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On the Rooftop
A Reese’s Book Club Pick “An utterly original and brilliant story.” –Reese Witherspoon A stunning novel about a mother whose dream of musical stardom for her three daughters collides with the daughters’ ambitions for their own lives—set against the backdrop of gentrifying 1950s San Francisco At home they are just sisters, but on stage, they are The Salvations. Ruth, Esther, and Chloe have been singing and dancing in harmony since they could speak. Thanks to the rigorous direction of their mother, Vivian, they’ve become a bona fide girl group whose shows are the talk of the Jazz-era Fillmore. Now Vivian has scored a once-in-a-lifetime offer from a talent manager, who promises to catapult The Salvations into the national spotlight. Vivian knows this is the big break she’s been praying for. But sometime between the hours of rehearsal on their rooftop and the weekly gigs at the Champagne Supper Club, the girls have become women, women with dreams that their mother cannot imagine. The neighborhood is changing, all around the Fillmore, white men in suits are approaching Black property owners with offers. One sister finds herself called to fight back, one falls into the comfort of an old relationship, another yearns to make her own voice heard. And Vivian, who has always maintained control, will have to confront the parts of her life that threaten to the community, The Salvations, and even her family. Warm, gripping, and wise, with echoes of Fiddler on the Roof , Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s latest novel is a moving family portrait from “a writer of uncommon nerve and talent” ( New York Times Book Review ).
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2022
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November 10, 2022Vivian has big dreams for her daughters’ music group The Salvations. And finally that dream seems set to come true. But the sisters each have dreams of their own, ones that may not quite line up with Vivian’s. A gorgeous novel you won’t want to miss.
April 18, 2023
I had a hard time staying interested in this one. 😬 not the worst thing I’ve read… 🤷🏼♀️
September 22, 2022
I was very excited to read this book initially. I love books about music or music groups. And I really love books focusing on mother-daughter relationships. As excited as I was to read this book, I was equally disappointed once I read it. This book did not hit the mark with me.
Here are a few of my issues - To start off with, I didn't connect with any of the characters. Now, that's okay, you don't necessarily have to connect with the characters for a story to be good (although it does help...). I really didn't like the mother figure Vivian. As a mother, I struggled with some of her decisions, actions and ways she treated her daughters. While I understand this story is a struggle between her daughters dreams versus her dreams for them, I just didn't feel any motherly love or support from her. (Again, this is just my interpretation of the story). The preacher is a pretty dominant character in this book. He makes some decisions that are expected to be accepted as okay and normal that I feel sheds a negative light on religious leaders. (Again, this is just my interpretation of the story).
The story is written in what is supposed to be the dialect of that time frame, and this was difficult to read and follow at times. It honestly got frustrating at times for me. And lastly, the storyline itself didn't grab and hold my attention. I very easily could have put this book down and not finish it, but I did finish it. It's not a memorable book.
While this book didn't land right for me, I know it has been a great book for others.
My thanks to the author, Ecco Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Here are a few of my issues - To start off with, I didn't connect with any of the characters. Now, that's okay, you don't necessarily have to connect with the characters for a story to be good (although it does help...). I really didn't like the mother figure Vivian. As a mother, I struggled with some of her decisions, actions and ways she treated her daughters. While I understand this story is a struggle between her daughters dreams versus her dreams for them, I just didn't feel any motherly love or support from her. (Again, this is just my interpretation of the story). The preacher is a pretty dominant character in this book. He makes some decisions that are expected to be accepted as okay and normal that I feel sheds a negative light on religious leaders. (Again, this is just my interpretation of the story).
The story is written in what is supposed to be the dialect of that time frame, and this was difficult to read and follow at times. It honestly got frustrating at times for me. And lastly, the storyline itself didn't grab and hold my attention. I very easily could have put this book down and not finish it, but I did finish it. It's not a memorable book.
While this book didn't land right for me, I know it has been a great book for others.
My thanks to the author, Ecco Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2022
Thanks to @harperaudio and @librofm for an ALC, and to @eccobooks for an ARC of #OnTheRooftop.
I'm going to have to disagree with Reese on this one. 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙𝗧𝗢𝗣 by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton had a trifecta of things I enjoy in books going for it. It takes place in San Francisco, a city I spent much time in my younger days. The story is set in the 1950’s, an era that can be fun to read about. And finally, the whole thing is centered around a musical family. I typically like stories having to do with the music industry and I love family stories.
In this case, the family in question was headed by Vivian, a longtime widow, set on breaking her singing trio of daughters out beyond the success they’d had near home and into the national spotlight. Many things were working against Vivian including the color of their skin, the tightness of money, and her daughters themselves. Ranging in age from 24 to 20, Ruth, Esther and Chloe had minds of their own and what they wanted didn’t always align with Vivian's plans for their careers.
I thought the bones of this book were really solid, but I also thought its execution was slow and more or less what you’d expect. Despite a well-developed cast of supporting characters and historical accuracy, never was I shocked or even surprised by a turn in 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘰𝘱. The listening was easy, the narration by Robin Miles terrific, but I was still happy to reach the end. I definitely think this is a book that would have worked better for me in print. You can’t win them all!
I'm going to have to disagree with Reese on this one. 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙𝗧𝗢𝗣 by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton had a trifecta of things I enjoy in books going for it. It takes place in San Francisco, a city I spent much time in my younger days. The story is set in the 1950’s, an era that can be fun to read about. And finally, the whole thing is centered around a musical family. I typically like stories having to do with the music industry and I love family stories.
In this case, the family in question was headed by Vivian, a longtime widow, set on breaking her singing trio of daughters out beyond the success they’d had near home and into the national spotlight. Many things were working against Vivian including the color of their skin, the tightness of money, and her daughters themselves. Ranging in age from 24 to 20, Ruth, Esther and Chloe had minds of their own and what they wanted didn’t always align with Vivian's plans for their careers.
I thought the bones of this book were really solid, but I also thought its execution was slow and more or less what you’d expect. Despite a well-developed cast of supporting characters and historical accuracy, never was I shocked or even surprised by a turn in 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘰𝘱. The listening was easy, the narration by Robin Miles terrific, but I was still happy to reach the end. I definitely think this is a book that would have worked better for me in print. You can’t win them all!
January 4, 2023
3.25 stars
On the Rooftop is a historical fiction book that follows a mother and three sisters. I enjoyed some of the sister's stories but the mom was insufferable. I don't read a lot of historical fiction and I found this one interesting I just didn't love all the characters.
On the Rooftop is a historical fiction book that follows a mother and three sisters. I enjoyed some of the sister's stories but the mom was insufferable. I don't read a lot of historical fiction and I found this one interesting I just didn't love all the characters.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.25 stars
Narrators: Robin Miles
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical fiction
Length:10h 29m
September 7, 2022
I was so disappointed by this book given how excited I was by it. It’s just a series of events among characters we’re not given enough to care about or grow to love or hate. There’s no climax, and essentially no plot. They’re just things that happen and it’s not as poetic or profound as it seems on the surface. I truly struggle to understand the point of this book. It had so much potential but fell so short in so many ways. I wished there was more insight into the Civi Rights movement. I wish there was more about the ugly truth of show business. I wish there was less dialogue and more action. I didn’t necessarily hate it, but my lack of care is exactly the problem. It’s a book you can certainly finish, but one that is generally not memorable.
March 17, 2023
Woooooeeeeeee. 4.5.
This was a surprise for me, tho I don't know why. Reese's picks have floundered a bit in the last couple weeks but there have been enough good ones that I shouldn't be surprised when she (or her team) manages to root out another gem.
Vivian is the mother of 3 daughters, and together they make up The Salvations, an all girl singing group. When their hard work & dedication is finally about to pay off in the form of an introduction to a high profile agent known for representing other successful girl groups, the sisters hesitate, each of them taking it as an opportunity to examine their motivations and reassess their commitment to the group.
It's a fork in the road type of a situation, a matter of daughters having spent their entire lives prioritizing above all else, and working hard to attain, the dream of their mother...and then just when that dream seems within reach, the sisters begin to second guess the paths that have been forged for them seemingly since birth and question where their true happiness might lie.
This is the epitome of a slow burn. There was no exciting plot devices, no thrilling ups and downs, just a healthy, steady dose of family dynamics--particularly mother-daughter dynamics, so those that need the constant stimulation of the action packed storylines need not make a stop here 'On the Rooftop.'
For me it was all about the themes. Margaret Wilkerson Sexton tackled some universal truths here, liiiike the entire notion that lessons are not traits that can be passed down from generation to generation, they cannot be adopted or bequeathed. It's a tale as old as time. Mothers desperate to prevent their daughters from making their same mistakes at all costs, only to be forced to stand by helplessly as they watch them do exactly that. All lessons are uniquely tapered to fit the individual, we must learn them in our own time, in our own ways.
And in the same way that going all in on a bet when someone else is staking you ultimately does nothing to truly teach you about risk, in life our lessons must be hard earned, coming in on the tail end of consequence. It's just the way it is.
Even Eve herself likely tried to tell her daughter not to eat that apple!
TRUST me!” she’d say.
But not till the daughter had the bitter mealiness in her mouth would she truly understand, and believe.
Which is just another tale as old as time. The dawning realization that your mother was in fact right all along. And had you only listened to her, you might've been able to avoid all the painful mistakes you had to suffer through. As they say, youth is wasted on the young. You will do your best to impart those lessons to your own daughter, and she will do her best to ignore every single one of them.
That's just life. And maturity...and experience...and wisdom. One never stops living & learning...even Vivian as a mother of 3 grown daughters was still figuring things out. Still learning the meaning of letting go.
I just loved every minute of this. A slightly slow start, it never truly "picked up," but I just became more and more immersed in their stories, more connected, & more invested. MWS also tackled the matter of fulfillment and identity outside of motherhood, the process of letting go of our former childless selves to make room for the mothers within, a process that can be more difficult for some than for others. These were big topics told through small stories and I just absolutely adored this. Another win for the Reese book club!!I'm fairly sure it has mass appeal & can intrigue women everywhere, especially those in that baby-rearing bracket. The concept of motherhood & identity & the way that they are so intertwined is of course pretty ubiquitous & relatable, to mothers and the childless alike.
OH. AND... I would be remiss if I did not mention that stunning cover. The simplicity, the color scheme...that purple contrasting with the deep midnight blue of the background. Gorgeous, just absolutely GORGEOUS. Chef's kiss. Muah.
A very, VERY strong 4.5 stars!!
This was a surprise for me, tho I don't know why. Reese's picks have floundered a bit in the last couple weeks but there have been enough good ones that I shouldn't be surprised when she (or her team) manages to root out another gem.
Vivian is the mother of 3 daughters, and together they make up The Salvations, an all girl singing group. When their hard work & dedication is finally about to pay off in the form of an introduction to a high profile agent known for representing other successful girl groups, the sisters hesitate, each of them taking it as an opportunity to examine their motivations and reassess their commitment to the group.
It's a fork in the road type of a situation, a matter of daughters having spent their entire lives prioritizing above all else, and working hard to attain, the dream of their mother...and then just when that dream seems within reach, the sisters begin to second guess the paths that have been forged for them seemingly since birth and question where their true happiness might lie.
This is the epitome of a slow burn. There was no exciting plot devices, no thrilling ups and downs, just a healthy, steady dose of family dynamics--particularly mother-daughter dynamics, so those that need the constant stimulation of the action packed storylines need not make a stop here 'On the Rooftop.'
For me it was all about the themes. Margaret Wilkerson Sexton tackled some universal truths here, liiiike the entire notion that lessons are not traits that can be passed down from generation to generation, they cannot be adopted or bequeathed. It's a tale as old as time. Mothers desperate to prevent their daughters from making their same mistakes at all costs, only to be forced to stand by helplessly as they watch them do exactly that. All lessons are uniquely tapered to fit the individual, we must learn them in our own time, in our own ways.
And in the same way that going all in on a bet when someone else is staking you ultimately does nothing to truly teach you about risk, in life our lessons must be hard earned, coming in on the tail end of consequence. It's just the way it is.
Even Eve herself likely tried to tell her daughter not to eat that apple!
TRUST me!” she’d say.
But not till the daughter had the bitter mealiness in her mouth would she truly understand, and believe.
Which is just another tale as old as time. The dawning realization that your mother was in fact right all along. And had you only listened to her, you might've been able to avoid all the painful mistakes you had to suffer through. As they say, youth is wasted on the young. You will do your best to impart those lessons to your own daughter, and she will do her best to ignore every single one of them.
That's just life. And maturity...and experience...and wisdom. One never stops living & learning...even Vivian as a mother of 3 grown daughters was still figuring things out. Still learning the meaning of letting go.
I just loved every minute of this. A slightly slow start, it never truly "picked up," but I just became more and more immersed in their stories, more connected, & more invested. MWS also tackled the matter of fulfillment and identity outside of motherhood, the process of letting go of our former childless selves to make room for the mothers within, a process that can be more difficult for some than for others. These were big topics told through small stories and I just absolutely adored this. Another win for the Reese book club!!I'm fairly sure it has mass appeal & can intrigue women everywhere, especially those in that baby-rearing bracket. The concept of motherhood & identity & the way that they are so intertwined is of course pretty ubiquitous & relatable, to mothers and the childless alike.
OH. AND... I would be remiss if I did not mention that stunning cover. The simplicity, the color scheme...that purple contrasting with the deep midnight blue of the background. Gorgeous, just absolutely GORGEOUS. Chef's kiss. Muah.
A very, VERY strong 4.5 stars!!
September 29, 2022
This was not just loosely inspired by Fiddler on the Roof - anyone who is really familiar with Fiddler will recognize On the Rooftop as a pretty straightforward retelling. It was fun at first until I realized I could predict exactly what would happen in each scene!
Starting with a family dinner at sunset joined by a neighbor boy who grew up best friends with the eldest of the family's three daughters; they're childhood best friends, so why would their parents suspect they are actually secretly in love? But they're afraid to ask their parents' permission to marry - after all, he's poor and can't give her a good life! The parent of the girls then strikes a deal for the daughters without consulting them (in this case a singing deal, not an arranged marriage), and seals the deal with drinks and dancing. On their way home from the party they stumble across a police officer who is fond of them, more friendly than the other police officers, and tips them off that something bad lies ahead. There's a new commissioner in town and they're looking to push the local minority population out of Anatevka-I-mean-San-Francisco (gentrification, not pogroms). The three girls take their turns defining themselves against the dreams of their parent - the oldest marrying for love and choosing that partner for herself, the second seeking learning and revolution, the youngest - well, I don't want to spoil either this book or Fiddler on the Roof. Even the break between part 1 and 2 comes at the exact spot where Fiddler's intermission is placed!
It's definitely fun to see a story I love so deeply inspiring new works like this, and seeing the parallels drawn between different points in history feels very meaningful. The story of a family struggling to find common ground between a parent's hopes and her children's own dreams seems to be a timeless one, and the author paints an emotional backdrop of a culture under threat as gentrification pushed the African American community out of San Francsico in the 1950s. But once I realized there were no surprises coming in this book and that it was genuinely a straight retelling, I started to feel less engaged with the plot, unfortunately! I thought the writing was good, though a bit more focused on telling than showing. The characters were charming, I see other people who have read this saying they didn't connect with the characters but I did find them pretty likeable.
I'll say 3.5 stars.
Starting with a family dinner at sunset joined by a neighbor boy who grew up best friends with the eldest of the family's three daughters; they're childhood best friends, so why would their parents suspect they are actually secretly in love? But they're afraid to ask their parents' permission to marry - after all, he's poor and can't give her a good life! The parent of the girls then strikes a deal for the daughters without consulting them (in this case a singing deal, not an arranged marriage), and seals the deal with drinks and dancing. On their way home from the party they stumble across a police officer who is fond of them, more friendly than the other police officers, and tips them off that something bad lies ahead. There's a new commissioner in town and they're looking to push the local minority population out of Anatevka-I-mean-San-Francisco (gentrification, not pogroms). The three girls take their turns defining themselves against the dreams of their parent - the oldest marrying for love and choosing that partner for herself, the second seeking learning and revolution, the youngest - well, I don't want to spoil either this book or Fiddler on the Roof. Even the break between part 1 and 2 comes at the exact spot where Fiddler's intermission is placed!
It's definitely fun to see a story I love so deeply inspiring new works like this, and seeing the parallels drawn between different points in history feels very meaningful. The story of a family struggling to find common ground between a parent's hopes and her children's own dreams seems to be a timeless one, and the author paints an emotional backdrop of a culture under threat as gentrification pushed the African American community out of San Francsico in the 1950s. But once I realized there were no surprises coming in this book and that it was genuinely a straight retelling, I started to feel less engaged with the plot, unfortunately! I thought the writing was good, though a bit more focused on telling than showing. The characters were charming, I see other people who have read this saying they didn't connect with the characters but I did find them pretty likeable.
I'll say 3.5 stars.
February 21, 2023
DNF’d at 70%. I tried y’all, but I promised myself that I would not “push through” a book just for the sake of finishing. I had high hopes of a “Dream Girls” type read, but unfortunately it was not that. It was just boring.
August 30, 2022
3.5/5
Set in 1950s San Francisco in the historically Black Fillmore district neighborhood, known at the time for its jazz scene, On the Rooftop is an atmospheric, coming of age family saga.
Vivian is a fiercely dedicated mother who settled on the West Coast during the Great Migration. Widowed as a young mother of two toddlers with a baby on the way she has sacrificed and built a life for her family and has ambitions and plans for her daughters. For years she has coached and managed them into the girl group act known as The Salvations, they play local notable clubs and are gaining traction in their music career, poised to really go places, and just as they receive an important offer the sisters, all young twenty-somethings, are coming into adulthood and making plans of their own that find them on divergent paths.
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton's previous book The Revisioners absolutely blew me away, it was one of my favorite books of 2019. I didn't find On the Rooftop to be quite as mindblowing, but really it's just a different kind of book. I saw MWS comment in an interview that she wrote this book during the pandemic, was inspired by Fiddler on the Roof, and rather than creating something complex and heavy, she really just wanted to write about a joyful Black family and I think she's done that well here.
On the Rooftop is a universal story of the complex dynamics of mothers, daughters, and sisters. It's also a story of Black culture and families and the desires sown into future generations, rooted in the limited opportunities of previous generations. The setting of the Fillmore neighborhood is rich and alive, populated with dynamic characters. The story is set at a time when city developers are forcing people out of the neighborhood in the name of redevelopment; this "progress" of gentrification eroded the culture that existed, displacing people, lives, and dreams. It's an interesting parallel to the changes happening within the family.
Thanks to Ecco for the ARC.
Set in 1950s San Francisco in the historically Black Fillmore district neighborhood, known at the time for its jazz scene, On the Rooftop is an atmospheric, coming of age family saga.
Vivian is a fiercely dedicated mother who settled on the West Coast during the Great Migration. Widowed as a young mother of two toddlers with a baby on the way she has sacrificed and built a life for her family and has ambitions and plans for her daughters. For years she has coached and managed them into the girl group act known as The Salvations, they play local notable clubs and are gaining traction in their music career, poised to really go places, and just as they receive an important offer the sisters, all young twenty-somethings, are coming into adulthood and making plans of their own that find them on divergent paths.
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton's previous book The Revisioners absolutely blew me away, it was one of my favorite books of 2019. I didn't find On the Rooftop to be quite as mindblowing, but really it's just a different kind of book. I saw MWS comment in an interview that she wrote this book during the pandemic, was inspired by Fiddler on the Roof, and rather than creating something complex and heavy, she really just wanted to write about a joyful Black family and I think she's done that well here.
On the Rooftop is a universal story of the complex dynamics of mothers, daughters, and sisters. It's also a story of Black culture and families and the desires sown into future generations, rooted in the limited opportunities of previous generations. The setting of the Fillmore neighborhood is rich and alive, populated with dynamic characters. The story is set at a time when city developers are forcing people out of the neighborhood in the name of redevelopment; this "progress" of gentrification eroded the culture that existed, displacing people, lives, and dreams. It's an interesting parallel to the changes happening within the family.
Thanks to Ecco for the ARC.
April 18, 2023
The book's blurb - a three-sister music group managed by their mother set in the 1950s San Francisco - promises a good fun. Unfortunately, the overall plot is rather slow and I struggle to keep my attention. The alternate chapters told from the girls and the mother's perspectives work quite well to introduce the reader to their individual passions and dreams, but there are not enough gripping conflicts and tensions that make the book memorable (and IMO, not enough music).
Many thanks for the ARC I received through Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: September 6, 2022.
Many thanks for the ARC I received through Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: September 6, 2022.
July 9, 2022
I just couldn't get into this story of the 3 sisters and their mom. It did get better near the end. Hopefully, you guys and gals will like it better than I. Sorry, but I got bogged down way too many times reading this story. I did finish it though.
October 3, 2022
Genre: Historical/African American/Domestic Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: September 6, 2022
The Fillmore District, a historically black neighborhood in San Francisco, is the book's setting. The decade in the novel is the 1950s. An African American musical family and their tight nit neighborhood are central to the narrative. The story has a sincere attitude but is a tad lackluster. Vivian is a widow who fled the racial cruelty of segregated Louisiana for San Francisco. She lives in a community where she and everyone are close friends with the barber, the butcher, the pastor, and many other neighbors. While working as a nurse, Vivian raises her three daughters, all talented singers. She wants to turn them into celebrities. Consider a softer Gypsy Rose Lee dynamic. The sisters are very close and firm believers in the power of prayer. As adults, not all of them will share their mother's dream of becoming a famous singing group. The tensions in the family are predictable, making their scenes read sluggish.
Many leading jazz performers, including Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker, visited the district. The nightclubs were bouncing and overflowing. Reading about the sights and sounds of jazz and blues music was fun and exciting. Still, the main narrative is the community's gentrification and the impending decline of the jazz scene in the area. The bookstore owner informs the beauty salon owner, "Pretty soon, you'll go around these streets, and you won't see yourself reflected back in it." Once again, racism may force Vivian out of a home she loves. The author captures the anguish felt by all black people who fought but lost the battle of ethnic cleansing in their neighborhood. The book's conclusion regarding the district is factually correct but written in a corny way, more like women's fiction than historical fiction. Considering the Fillmore District had an energy and life of its own, I expected a more memorable tale. The story would have had more punch if it had less syrup. That is me. If you enjoy women's domestic fiction, you will enjoy "On the Rooftop."
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.amazon.com/
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: September 6, 2022
The Fillmore District, a historically black neighborhood in San Francisco, is the book's setting. The decade in the novel is the 1950s. An African American musical family and their tight nit neighborhood are central to the narrative. The story has a sincere attitude but is a tad lackluster. Vivian is a widow who fled the racial cruelty of segregated Louisiana for San Francisco. She lives in a community where she and everyone are close friends with the barber, the butcher, the pastor, and many other neighbors. While working as a nurse, Vivian raises her three daughters, all talented singers. She wants to turn them into celebrities. Consider a softer Gypsy Rose Lee dynamic. The sisters are very close and firm believers in the power of prayer. As adults, not all of them will share their mother's dream of becoming a famous singing group. The tensions in the family are predictable, making their scenes read sluggish.
Many leading jazz performers, including Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker, visited the district. The nightclubs were bouncing and overflowing. Reading about the sights and sounds of jazz and blues music was fun and exciting. Still, the main narrative is the community's gentrification and the impending decline of the jazz scene in the area. The bookstore owner informs the beauty salon owner, "Pretty soon, you'll go around these streets, and you won't see yourself reflected back in it." Once again, racism may force Vivian out of a home she loves. The author captures the anguish felt by all black people who fought but lost the battle of ethnic cleansing in their neighborhood. The book's conclusion regarding the district is factually correct but written in a corny way, more like women's fiction than historical fiction. Considering the Fillmore District had an energy and life of its own, I expected a more memorable tale. The story would have had more punch if it had less syrup. That is me. If you enjoy women's domestic fiction, you will enjoy "On the Rooftop."
Find all my book reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list…
https://books6259.wordpress.com/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review…
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr…
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord\
https://www.amazon.com/
January 27, 2024
2.5
This book was read for my in-person book club - if not for that reason I would never have gotten through it. It is not that it is a bad book - because it isn't. I am just personally wore out with reading books of everyday life. I will say that this book had a bit more to it because it was about a family of a different race than my own, set in a locale that is unfamiliar to me.
I would be willing to try another book by Sexton, in hopes that it was not another story based on every day life, without a pop, or a mystery, or something that would hook me in.
This book was read for my in-person book club - if not for that reason I would never have gotten through it. It is not that it is a bad book - because it isn't. I am just personally wore out with reading books of everyday life. I will say that this book had a bit more to it because it was about a family of a different race than my own, set in a locale that is unfamiliar to me.
I would be willing to try another book by Sexton, in hopes that it was not another story based on every day life, without a pop, or a mystery, or something that would hook me in.
September 14, 2022
Couldn't get into this one. I had a really hard time connecting with any of the characters, and felt the writing style was disjointed and all over the place. I know I'm not coming from a place of understanding the hardships of Vivian and her daughters, being Black women in that era, but Vivian was a very hard character to like with the way she treated her children as a means to an end. Heavy religious overtones with the preacher and church setting which I mainly skimmed over. I wanted to like this, but it was another disappointing selection for Reese's book club for me.
September 25, 2022
Rooftop was a nice read; it was pretty slow and read to me like Memphis did. It also reminded me of the old movie, Sparkle, but without the drama.
I did appreciate the smoky sultriness of the 50s jazz era and I could imagine the slow grinding to the good music in the juke joints.
I think my favorite parts were when the community would rally together to stop the selling of their businesses (gentrification). “Negros have survived only off the strength of each other. And if we gone keep surviving we gonna have to keep nurturing that mentality…. if we don’t build each other, we’re gonna be at the bottom of the barrel for the rest of our lives. That’s what they want… we’ve got to demand what we deserve.”
Amen 🙏🏾
I did appreciate the smoky sultriness of the 50s jazz era and I could imagine the slow grinding to the good music in the juke joints.
I think my favorite parts were when the community would rally together to stop the selling of their businesses (gentrification). “Negros have survived only off the strength of each other. And if we gone keep surviving we gonna have to keep nurturing that mentality…. if we don’t build each other, we’re gonna be at the bottom of the barrel for the rest of our lives. That’s what they want… we’ve got to demand what we deserve.”
Amen 🙏🏾
October 5, 2022
Did not hold my interest. Because of the author's previous work and the time period, I finished it, but I was expecting so much more. The storyline dragged and there were several misses of where I was hoping the story would have taken readers. Maybe next time.
July 26, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Great characters.
Great characters.
September 18, 2022
So so boring. Reese has really been letting me down with her recommendations this year.
December 21, 2022
Set in the 1950s in San Francisco, widow Vivian has great plans for her three singing daughters. They initially form a jazz group called The Salvations. The daughters, however, have other ideas. This book explores gentrification, ambition, grief, love, and miscommunications. Sexton excels at portraying the way different generational viewpoints. This is set during a time of great difficulties for black families. The main source of conflict is the removal of families from their homes to enable new construction. The (real) club The Fillmore plays a key role in the plot. The writing is solid, characters are well developed. It is not an action-based story but kept my attention from beginning to end.
September 24, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
While this wasn't my favorite Reese Book club pick ever, it was still a strong character driven historical fiction/family drama and the first book I've read by author Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.
Centred around the lives of Vivian, a single African American mother and her three biracial daughters, Ruth, Esther and Chloe as she raises them on her own and grooms them to be a singing group amidst the backdrop of their gentrifying San Francisco neighborhood in the 1950s.
These three sisters have different dreams and the book does a great job balancing between each of the four women's POVs. If you enjoy stories about independent women, complex mother/daughter and sisterhood relationships this is definitely for you!
While this wasn't my favorite Reese Book club pick ever, it was still a strong character driven historical fiction/family drama and the first book I've read by author Margaret Wilkerson Sexton.
Centred around the lives of Vivian, a single African American mother and her three biracial daughters, Ruth, Esther and Chloe as she raises them on her own and grooms them to be a singing group amidst the backdrop of their gentrifying San Francisco neighborhood in the 1950s.
These three sisters have different dreams and the book does a great job balancing between each of the four women's POVs. If you enjoy stories about independent women, complex mother/daughter and sisterhood relationships this is definitely for you!
October 5, 2022
From the moment I started reading, I got that fuzzy feeling you get when you just KNOW a book is for you. 'On The Rooftop' is simply wonderful. Margaret Wilkerson Sexton has conjured characters who feel like your best friends. The music mentioned throughout is superb and needs to be in a playlist,for listening whilst reading. For me, the activism in the book was an unexpected bonus. This is a book about family, duty and community. It's about hopes, dreams and finding what (and who) we need in life. I adored every minute of it. Highly recommend!
did-not-finish
May 23, 2023DNF at 7%. Normally I like to wait a bit longer before I abandon a book, but I could tell this one was not the right fit for me. The tone, the characters, the style just wasn't engaging enough for me to even remember I was reading it. Here's to future me trying to remember to sample books beforehand.
March 19, 2023
3.5 stars
When this book was announced as the Literary League book club pick, I was definitely intrigued by the synopsis. It’s set in the 50s and it’s about a mother who dreams of her daughters making it in the music industry as a girl group. But as we delve into the story, we learn that the girls have dreams of their own.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the music, and the singing, and the clubs that the girls performed in. A large part of this book is about the expectations that parents have for their children. Vivian pours all of her hopes and dreams into her daughters. They are extensions of her, which is why she’s so devastated when she finds out that their dreams don’t quite align with her own. In the background of the story, there’s also the topic of their neighborhood being gentrified and how that affects the Black community that lives there.
I thought the writing was really good, along with the characters, but overall, something was missing for me. The pacing was quite slow and as much as I liked the characters, I wish there had been more plot. Objectively it felt like the stakes were high, but that didn’t come through emotionally for me, at least. It’s a shame too as I felt like there was so much to like about this book and I wish it had left a bit more of an impression on me.
When this book was announced as the Literary League book club pick, I was definitely intrigued by the synopsis. It’s set in the 50s and it’s about a mother who dreams of her daughters making it in the music industry as a girl group. But as we delve into the story, we learn that the girls have dreams of their own.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the music, and the singing, and the clubs that the girls performed in. A large part of this book is about the expectations that parents have for their children. Vivian pours all of her hopes and dreams into her daughters. They are extensions of her, which is why she’s so devastated when she finds out that their dreams don’t quite align with her own. In the background of the story, there’s also the topic of their neighborhood being gentrified and how that affects the Black community that lives there.
I thought the writing was really good, along with the characters, but overall, something was missing for me. The pacing was quite slow and as much as I liked the characters, I wish there had been more plot. Objectively it felt like the stakes were high, but that didn’t come through emotionally for me, at least. It’s a shame too as I felt like there was so much to like about this book and I wish it had left a bit more of an impression on me.
July 11, 2023
Good writing, but I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted a story about a girl group seeking stardom in the 1950s. This was more about family dynamics and gentrification, which was cool, but a bit boring.
Something about the performance scenes in this book made them a struggle to get through. Not enough pizzazz (maybe?) and too much other drama cloaking everything leading up to them. They weren't thrilling or moving in any way, and the passion that music lovers have for the art form didn't seem to be present in this book. The same for the sermon scenes at the church.
I had very high hopes ( The Final Revival of Opal & Nev might have spoiled me). I honestly don't know what to make of this one, but I still plan to read anything Margaret Wilkeson Sexton writes in the future.
Something about the performance scenes in this book made them a struggle to get through. Not enough pizzazz (maybe?) and too much other drama cloaking everything leading up to them. They weren't thrilling or moving in any way, and the passion that music lovers have for the art form didn't seem to be present in this book. The same for the sermon scenes at the church.
I had very high hopes ( The Final Revival of Opal & Nev might have spoiled me). I honestly don't know what to make of this one, but I still plan to read anything Margaret Wilkeson Sexton writes in the future.
July 2, 2022
I did not finish this book. I read a little over half of it. It wasn’t bad just not that interesting to me. I like historical novels but usually I read ones where the characters are going through much more difficult situations. Others may find the book more likable than I did, we each have different likes and dislikes.
September 6, 2022
While there was a lot going on in this book (gentrification, racism, sexism), everything took a secondary position to the relationships between Vivian and her daughters. Vivian had big dreams of musical success for them while they were each coming in to their own ideas of what success meant for them. Set in an unsettled period of time in San Francisco, there was a lot of noise trying to drown out this central plot but I felt the book did a great job of incorporating the issues while still keeping it in the background. In this way the reader is able to focus on the daughters as they struggle with their own dreams and the impacts they had on each other and their mother. I especially applaud the realistic ending that didn't provide a rose tinted look at what frequently happened. For some this fictional book can be a starting to point to a deeper look at the impact of the decisions we allow to be made.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
December 29, 2022
I finally finished this book! Initially a DNF but I pushed through.
The chapters alternate between Vivian, Ruth, Esther, and Chloe. Vivian has been managing her three daughters throughout their singing career and wants nothing more than for them to make it big, together. However, her big dreams for them aren’t exactly lining up with what they want individually. On top of that, their neighborhood is being threatened by gentrification. *yawn*
This book was very slow, the plot was lacking, and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Granted, i didn’t get into the best flow. I started reading and came back two months later to finish up, but it was so boring. Were there any redeeming qualities? Well, the cover is absolutely stunning, that’s something!
That’s showbiz baby 😎 (Challenge #19)
The chapters alternate between Vivian, Ruth, Esther, and Chloe. Vivian has been managing her three daughters throughout their singing career and wants nothing more than for them to make it big, together. However, her big dreams for them aren’t exactly lining up with what they want individually. On top of that, their neighborhood is being threatened by gentrification. *yawn*
This book was very slow, the plot was lacking, and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Granted, i didn’t get into the best flow. I started reading and came back two months later to finish up, but it was so boring. Were there any redeeming qualities? Well, the cover is absolutely stunning, that’s something!
That’s showbiz baby 😎 (Challenge #19)
January 5, 2023
Set in the 1950s a widowed mother has a dream for her 3 daughters to become musical sensations.
On stage, they're (Ruth, Esther, and Chloe) known as 'The Salvations'.
The backdrop for this story is San Fransisco.
The book is loosely inspired by 'Fiddler on the Roof'. It touches on many different topics ranging from gentrification to racism to sexism. Family and community are at the heart of the book.
On stage, they're (Ruth, Esther, and Chloe) known as 'The Salvations'.
The backdrop for this story is San Fransisco.
The book is loosely inspired by 'Fiddler on the Roof'. It touches on many different topics ranging from gentrification to racism to sexism. Family and community are at the heart of the book.
Audiobook source: Libby
Narrator: Robin Miles
Length: 10H 29M
October 25, 2022
Another book that I read because it’s a Reese recommendation. I’m afraid that it didn’t live up to the hype for me.
I could round up and give it 4⭐️ - it’s a decent book. But I’m not really sure I’d tell anyone ‘you should definitely read this book.’
It has great potential! It could be a very poignant story.
Vivian is a widow raising her three daughters in 1950’s San Francisco, in a black community called the Fillmore. Vivian has big dreams for her girls to be famous singers and forms the group called The Salvations with them, but Ruth, Esther and Chloe have plans of their own. There are some beautiful family connections, and some good explorations of challenging family dynamics. Each of the womens’ desires is explored with various neighborhood characters, giving a good glimpse of life in this community. There is some romance mixed in, and a lot of exploration of finding one’s own way. There is also some spirituality that sometimes plays a prominent role, and sometimes just seems to be set aside. Some great material of a historical fiction, but it’s kind of disappointing in its lack of connection. I read about the characters, but I wasn’t drawn in and I didn’t care very much about how it would all pan out for this family.
For fans of family dramas, this might be a hit. It tells a good family story. But it doesn’t really move along with a purpose or with much heart. Even the romantic parts are very cut and dry. I’m sure many will love this. But I felt like by the time I got to the end I was ready to just be done and move on.
I could round up and give it 4⭐️ - it’s a decent book. But I’m not really sure I’d tell anyone ‘you should definitely read this book.’
It has great potential! It could be a very poignant story.
Vivian is a widow raising her three daughters in 1950’s San Francisco, in a black community called the Fillmore. Vivian has big dreams for her girls to be famous singers and forms the group called The Salvations with them, but Ruth, Esther and Chloe have plans of their own. There are some beautiful family connections, and some good explorations of challenging family dynamics. Each of the womens’ desires is explored with various neighborhood characters, giving a good glimpse of life in this community. There is some romance mixed in, and a lot of exploration of finding one’s own way. There is also some spirituality that sometimes plays a prominent role, and sometimes just seems to be set aside. Some great material of a historical fiction, but it’s kind of disappointing in its lack of connection. I read about the characters, but I wasn’t drawn in and I didn’t care very much about how it would all pan out for this family.
For fans of family dramas, this might be a hit. It tells a good family story. But it doesn’t really move along with a purpose or with much heart. Even the romantic parts are very cut and dry. I’m sure many will love this. But I felt like by the time I got to the end I was ready to just be done and move on.
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