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The Catbird Seat
Past meets present in South Carolina
At first, Gillian Culkin feels only mildly inconvenienced by crowds of demonstrators debating the presence of the Confederate flag flying brazenly atop the South Carolina State House. Gil passes these people every day as she makes her way to work in the Caroliniana Library on the University of South Carolina campus. Like so many other White Southerners, she had never before given much thought to racial issues. But over the course of a few weeks, she comes to realize that the flag represents important and entrenched issues of race and inequality. Gil finds her views on race developing and evolving as she examines the past and sees its influence on the present.
Meanwhile, at the Caroliniana, she studies the 1857 diary of a South Carolina dirt farmer named William Medlin. Hollingsworth makes him the center of a second story. Thinking to turn a quick profit, Medlin buys a slave at auction. In the course of the tragic journey he then undertakes with his newly acquired slave, Medlin’s views of enslavement change.
The two narratives—one told in the present, the other in the past, in alternating chapters—provide a probing and insightful look at what it means to be human within an often inhumane system
At first, Gillian Culkin feels only mildly inconvenienced by crowds of demonstrators debating the presence of the Confederate flag flying brazenly atop the South Carolina State House. Gil passes these people every day as she makes her way to work in the Caroliniana Library on the University of South Carolina campus. Like so many other White Southerners, she had never before given much thought to racial issues. But over the course of a few weeks, she comes to realize that the flag represents important and entrenched issues of race and inequality. Gil finds her views on race developing and evolving as she examines the past and sees its influence on the present.
Meanwhile, at the Caroliniana, she studies the 1857 diary of a South Carolina dirt farmer named William Medlin. Hollingsworth makes him the center of a second story. Thinking to turn a quick profit, Medlin buys a slave at auction. In the course of the tragic journey he then undertakes with his newly acquired slave, Medlin’s views of enslavement change.
The two narratives—one told in the present, the other in the past, in alternating chapters—provide a probing and insightful look at what it means to be human within an often inhumane system
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 16, 2022
I just finished this novel. Whoa!
Tears, fear, anger, and sympathy. This story evokes all emotions.
Hollingsworth tells her story in two narratives, one based in 1857, in the days of slavery, and the other in 2000, when the Confederate flag was removed from the statehouse of South Carolina.
We see a struggling, small-scale cotton farmer persuaded to buy a slave family in Savannah with the sole purpose of reselling that family for a profit. Once he bought himself a man, his wife and child, the group travels toward Mobile, Alabama where cotton was growing much more abundantly. Farmers were paying higher prices for labor.
On the current track the author addresses today’s lingering racial inequities. Hollingsworth puts it all out there, does not hold back. Her characters use words and phrases we’ve all heard or whispered behind closed doors. She’s brave to do so, yet she does so with the utmost sensitivity and fairness to both sides. She doesn’t do it to invoke rage or guilt. She does it to show how good, honest discussion can move us forward.
The author's command of the English language is both stunning and engaging. Her scenes are painfully real for the reader. Her historical facts are well-researched and skillfully woven into her story.
This book is simply a masterpiece.
Tears, fear, anger, and sympathy. This story evokes all emotions.
Hollingsworth tells her story in two narratives, one based in 1857, in the days of slavery, and the other in 2000, when the Confederate flag was removed from the statehouse of South Carolina.
We see a struggling, small-scale cotton farmer persuaded to buy a slave family in Savannah with the sole purpose of reselling that family for a profit. Once he bought himself a man, his wife and child, the group travels toward Mobile, Alabama where cotton was growing much more abundantly. Farmers were paying higher prices for labor.
On the current track the author addresses today’s lingering racial inequities. Hollingsworth puts it all out there, does not hold back. Her characters use words and phrases we’ve all heard or whispered behind closed doors. She’s brave to do so, yet she does so with the utmost sensitivity and fairness to both sides. She doesn’t do it to invoke rage or guilt. She does it to show how good, honest discussion can move us forward.
The author's command of the English language is both stunning and engaging. Her scenes are painfully real for the reader. Her historical facts are well-researched and skillfully woven into her story.
This book is simply a masterpiece.
December 7, 2022
As a historian at the University of South Carolina, Gillian's newest assignment is to study an antebellum diary, newly unearthed and donated to the school. In alternating chapters a parallel narrative is told — that of the diary writer, a cotton planter in 1857, who is convinced by his brother he can score some easy cash by buying a few slaves from an auction in South Carolina, then turn around and sell them in Alabama. As Gil works with the historical artifact, her city of Columbia is at the center of contention surrounding the Confederate battle flag still flying from the state capitol building.
I'm sorry to say that this book was, for me, a slog. Having won a copy I felt obligated to read it, though abandonment was at times tempting. The biggest issue I had is that it can't decide whether it wants to be fiction or nonfiction, and thus it reads very oddly. It is less a novel than an infodump masquerading as fiction — all tell and very little show: "Gil learned that..." and "Gil realized that..." cue the reader that the narrative will now pause indefinitely for a history lesson. It doesn't seem like it saw a professional editor, but could really have used some tightening up. It also emits potent self-published, Mary-Sue, and As-You-Know-Bob vibes.
Critiques aside, Hollingsworth's heart is in the right place, and her passion for history strongly shines through. I enjoyed the historical timeline and appreciated what I learned in the contemporary timeline. As early as the Author's Note, I was impressed and could tell she has a talent for the written word, but ultimately I wished what followed could have been polished and sharpened by an editor. Bonus: my copy also had a delightful, almost-intoxicating, new-book smell!
I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
I'm sorry to say that this book was, for me, a slog. Having won a copy I felt obligated to read it, though abandonment was at times tempting. The biggest issue I had is that it can't decide whether it wants to be fiction or nonfiction, and thus it reads very oddly. It is less a novel than an infodump masquerading as fiction — all tell and very little show: "Gil learned that..." and "Gil realized that..." cue the reader that the narrative will now pause indefinitely for a history lesson. It doesn't seem like it saw a professional editor, but could really have used some tightening up. It also emits potent self-published, Mary-Sue, and As-You-Know-Bob vibes.
Critiques aside, Hollingsworth's heart is in the right place, and her passion for history strongly shines through. I enjoyed the historical timeline and appreciated what I learned in the contemporary timeline. As early as the Author's Note, I was impressed and could tell she has a talent for the written word, but ultimately I wished what followed could have been polished and sharpened by an editor. Bonus: my copy also had a delightful, almost-intoxicating, new-book smell!
I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
September 29, 2022
A fascinating read from cover to cover. A page-turner story of slave and slave master on a fast-paced journey, juxtaposed with a modern day woman coming to terms with modern-day racism. There is such good attention to detail and history, I found I learned so much while being thoroughly entertained. I can’t recommend this one enough.
March 13, 2024
This had such an interesting plot - relevant and eye opening. I was interested in the old diary and the past/present storytelling. But I found myself not connecting. It felt long, like there were just huge parts of info-dumping. The crux of the story was so fascinating, and such a great idea, but I found it buried in the details. It felt like there was a great pressure to be as close to a nonfiction, sticking to facts, that it lost the feel of a novel. I wish I'd liked it more but this one just didn't work for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 25, 2022
The Catbird Seat by Rebecca Hollingsworth
Set in South Carolina (the story of) slavery, confederate flag (symbolism of) and racism in the South. Told in alternating chapters from the past to present. The past (graphically) details life as a slave owner and slave. The present a (white) woman researching the history of a Slave owner.
The story moves at a steady pace with attention to detail. I found The Catbird Seat emotionally charged (and) often hard to read, when learning how African Americans were/are treated in the South. I was also surprised how (white) people in this area felt/feel about The Confederate flag and people of color. A thought-provoking read.
*I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
Set in South Carolina (the story of) slavery, confederate flag (symbolism of) and racism in the South. Told in alternating chapters from the past to present. The past (graphically) details life as a slave owner and slave. The present a (white) woman researching the history of a Slave owner.
The story moves at a steady pace with attention to detail. I found The Catbird Seat emotionally charged (and) often hard to read, when learning how African Americans were/are treated in the South. I was also surprised how (white) people in this area felt/feel about The Confederate flag and people of color. A thought-provoking read.
*I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2022
#GoodreadsGiveaway
There was a lot of information to digest. It felt like this book contained three books in one. There was a lot of historical background, a "diary" story, and a contemporary story of a historian. At some points in the book I thought I was reading a history text book. The contemporary story was very week. This book could opened, 1st chapter, with an archivist or historian discovering a diary at a flea market/antique store (as an archivist I can testify this is how we find some collections along with estate sales). Then have chapers 2- next to last being about the historical figure, and making the last chapter or three about the archivist/historian wrapping up the story or lack of information. There could be an authors note with historical context to place the histrical figure into the time period and place.
You can tell the author did a lot of research but reading the book the way it was laid out was a struggle. I wanted to lose myself into the historical story but was getting jolted back to reality when I found myself switching my brain from leisure reading to academic archivist/historian.
There was a lot of information to digest. It felt like this book contained three books in one. There was a lot of historical background, a "diary" story, and a contemporary story of a historian. At some points in the book I thought I was reading a history text book. The contemporary story was very week. This book could opened, 1st chapter, with an archivist or historian discovering a diary at a flea market/antique store (as an archivist I can testify this is how we find some collections along with estate sales). Then have chapers 2- next to last being about the historical figure, and making the last chapter or three about the archivist/historian wrapping up the story or lack of information. There could be an authors note with historical context to place the histrical figure into the time period and place.
You can tell the author did a lot of research but reading the book the way it was laid out was a struggle. I wanted to lose myself into the historical story but was getting jolted back to reality when I found myself switching my brain from leisure reading to academic archivist/historian.
January 19, 2023
I won this Kindle edition in a goodreads giveaway!
It's a very thoughtful story. I think of it as a thin slice of South Carolina history, revealing a lot about that thin slice.
Part of the story takes place in 2000, following a white historian who works at the Caroliniana Library in Columbus (Univ. of South Carolina). Large parts of this narrative are quite didactic, although not without strong feelings for the characters. In 2000, there is a long 'demonstration' going on at the State House over getting rid of the Confederate flag that was flying there (Spoiler: It was successful! You probably know that, so I'm not hiding that as a spoiler of the story.) It's interesting to Gil (Gillian) as a historian as she realizes how little she knows of the lived reality of Black people in her state.
The diary of William Medlin, and his story, are the other half of The Catbird Seat. Gil's job is to transcribe and annotate his pre-Civil War diary, which is very sketchy as regards details. Each entry is very short. Gil explains this as being typical of a dirt farmer's diary, as the writer was keeping notes for his own edification. For example, it would help him the following growing season to know what worked or didn't work when dealing with a certain issue that came up in the past. This part of the story grabbed me more than the 2000 story. William Medlin, who goes by "Medlin," is a sort of hapless fellow in some ways. He doesn't seem to have much of an internal dialog going on; he just puts one foot in front of the other as he lives his life. He is a poor white cotton farmer. His wife hates him. His brother convinces him that they can make a quick buck by going to a slave auction, buying some enslaved people, and then selling in Mobile for a profit. Medlin goes along with this because he wants his young sons to have a better life than his own. He wants money so that he can send one of his sons, a tinkerer and inventor, to college.
Although neither Medlin nor Hutto, the Black man who Medlin "buys" , SEEM to be very meditative, they must be to some extent. The part of the story that follows the slave auction is very compelling. I almost wanted to skip the intervening chapters taking place in 2000, because I was so interested in the pre-Civil War part of the story. The actions of the two men are so...full of humanity.
Ms Hollingsworth explains the interlocking of England's hunger for cotton, chattel slavery, the ongoing loans to poor farmers with subsequent deepening debt, and the depletion of the South Carolina soil. She brings in Gil's mother to explain how white Southerners of her generation could feel pride in those who fought for the Confederacy without ever considering the effect on Black people who were enslaved for >240 years in the US. She brings in Joe Pearl and Miz Johnson to explain how modern-day Black Americans still suffer from the generational effects of slavery.
It's a very thoughtful story. I think of it as a thin slice of South Carolina history, revealing a lot about that thin slice.
Part of the story takes place in 2000, following a white historian who works at the Caroliniana Library in Columbus (Univ. of South Carolina). Large parts of this narrative are quite didactic, although not without strong feelings for the characters. In 2000, there is a long 'demonstration' going on at the State House over getting rid of the Confederate flag that was flying there (Spoiler: It was successful! You probably know that, so I'm not hiding that as a spoiler of the story.) It's interesting to Gil (Gillian) as a historian as she realizes how little she knows of the lived reality of Black people in her state.
The diary of William Medlin, and his story, are the other half of The Catbird Seat. Gil's job is to transcribe and annotate his pre-Civil War diary, which is very sketchy as regards details. Each entry is very short. Gil explains this as being typical of a dirt farmer's diary, as the writer was keeping notes for his own edification. For example, it would help him the following growing season to know what worked or didn't work when dealing with a certain issue that came up in the past. This part of the story grabbed me more than the 2000 story. William Medlin, who goes by "Medlin," is a sort of hapless fellow in some ways. He doesn't seem to have much of an internal dialog going on; he just puts one foot in front of the other as he lives his life. He is a poor white cotton farmer. His wife hates him. His brother convinces him that they can make a quick buck by going to a slave auction, buying some enslaved people, and then selling in Mobile for a profit. Medlin goes along with this because he wants his young sons to have a better life than his own. He wants money so that he can send one of his sons, a tinkerer and inventor, to college.
Although neither Medlin nor Hutto, the Black man who Medlin "buys" , SEEM to be very meditative, they must be to some extent. The part of the story that follows the slave auction is very compelling. I almost wanted to skip the intervening chapters taking place in 2000, because I was so interested in the pre-Civil War part of the story. The actions of the two men are so...full of humanity.
Ms Hollingsworth explains the interlocking of England's hunger for cotton, chattel slavery, the ongoing loans to poor farmers with subsequent deepening debt, and the depletion of the South Carolina soil. She brings in Gil's mother to explain how white Southerners of her generation could feel pride in those who fought for the Confederacy without ever considering the effect on Black people who were enslaved for >240 years in the US. She brings in Joe Pearl and Miz Johnson to explain how modern-day Black Americans still suffer from the generational effects of slavery.
March 18, 2023
This was an ambitious (and somewhat brave) undertaking of a book. Rebecca Hollingsworth is a White Southern writer observing and confronting the complaisance of Southern Whites toward the continuing racial segregation and discrimination, not just in the South, but also throughout the United States. If there were half stars here, I would have given this book 3 1/2 stars, because it was a book that made me think, and I do love a book that makes me think and confront my own biases.
A previous Goodreads reviewer noted that Hollingsworth seemed not to neatly stay in her lane, inserting a great deal of factual history into both the contemporary and historical plot lines, blurring the lines between fiction and non-fiction. I too felt lectured at points and found myself exclaiming "Not another tangent! We're already on a tangent & here starts another!"
I'll admit that in the first chapters, my reaction was anger at the seeming willful naivete of the young historical researcher, Gil. I almost stopped reading for my anger, but this was a #Goodreads Giveaway copy & I assumed that Gil would experience some growth as the book went on. Yes, she did, very suddenly it seemed from time to time.
But it wasn't just Gil, but the omniscient narrative description of the formative years of former professional wrestler and Black minister and activist Rev. Joseph Pearl Joy struck me as being extremely condescending. I found that hard to take.
I just couldn't buy that Gil, a young woman with advanced degrees in history and interest in researching her state's slave-holding history, would look at the Confederate flag atop the capitol in Columbia, SC as though for the first time, considering its association with slavery and White supremacy. Really? And was she truly trying to justify its presence by thinking about how well its colors coordinated with the colors of the South Carolina and US flags? I would expect that a young academic of this time would be more aware and less surprised by the protest over the flag.
The letter from her mother about how she grew up, not questioning "simply the way things were" seemed more believable. But then, the author herself was more closely a contemporary of the mother than the daughter.
As annoyed as I may have gotten by so many historical author-splainings, this is where I found the food for thought: the fact that the cotton grown on slave-holding Southern plantations fueled the industrial revolution by providing the raw materials to the weaving mills in the US and Great Britain. Come to think of it, there were fabric-weaving mills in my own small-town history in New England. Okay, wool, but some cotton as well. Seems that being the birthplace of Stonewall Jackson's horse wasn't the only connection my Yankee town had to the South and the Civil War. And, come to think of it, the shade tobacco grown in the Connecticut River Valley for cigar wrappers surely had a close association with Southern-grown tobacco for cigar filler & all manner of smoking products.
The above is only one example of thoughts provoked by this book. It did make me think about the differences between our South and its continuing pride of ancestral involvement in the Civil War and say, average German citizens whose more recent ancestors fought for the Nazis who don't display swastikas, and how successful was South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission post-Apartheid? Yes, there are still White supremacist echoes reverberating around the world, but what lessons might we learn? I know there is a book on my Kindle about the son of a Nazi I plan to read.
I realize I haven't delved much into the 1857 narrative. That one seemed to flow better, being a more traditional historical story with well-realized characters. I wonder if it was written first as a whole, with the contemporary story folded around it. The contemporary story I felt probably would have benefited the most from professional editorial help.
One thought that kept occurring to me while reading this book was: Hollingsworth grew up in Florida, and she may well have written a book that might be forbidden from FL high school library bookshelves. And that I find to be a shame. Despite its faults & weaknesses, it could serve as a springboard to important classroom conversations on race relations that simply aren't happening very often, particularly in the current combative climate.
That spurred a bit of a subversive thought in my mind--the copy of the book I got from Goodreads is a Kindle copy. Perhaps it's not so bad in these restrictive schools that students' Kindles aren't fired up and inspected as they enter school....in which case, I'd love to include a copy of "Fahrenheit 451" for good measure.
A previous Goodreads reviewer noted that Hollingsworth seemed not to neatly stay in her lane, inserting a great deal of factual history into both the contemporary and historical plot lines, blurring the lines between fiction and non-fiction. I too felt lectured at points and found myself exclaiming "Not another tangent! We're already on a tangent & here starts another!"
I'll admit that in the first chapters, my reaction was anger at the seeming willful naivete of the young historical researcher, Gil. I almost stopped reading for my anger, but this was a #Goodreads Giveaway copy & I assumed that Gil would experience some growth as the book went on. Yes, she did, very suddenly it seemed from time to time.
But it wasn't just Gil, but the omniscient narrative description of the formative years of former professional wrestler and Black minister and activist Rev. Joseph Pearl Joy struck me as being extremely condescending. I found that hard to take.
I just couldn't buy that Gil, a young woman with advanced degrees in history and interest in researching her state's slave-holding history, would look at the Confederate flag atop the capitol in Columbia, SC as though for the first time, considering its association with slavery and White supremacy. Really? And was she truly trying to justify its presence by thinking about how well its colors coordinated with the colors of the South Carolina and US flags? I would expect that a young academic of this time would be more aware and less surprised by the protest over the flag.
The letter from her mother about how she grew up, not questioning "simply the way things were" seemed more believable. But then, the author herself was more closely a contemporary of the mother than the daughter.
As annoyed as I may have gotten by so many historical author-splainings, this is where I found the food for thought: the fact that the cotton grown on slave-holding Southern plantations fueled the industrial revolution by providing the raw materials to the weaving mills in the US and Great Britain. Come to think of it, there were fabric-weaving mills in my own small-town history in New England. Okay, wool, but some cotton as well. Seems that being the birthplace of Stonewall Jackson's horse wasn't the only connection my Yankee town had to the South and the Civil War. And, come to think of it, the shade tobacco grown in the Connecticut River Valley for cigar wrappers surely had a close association with Southern-grown tobacco for cigar filler & all manner of smoking products.
The above is only one example of thoughts provoked by this book. It did make me think about the differences between our South and its continuing pride of ancestral involvement in the Civil War and say, average German citizens whose more recent ancestors fought for the Nazis who don't display swastikas, and how successful was South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission post-Apartheid? Yes, there are still White supremacist echoes reverberating around the world, but what lessons might we learn? I know there is a book on my Kindle about the son of a Nazi I plan to read.
I realize I haven't delved much into the 1857 narrative. That one seemed to flow better, being a more traditional historical story with well-realized characters. I wonder if it was written first as a whole, with the contemporary story folded around it. The contemporary story I felt probably would have benefited the most from professional editorial help.
One thought that kept occurring to me while reading this book was: Hollingsworth grew up in Florida, and she may well have written a book that might be forbidden from FL high school library bookshelves. And that I find to be a shame. Despite its faults & weaknesses, it could serve as a springboard to important classroom conversations on race relations that simply aren't happening very often, particularly in the current combative climate.
That spurred a bit of a subversive thought in my mind--the copy of the book I got from Goodreads is a Kindle copy. Perhaps it's not so bad in these restrictive schools that students' Kindles aren't fired up and inspected as they enter school....in which case, I'd love to include a copy of "Fahrenheit 451" for good measure.
November 16, 2022
Trigger Warnings: Racial discrimination, slavery, derogatory names (especially the N-word), death, murder, drowning, death of animals
The Catbird Seat is told in two narratives: one through a farmer on a journey in the days of slavery, and other is set in 2000 when the Confederate Flag is removed from the statehouse of South Carolina.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it had a concentrated pace. Rebecca Hollingsworth did a lot of research and you can tell by the writing. But, for someone who can usually read 100+ pages a day, this one made me take my time with it and for that, the pace was down to about 40 pages a day. Because of the wording and information within the pages, the book evoked many feelings: sadness, anger, empathy… Hollingsworth doesn’t hold back in the conversations that are shared, especially with those from Gil in 2000, where there are good, honest discussions with both sides being heard in fairness. Between the conversations and the historical information shared before or around the conversation, it became very eye opening.
This book is written for doors of discussion to be opened about the past, present, and future of racial relations between Americans. This book won’t be for everyone, especially those who tend to fly through books as this makes you slow down. But I think at the end of it, the reader will walk away rewarded with a new view on both history and social issues.
*Thank You Greenleaf Book Group Press and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The Catbird Seat is told in two narratives: one through a farmer on a journey in the days of slavery, and other is set in 2000 when the Confederate Flag is removed from the statehouse of South Carolina.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it had a concentrated pace. Rebecca Hollingsworth did a lot of research and you can tell by the writing. But, for someone who can usually read 100+ pages a day, this one made me take my time with it and for that, the pace was down to about 40 pages a day. Because of the wording and information within the pages, the book evoked many feelings: sadness, anger, empathy… Hollingsworth doesn’t hold back in the conversations that are shared, especially with those from Gil in 2000, where there are good, honest discussions with both sides being heard in fairness. Between the conversations and the historical information shared before or around the conversation, it became very eye opening.
This book is written for doors of discussion to be opened about the past, present, and future of racial relations between Americans. This book won’t be for everyone, especially those who tend to fly through books as this makes you slow down. But I think at the end of it, the reader will walk away rewarded with a new view on both history and social issues.
*Thank You Greenleaf Book Group Press and LibraryThing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 20, 2022
I remember reading James Thurber’s short story, The Catbird Seat and also the baseball term of a batter with three balls and no strikes as standing in the Catbird Seat. The story by Rebecca Hollingsworth does not follow the baseball term nor the short story as sitting pretty and having luck on your side. Rebecca Hollingsworth presents two stories that deal with racial bias and how each individual deals with prejudice. Rebecca’s introduction mirrored my own feelings of the black race. I grew up in Ohio and Indiana and the small communities in these states did not have many black families. We did not see the racial divide as witnessed in the South with separate but supposedly equal schools, restaurants, bathrooms, etc. This novel aroused my own feelings of racial inequality.
October 26, 2022
A close and personal look at race relationships in America, focusing on southeast America, current and, in alternating chapters, historically. Odd numbered chapters focus on contemporary events as seen through the eyes of a historian witnessing the furor surrounding the removal of the confederate flag from the South Carolina State House. Alternatively, slavery justified as an economic necessity, is also explored thru the relationship between two individuals and the society they live in. The strength of these points of view lies in showing that throughout history understanding each other as individuals leads to truth about our similarities as people, not our differences social or physical.
November 3, 2025
This is a compelling story told from two different points of view. The first in 1857 when slavery was a large part of the Americas and the other in 2000, when the Confederate flag was removed from the statehouse of South Carolina.
In 1857 you follow a struggling cotton farmer who is trying to get money to help his farm and kids by purchasing slaves to resell. He has to travel from Savannah, GA to Mobile, AL and faces many challenges along the way all while dealing with his own illness.
In 2000 it's set in South Carolina where, Gillian, who is reading through the diary of the 1857 cotton farmer all while working through the racial inequalities tied to the confederate flag controversy.
The book is well written and is engaging, more so on the travels endured in 1857. I think it is thought provoking and captures the differences in the eras that is written about.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
In 1857 you follow a struggling cotton farmer who is trying to get money to help his farm and kids by purchasing slaves to resell. He has to travel from Savannah, GA to Mobile, AL and faces many challenges along the way all while dealing with his own illness.
In 2000 it's set in South Carolina where, Gillian, who is reading through the diary of the 1857 cotton farmer all while working through the racial inequalities tied to the confederate flag controversy.
The book is well written and is engaging, more so on the travels endured in 1857. I think it is thought provoking and captures the differences in the eras that is written about.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
October 22, 2022
Won this from Library thing.
I found this book to be an eye openier.
The book envokes many feelings. It made you feel at times sad, angery and sympthy.
Just nevery realized how much racism there was and how people just excepted it.
This book gives you something to think about. How can people treat others like that.
There is so much detail and history given both back then and now.
I really enjoyed the history and back round that is given.
If you enjoy history and something to really make you think. This is the book.
I found this book to be an eye openier.
The book envokes many feelings. It made you feel at times sad, angery and sympthy.
Just nevery realized how much racism there was and how people just excepted it.
This book gives you something to think about. How can people treat others like that.
There is so much detail and history given both back then and now.
I really enjoyed the history and back round that is given.
If you enjoy history and something to really make you think. This is the book.
January 19, 2023
Such a good book exploring the issues of racism in the South that takes place in alternating times. During present day it is set during the South Carolina Confederate Flag controversy. The mid to late 1800s follows a farmer by the name of Medlin that decided to buy some slaves and resale them to make some quick money to pay for his son’s college. Both times are fascinating and so informative. Not only did I learn a lot from this book, but I also enjoyed the story very much.
November 30, 2022
Equality for all 🇺🇸
I enjoyed reading this book and was sad when it ended! I learned a lot about the history of America. This book made me open my eyes even more about the issues surrounding race. We still have a lot of work to do—even for equal rights for women in the year 2022!? Overall, very well written. I love how the two stories interweaved. Well done Rebecca!!
I enjoyed reading this book and was sad when it ended! I learned a lot about the history of America. This book made me open my eyes even more about the issues surrounding race. We still have a lot of work to do—even for equal rights for women in the year 2022!? Overall, very well written. I love how the two stories interweaved. Well done Rebecca!!
January 21, 2023
Pandering
Trying to use current events to describe past events. The author is trying way too hard to prove that they aren’t racist or have been enlightened to their racism and vowed to change. Either way, the book seemed forced and felt like they were trying too hard.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
Trying to use current events to describe past events. The author is trying way too hard to prove that they aren’t racist or have been enlightened to their racism and vowed to change. Either way, the book seemed forced and felt like they were trying too hard.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
March 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Catbird Seat was an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with compelling characters and a story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing was immersive, and I loved the way it made me feel completely transported into its world!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Catbird Seat was an engaging and enjoyable read, filled with compelling characters and a story that kept me hooked from start to finish. The writing was immersive, and I loved the way it made me feel completely transported into its world!
October 26, 2022
This was a challenging, thought provoking read. Rebecca Hollingsworth managed to weave stories of the past and present with well researched and detailed precision. I found this book to be a timely book.
October 30, 2022
I really, really tried to like this book because the concept sounded great. To be honest, though, I was bored by the writing style. The author did not pull me in from the beginning, and I just couldn't connect.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
March 21, 2024
This book has caused me to examine my personal perspective on slavery, racism, and equality. Although it’s not as bad as it could be it also isn’t as good as it should be. I have things to do to be truly one who loves my neighbor as myself.
December 2, 2022
What a great story! History can teach us so much.
January 21, 2023
Thanks for the free kindle copy.
This was a very interesting read.
I learned a lot!
This was a very interesting read.
I learned a lot!
Read
December 14, 2024No rating because i don’t remember 1 single thing
December 29, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a chance to read and review this new book. I was beyond excited to read this book when I found out the historical story line took place one county away from me in South Carolina! I felt that the dual story lines were good but it was a little repetitive when it came to the current story line. This novel aroused my own feelings of racial inequality. I would recommend this book to all.
May 22, 2024
conflicted about this one
The author intertwines two timelines, one during the protests in Charleston over the confederate flag and the other during the late 1850’s. It’s the history of the south, slavery, the confederate flag and race. She tries to walk a tightrope between white southerners and their pride and the horrors of slavery. I’m not sure that it was successful even though I understand she was trying to present both sides.
The author intertwines two timelines, one during the protests in Charleston over the confederate flag and the other during the late 1850’s. It’s the history of the south, slavery, the confederate flag and race. She tries to walk a tightrope between white southerners and their pride and the horrors of slavery. I’m not sure that it was successful even though I understand she was trying to present both sides.
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