, the outcomes are mostly facile. Not enough is explained. Enslaved woman goes crazy after being ostracized and wanders off, never to be heard from again? In a story that talks of the time, effort, and money that went into recovering this "lost propery?" How could this have worked in the very real scenario that you are mostly stuck with each other unless someone else decides that you aren't? The handling of Celestina did a much better job with this, relying on enslaved women's knowledge and blancos biases and assumptions.
Meanwhile, other details get too much attention. Random BDSM scene? Very convenient magical realism mostly needed for a single plot point?
I get that some of this is about the enslaved people's lack of knowledge. Pola will never know any more about what happened to Chachita, for example. Other things just felt like outliers to the story that distracted. The main issue is the relationship between enslaver and enslaved and that rhetoric. Overall, this is a knife's edge to walk and it almost, but didn't quite, work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
A Woman of Endurance
By Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
A novel about slavery in Puerto Rico. Pola is an enslaved African woman who goes through brutal, traumatic experiences when she tries to escape from a plantation where slave breeding is practiced.
Being a slave narrative, this book is not all fun and games but it is also not all about trauma, there is love, protection, family and unusual alliances covered in this novel.
This is the second book in the series by author Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, the first, Daughters of the Stone, is written from a different point of view but about the same people.
I read this with the @readsoullit bookclub and even though I hadn’t read the first book, I was able to fully understand this one so it is more like a stand alone book than a sequel. I will definitely be reading Daughters of the Stone soon though.
The writing style is really good, I especially love the little sections we had from the POV of one of the characters who was falling in love with Pola, he spoke directly to the reader about his feelings and his musings were always a welcome distraction from the trauma on the pages.
There are a lot of Spanish words and phrases in this book, they do not remove from the understanding of a non Spanish speaker like me but would really add value to someone learning to speak Spanish
I loved reading this book and loved loved loved discussing it with Didi @browngirlreading and the ladies in the @readsoullit bookclub especially since The author kindly graced us with her presence and stayed with us for 2 hours!! Thank you @dahlmallanosfigueroa and Didi!!
While you’re here, can you take a couple of seconds to appreciate the cover photograph by Fabiola Jean-Louis? It’s gorgeous.
I did a hybrid read of this book and the audio narration by Tracey Leigh was exquisite.
By Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa
A novel about slavery in Puerto Rico. Pola is an enslaved African woman who goes through brutal, traumatic experiences when she tries to escape from a plantation where slave breeding is practiced.
Being a slave narrative, this book is not all fun and games but it is also not all about trauma, there is love, protection, family and unusual alliances covered in this novel.
This is the second book in the series by author Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, the first, Daughters of the Stone, is written from a different point of view but about the same people.
I read this with the @readsoullit bookclub and even though I hadn’t read the first book, I was able to fully understand this one so it is more like a stand alone book than a sequel. I will definitely be reading Daughters of the Stone soon though.
The writing style is really good, I especially love the little sections we had from the POV of one of the characters who was falling in love with Pola, he spoke directly to the reader about his feelings and his musings were always a welcome distraction from the trauma on the pages.
There are a lot of Spanish words and phrases in this book, they do not remove from the understanding of a non Spanish speaker like me but would really add value to someone learning to speak Spanish
I loved reading this book and loved loved loved discussing it with Didi @browngirlreading and the ladies in the @readsoullit bookclub especially since The author kindly graced us with her presence and stayed with us for 2 hours!! Thank you @dahlmallanosfigueroa and Didi!!
While you’re here, can you take a couple of seconds to appreciate the cover photograph by Fabiola Jean-Louis? It’s gorgeous.
I did a hybrid read of this book and the audio narration by Tracey Leigh was exquisite.
November 2, 2024
"The only pure black tree she has ever seen, it rises majestically, taller and wider than any of its neighbors. Five long-limbed men with extended arms couldn't circle its gigantic trunk. Its sheer size implies a strength that entices, seeming to offer refuge she so desperately seeks. Pola imagines that even the fear winds, huracanes, couldn't budge it. It has surely laid claim to this spot since the beginning and would stand here until the end of time." (page 96)
This brilliant novel depicts the life of Keera (enslaved name of Pola) in Puerto Rico in the 1850's. Beware! There are descriptions of violence and rape. Yet, Keera/Pola endures; rages, fights, grieves, and loves. Wonderful book.
This brilliant novel depicts the life of Keera (enslaved name of Pola) in Puerto Rico in the 1850's. Beware! There are descriptions of violence and rape. Yet, Keera/Pola endures; rages, fights, grieves, and loves. Wonderful book.
February 18, 2023
Right from the first chapter, I was hooked. The author grabs your attention with an intense beginning that’ll have you hooked on the storyline and the main character. Right from the start, I had such a strong connection with the MC, Pola - she is fierce and strong.
Pola was born a free woman in Africa until she was stolen from her village and forced into slavery. Once she arrived in Puerto Rico, she was then forced to be a breeding slave. The grief, pain, and sorrow that Pola went through was unimaginable. However, even through all the pain and grief, people came into Pola’s life and showed her love and healing.
Ohh this book was just absolutely amazing. I felt all the emotions while reading it. A Woman of Endurance is not talked about enough, I haven’t seen many reviews on it. Everyone needs to get this book and read it asap! And no, I don’t mean let it sit on your tbr shelf for months! This is that book you gotta read as soon as you get it ♥️
Pola was born a free woman in Africa until she was stolen from her village and forced into slavery. Once she arrived in Puerto Rico, she was then forced to be a breeding slave. The grief, pain, and sorrow that Pola went through was unimaginable. However, even through all the pain and grief, people came into Pola’s life and showed her love and healing.
Ohh this book was just absolutely amazing. I felt all the emotions while reading it. A Woman of Endurance is not talked about enough, I haven’t seen many reviews on it. Everyone needs to get this book and read it asap! And no, I don’t mean let it sit on your tbr shelf for months! This is that book you gotta read as soon as you get it ♥️
October 29, 2021
Exceptional! One of the best books I've read all year. This author has a gift for storytelling. You will find your imagination painting her words into the very pictures her writing describes. Everything is perfect in this story, from character development to crisp narrative -- it just all flows. Put this on your list of must reads and buy it when it is released! Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 2, 2023
Wow 😭 this has to be one of the most powerful historical fictions I’ve read in a minute. What a great way to start off BHM 🖤
May 26, 2022
Reading about the enslavement of Africans is such a hard thing to do whether fiction or non fiction, but it’s something that I endure because I learn more about my ancestors, my community, and myself. I appreciate this story because there are little to no fictional stories on the lives of enslaved Africans in Puerto Rico.
Though I enjoyed reading this overall, there were times when I felt like the dialogue was too modern for the time that the story was written. There was an instant where 2 ladies were arguing and one proclaims, “you’ve got the wrong one!” Though this may have been something said during the late 19th century, it struck me as odd because I’ve never read dialogue like this during this time period in other novels. There were plot lines that I feel like were dropped and rushed, but not enough that they took away from the narrative.
Even though this wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down, it was still a good novel.
Though I enjoyed reading this overall, there were times when I felt like the dialogue was too modern for the time that the story was written. There was an instant where 2 ladies were arguing and one proclaims, “you’ve got the wrong one!” Though this may have been something said during the late 19th century, it struck me as odd because I’ve never read dialogue like this during this time period in other novels. There were plot lines that I feel like were dropped and rushed, but not enough that they took away from the narrative.
Even though this wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down, it was still a good novel.
June 11, 2022
Tough read. There are parts that while not graphic, the writing infers the abuse. It is one instance after another. And while this reflects a Puerto Rican slave, the abuse is familiar to me from other nonfiction and historical fiction books.
The synopsis says it all.
I found myself conflicted with the ending, and days later I'm still wondering how the ending would be if this were a history book.
Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review A Woman of Endurance.
The synopsis says it all.
I found myself conflicted with the ending, and days later I'm still wondering how the ending would be if this were a history book.
Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review A Woman of Endurance.
May 1, 2022
All I can say is this book was stunning. I didn't move from my chair from the time I started it until the last page. I will quote the blurb as it describes my reaction: "Ultimately, this ia a novel of healing and the triumph of the human spirit under the most brutal of circumstances." An amazing read.
May 29, 2022
This is Dahlma Llanos-Figuerora’s second novel. It is a companion book to her first, Daughters of the Stone. Some of the settings of both books are similar but the characters and focus of the books are different. The focus of this one is the main character, Pola. She is an enslaved woman on the island of Puerto Rico. We witness the hardships of her life as well as her joys.
The author’s use of description quickly wraps the reader in the places, people and happenings of Puerto Rico during times of enslavement. The themes and character development lead to great discussion with @readsoullit book club. Readers of historical fiction and Caribbean fiction will enjoy this book. The audio book is excellent as well and is read by Tracey Leigh.
The author’s use of description quickly wraps the reader in the places, people and happenings of Puerto Rico during times of enslavement. The themes and character development lead to great discussion with @readsoullit book club. Readers of historical fiction and Caribbean fiction will enjoy this book. The audio book is excellent as well and is read by Tracey Leigh.
February 9, 2024
Remember the time before the hurting, for that is where healing lives.
I usually try to leave my long reviews for indie books, but seeing how I've been a long time fan of Llanos-Figueroa's work, and also a fellow Puerto Rican, I see it as my duty to do so.
This book is a masterpiece. I am left utterly speechless and torn, on the one hand-- this is one of the hardest books I've ever read in my life, but the emotional journey was so satisfying and well deserved that it's worth reading every harrowing, brutal detail.
We follow Keera, now given the name Pola, as she is forced to be a slave in the haciendasof late 16th century Puerto Rico, first Hacienda Paraíso, breaks Pola's spirit-- and then in Hacienda Las Mercedes, she tries to learn how to live once more.
This story is brutal, it is raw, it is one of the hardest things I've ever had to read simply because of much raw emotion Llanos-Figueroa bleeds onto the page through Pola's eyes. I feel her anger, I feel her pain, this novel is a masterclass of character work, for Pola should be a protagonist for the ages, joining the canon of other excellent literary figures like Elizabeth Bennet or Jane Eyre.
Pola's strength, her rage, her perseverance, her heart-- it is all explored in through detail as Llanos-Figueroa creates a vivid, but vicious scenery in describing the dense forests and fancy houses of los blancos who own them. With much care and a kind touch, Llanos-Figueroa writes about the realities slaves had to endure during this horrific period in our history, she never makes the suffering the characters are going through gratuitous or graphic-- it's all handled with subtlety and grace, as if recalling a memory-- the skills of an excellent writer in the prime of her craft.
A WOMAN OF ENDURANCE is a triumph of storytelling, unafraid of exploring the parts of our history that we prefer left unmentioned-- it forces us to reflect on our past and offers us a space for discussion on our future. We must never forget the horrors of history, but we can always learn from them-- and Llanos-Figueroa reminds us all that through empathy, generosity and perseverance, we can all make it through the dark and embrace the light.
There are still tears in my eyes as I write this-- 10 0ut of 5 stars if such a thing were ever possible.
March 2, 2023
I am torn between two camps for this novel. In one camp, I want to love the book for its history and retelling of plantation society, particularly in Puerto Rico which is often overlooked as a former plantation society that is still a colonial society, and in the other camp, I cannot help but be disappointed at this novel.
Firstly, the novel drags on unnecessarily. I'd estimate that there was approximately 100 pages of unnecessary text and dialogue in there that dragged the novel into way too many stories and characters. At times I liked the backstory to Pola's life, but then there were times I felt the author told us too much and did not show us enough.
Secondly, the novel is called 'A Woman of Endurance' and it was told as such for most of the story, but I find the ending tells more of the endurance of Simón than it did of Pola. I find the story was more of a 'happy' ending for Simón than Pola since he endured years of being turned down by Pola, a vicious beating from Romero and a near-death experience to end up being the happiest man on the plantation, eventually getting married to the woman of his dreams. I feel the author wanted a happy ending to a really deep and dark novel, but the happy ending she gave was not the one I think is the best fit for this novel. For all that Pola endured, the best she can get is marriage to a broken man, and having to remain enslaved on the plantation? Why couldn't they have become cimarrones, leaving the plantation behind?
The last chapter is called 'Celebration', but I don't see them ever leaving the plantation. So while it was a sort of celebration in that they were allowed to have an elaborate wedding and feast, Pola and Simón remained enslaved, which in my view is nothing to celebrate. I think in trying to show the 'reclamation of common humanity', the author may have inadvertently whitewashed the experience of slavery. I especially feel this was the case as the author constantly tried to portray Don Tòmas and Doña Filo as 'nice' slaveowners. You get the point.
I appreciate the fact that Llanos-Figueroa told the story of enslavement and plantation society in Puerto Rico. It is a genre of literature that I have not explored previously, but I think I wanted a better story. Llanos-Figueroa is clearly a good writer. Her writing style is enjoyable. 3/5
Firstly, the novel drags on unnecessarily. I'd estimate that there was approximately 100 pages of unnecessary text and dialogue in there that dragged the novel into way too many stories and characters. At times I liked the backstory to Pola's life, but then there were times I felt the author told us too much and did not show us enough.
Secondly, the novel is called 'A Woman of Endurance' and it was told as such for most of the story, but I find the ending tells more of the endurance of Simón than it did of Pola. I find the story was more of a 'happy' ending for Simón than Pola since he endured years of being turned down by Pola, a vicious beating from Romero and a near-death experience to end up being the happiest man on the plantation, eventually getting married to the woman of his dreams. I feel the author wanted a happy ending to a really deep and dark novel, but the happy ending she gave was not the one I think is the best fit for this novel. For all that Pola endured, the best she can get is marriage to a broken man, and having to remain enslaved on the plantation? Why couldn't they have become cimarrones, leaving the plantation behind?
The last chapter is called 'Celebration', but I don't see them ever leaving the plantation. So while it was a sort of celebration in that they were allowed to have an elaborate wedding and feast, Pola and Simón remained enslaved, which in my view is nothing to celebrate. I think in trying to show the 'reclamation of common humanity', the author may have inadvertently whitewashed the experience of slavery. I especially feel this was the case as the author constantly tried to portray Don Tòmas and Doña Filo as 'nice' slaveowners. You get the point.
I appreciate the fact that Llanos-Figueroa told the story of enslavement and plantation society in Puerto Rico. It is a genre of literature that I have not explored previously, but I think I wanted a better story. Llanos-Figueroa is clearly a good writer. Her writing style is enjoyable. 3/5
October 15, 2021
** Thank you Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Through A Woman of Endurance we follow the life of Pola , a slave in Puerto Rico in the 19th century, as she heals from a past wrought with loss and abuse.
The content matter itself makes it a hard read, but it never felt gratuitous. The writing was poetic and beautiful. There is a lot of good, thought-provoking content as well as details of the time which felt well-researched (particularly all those food passages and the little details of a time which is always interesting to historical fiction as a genre ). The writing is also exceedingly clever in purposeful word choice.
I like how the Spanish language was handled, there would be untranslated words and phrases in Spanish and I think it suited the voice of the novel really well. The focus on colorism and social structure within slavery was an interesting conflict to add along with the usual dynamics seen and talked about.
I do wish some things were elaborated on ( but the book also felt a bit long and there were things that could’ve been cut ) particularly to expand on Pola’s empathy through touch- ). It is a realistic novel, but sometimes I would’ve liked a bit more driving forces and motivations for Pola. I feel like even though she was the main character there was a lot of unexplained growth we saw by the end but not so much the development. She sort of just watched the people around her and had a passive role in her own journey.
And the romance was, fine. I just couldn’t see the why of the chemistry beyond Simon being a decent person and doing the bare minimum of treating her like a person. I feel like there could’ve been more build or scenes of them sprinkled before rushing them together the last 15% of the book. I just didn’t have strong feelings on them one way or another.
I did enjoy this read though, especially certain sections when done well were remarkable (RE: the passages on grief) It was a beautiful read about resilience, a portrait of a time, and an ending filled with hope.
Through A Woman of Endurance we follow the life of Pola , a slave in Puerto Rico in the 19th century, as she heals from a past wrought with loss and abuse.
The content matter itself makes it a hard read, but it never felt gratuitous. The writing was poetic and beautiful. There is a lot of good, thought-provoking content as well as details of the time which felt well-researched (particularly all those food passages and the little details of a time which is always interesting to historical fiction as a genre ). The writing is also exceedingly clever in purposeful word choice.
I like how the Spanish language was handled, there would be untranslated words and phrases in Spanish and I think it suited the voice of the novel really well. The focus on colorism and social structure within slavery was an interesting conflict to add along with the usual dynamics seen and talked about.
I do wish some things were elaborated on ( but the book also felt a bit long and there were things that could’ve been cut ) particularly to expand on Pola’s empathy through touch- ). It is a realistic novel, but sometimes I would’ve liked a bit more driving forces and motivations for Pola. I feel like even though she was the main character there was a lot of unexplained growth we saw by the end but not so much the development. She sort of just watched the people around her and had a passive role in her own journey.
And the romance was, fine. I just couldn’t see the why of the chemistry beyond Simon being a decent person and doing the bare minimum of treating her like a person. I feel like there could’ve been more build or scenes of them sprinkled before rushing them together the last 15% of the book. I just didn’t have strong feelings on them one way or another.
I did enjoy this read though, especially certain sections when done well were remarkable (RE: the passages on grief) It was a beautiful read about resilience, a portrait of a time, and an ending filled with hope.
October 2, 2022
I was surprised this book had so many positive reviews. But when I read the 3-stars-or-less reviews, I see that their comments mirror my own thoughts. In general, the story is unbalanced.
First, I’ll offer some good. I like the main character, Pola. Her character development is slow but steady. I also like characters who contribute to her development—Rufina, Thea, and Simon.
That’s it for the good.
The story has too many subplots that are unnecessary and distracting. There are so many competing stories within this one novel that we lose track of characters for long periods of time and when they are reintroduced, the story no longer fits. Then, random and too-convenient situations are introduced to smooth out the story once again. It just doesn’t work for me.
I’ll also echo a concern I saw in other reviews, that the trope or cliche of a good slave master in such a brutal slave narrative feels unfair to the era. There are several moments that ring untrue to the era of slavery, but I won’t reveal them here so I don’t give spoilers.
I don’t think I’ll pick up this author again.
First, I’ll offer some good. I like the main character, Pola. Her character development is slow but steady. I also like characters who contribute to her development—Rufina, Thea, and Simon.
That’s it for the good.
The story has too many subplots that are unnecessary and distracting. There are so many competing stories within this one novel that we lose track of characters for long periods of time and when they are reintroduced, the story no longer fits. Then, random and too-convenient situations are introduced to smooth out the story once again. It just doesn’t work for me.
I’ll also echo a concern I saw in other reviews, that the trope or cliche of a good slave master in such a brutal slave narrative feels unfair to the era. There are several moments that ring untrue to the era of slavery, but I won’t reveal them here so I don’t give spoilers.
I don’t think I’ll pick up this author again.
April 16, 2022
Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa writes lyrical sentences that are meant to be savored and lingered over. The topic of her sentences, however, are decidedly less beautiful.
A Woman of Endurance tells the story of Pola—an African woman who was kidnapped and brought to Puerto Rico to work in the fields during the day, and as a breeder slave at night. This story pulls no punches with the graphic reality of life for slaves, and Llanos-Figueroa’s writing style is so vivid that you will feel as if you are right there watching these events happen.
I definitely recommend this book for all historical fiction fans, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading more from Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa.
A Woman of Endurance publishes 4/12. Thank you @Amistad and @Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Woman of Endurance tells the story of Pola—an African woman who was kidnapped and brought to Puerto Rico to work in the fields during the day, and as a breeder slave at night. This story pulls no punches with the graphic reality of life for slaves, and Llanos-Figueroa’s writing style is so vivid that you will feel as if you are right there watching these events happen.
I definitely recommend this book for all historical fiction fans, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading more from Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa.
A Woman of Endurance publishes 4/12. Thank you @Amistad and @Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2021
A Woman of Endurance is the story of Pola's journey from her home village in Africa to being sold into the Puerto Rican slave trade. Her story is unimaginable; sometimes horrific which makes Pola hard to connect to at times. But watching her come through damaged but unbroken and find love and as much security as is available to her in that era made for an excellent read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2022
Harrowing, haunting, healing.
Spectacular read, I don't think I will ever be the same after experiening this book. An untold story of the intercontinental slave trade, specifically the one that stopped in Puerto Rico.
Its so raw and evokes all these feelings in me. I highly recommend.
Spectacular read, I don't think I will ever be the same after experiening this book. An untold story of the intercontinental slave trade, specifically the one that stopped in Puerto Rico.
Its so raw and evokes all these feelings in me. I highly recommend.
April 19, 2022
THIS BOOK! a MUST read! one of the most special books I have read in-awhile. There is history , generational trauma, Healing, rebirth, grief, and love.
June 1, 2022
"Your body is only a vessel. Your essence is inviolate. It is only when you give up your soul that you are lost." A Woman of Endurance.
A Woman of Endurance ~ A Novel ~ by Dahlma LLanos-Figueroa is a testament to the Enslaved African Puerto Rican Ancestors. Dahlma is an obinrin itan in her own right. This book is the second in a non-sequential series. A very intriguing and well-researched story depicting the lives of enslaved women during the 19th century on 1836-1850 Haciendas across Puerto Rico. Dahlma's first book, The Daughters of the Stone introduced us to one of the minor characters that now has a major role in A Woman of Endurance. This is a historical fictional story of an enslaved community that exuded resilience and survival. They became family and supported each other in many ways. Told from a predominantly female narrative, these women were ultimately the backbone of the Haciendas, holding on tightly to their native culture and history. I kept hearing, ‘they can take all that they can from you but, can’t take away what’s in your heart’. Significantly, paramount, giving life, eloquently transcending place and time blurring the distinction between fiction and non-fiction resonates throughout this story.
Pola, born Keera of the Yoruba tribe in West Africa was kidnapped and brought to Puerto Rico via the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade. Keera like so many others before and after her would be stripped of her true identity, forced to become something else; a breeding mare to produce other Beautiful Black Lives that would be nothing more than a commodity to the Plantation owners. "!Apunta tu` ahi`! La negra Pola, now the property of Don Sicayo Duchesne, master of Hacienda Paraiso. Next!’. Keera had a gift of knowing through the sense of touch. 'Her sense of touch made her much more vulnerable than her body.' This would be a blessing and a curse. Pola's horrific journey made her weary with pain and grief, but it would not be her demise. Loss gave birth to relinquishing grief to embrace love and acceptance.
The cover art is of a beautiful woman looking at a well-known piece of art of an enslaved man exhibiting the brutality he endured. The brutality is also a part of the design on the dress or can be an outline of the scars under the dress. These are scars, deep wounds caused by a cancer better known as slavery. Throughout the story, Keera (Pola) would encounter various types of cancers (human, mental, emotional & physical) that left scars and unassailable grief. “Only by releasing the pain will you keep it from killing you.” Thera are several profound statements throughout the book that grabbed me and had me reflecting on life.
A Woman of Endurance is nothing less than a masterpiece that will provoke the reader’s sensory stimuli, giving a broader representation of the reality of enslaved lives. This varied cast of complex characters will take you on their lives journey experiencing deep sorrow and joy. Truly a captivating story, filled with meaning that denotes what a classic would be. I definitely must commend the narrator, Tracy Lay for doing an outstanding job with the audio version of this book. If you have not read / listened to this book yet, consider it a must read and rush to get it.
There is a South African word "Sankofa" meaning "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today. Reading Woman of Endurance is reminiscent of Sankofa.
A Woman of Endurance ~ A Novel ~ by Dahlma LLanos-Figueroa is a testament to the Enslaved African Puerto Rican Ancestors. Dahlma is an obinrin itan in her own right. This book is the second in a non-sequential series. A very intriguing and well-researched story depicting the lives of enslaved women during the 19th century on 1836-1850 Haciendas across Puerto Rico. Dahlma's first book, The Daughters of the Stone introduced us to one of the minor characters that now has a major role in A Woman of Endurance. This is a historical fictional story of an enslaved community that exuded resilience and survival. They became family and supported each other in many ways. Told from a predominantly female narrative, these women were ultimately the backbone of the Haciendas, holding on tightly to their native culture and history. I kept hearing, ‘they can take all that they can from you but, can’t take away what’s in your heart’. Significantly, paramount, giving life, eloquently transcending place and time blurring the distinction between fiction and non-fiction resonates throughout this story.
Pola, born Keera of the Yoruba tribe in West Africa was kidnapped and brought to Puerto Rico via the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade. Keera like so many others before and after her would be stripped of her true identity, forced to become something else; a breeding mare to produce other Beautiful Black Lives that would be nothing more than a commodity to the Plantation owners. "!Apunta tu` ahi`! La negra Pola, now the property of Don Sicayo Duchesne, master of Hacienda Paraiso. Next!’. Keera had a gift of knowing through the sense of touch. 'Her sense of touch made her much more vulnerable than her body.' This would be a blessing and a curse. Pola's horrific journey made her weary with pain and grief, but it would not be her demise. Loss gave birth to relinquishing grief to embrace love and acceptance.
The cover art is of a beautiful woman looking at a well-known piece of art of an enslaved man exhibiting the brutality he endured. The brutality is also a part of the design on the dress or can be an outline of the scars under the dress. These are scars, deep wounds caused by a cancer better known as slavery. Throughout the story, Keera (Pola) would encounter various types of cancers (human, mental, emotional & physical) that left scars and unassailable grief. “Only by releasing the pain will you keep it from killing you.” Thera are several profound statements throughout the book that grabbed me and had me reflecting on life.
A Woman of Endurance is nothing less than a masterpiece that will provoke the reader’s sensory stimuli, giving a broader representation of the reality of enslaved lives. This varied cast of complex characters will take you on their lives journey experiencing deep sorrow and joy. Truly a captivating story, filled with meaning that denotes what a classic would be. I definitely must commend the narrator, Tracy Lay for doing an outstanding job with the audio version of this book. If you have not read / listened to this book yet, consider it a must read and rush to get it.
There is a South African word "Sankofa" meaning "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today. Reading Woman of Endurance is reminiscent of Sankofa.
July 1, 2022
“To be black and a slave and be born in this place is to know nothing but darkness. To be black and a slave who remembers the time before, is to carry a double wound, living in the darkness while constantly remembering the light. This warrior woman is wounded, lost, and still struggling against the dark. The light, not yet gone, still flickers in her eyes.”
Wow! Thank you to my friend @hillysreads for encouraging me to read this powerful book! The full story of Pola, a woman born free, abducted, brutally beaten, then forced to be a breeding slave in Puerto Rico is as horrific as it sounds. But it is also hopeful. It showcases the full depth of the human spirit. And all the ways love can show up to heal and restore you.
As we follow Pola’s journey through childhood, motherhood, womanhood, friendship, and love we see the portrait of a full life. The beauty of her childhood. The horror of her abduction. The sadness of her captivity. The hope of new friendships. How even in grief there is joy to be found. How life continues after death.
“Remember the time before the hurting, for that’s where the healing lives. Find the joy of the before and know you can find it again. You have a big heart and there are many paths to healing.”
This historical fiction is one of the BEST I have read in awhile and a unique perspective. The story highlights the power of friendship, found family, and community despite inhumane conditions. That no matter what happens to a body the soul cannot be taken.
Not to be missed and perfect for fans of The Yellow Wife or The Exiles.
If you want to see more of what I'm reading each day, follow me on my Bookstagram
To watch my monthly updates and author chats, check out my Book Tube channel
To read my in depth reviews and see author Q&A's, head to my blogAll audio books are from Libro FM to support my local bookstore, The Book Bar in Denver.
Wow! Thank you to my friend @hillysreads for encouraging me to read this powerful book! The full story of Pola, a woman born free, abducted, brutally beaten, then forced to be a breeding slave in Puerto Rico is as horrific as it sounds. But it is also hopeful. It showcases the full depth of the human spirit. And all the ways love can show up to heal and restore you.
As we follow Pola’s journey through childhood, motherhood, womanhood, friendship, and love we see the portrait of a full life. The beauty of her childhood. The horror of her abduction. The sadness of her captivity. The hope of new friendships. How even in grief there is joy to be found. How life continues after death.
“Remember the time before the hurting, for that’s where the healing lives. Find the joy of the before and know you can find it again. You have a big heart and there are many paths to healing.”
This historical fiction is one of the BEST I have read in awhile and a unique perspective. The story highlights the power of friendship, found family, and community despite inhumane conditions. That no matter what happens to a body the soul cannot be taken.
Not to be missed and perfect for fans of The Yellow Wife or The Exiles.
If you want to see more of what I'm reading each day, follow me on my Bookstagram
To watch my monthly updates and author chats, check out my Book Tube channel
To read my in depth reviews and see author Q&A's, head to my blogAll audio books are from Libro FM to support my local bookstore, The Book Bar in Denver.
May 8, 2022
This is a tough read - as one might expect of a novel centered on an enslaved woman's experience in Puerto Rico - and yet I found it to also be a quick, compelling book. Pola is indeed a woman of endurance: she endures tragedy, brutality, and ultimately, love. An excellent, if difficult, book to read.
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