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Deavors Plantation #1
The Plantation
In the days of pre-Civil War slavery, the unforgettable novel of a shocking portion of our American heritage
The time was not all magnolia blossoms and crinolines. It was more than romance and splendor. It was debauchery and slavery, gambling tables and dens of iniquity. It was murder and forgiveness. It was all the great contradictions of life in a golden era.
393 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 26, 2022
This was complete trash. I wouldn’t have given it 3 stars except for badass butler Cellus, who earned a bonus star for being his awesome self. With the exception of Aaron** & Athel*** the rest of the major characters are either repulsive, whiny, or cardboard; Joleen’s coming of age is an interesting arc in concept, but McNeill’s prose has all the subtlety of a drunken lumberjack—he can’t do any justice to his male characters, even the more likable ones, & the women are even flatter. It’s just badly written, pure & simple. It’s a shame, as there are some decent scenes scattered in here, but they’re buried beneath an onslaught of dull sloppiness.
I already have the sequel RAFAELLA, so I’ll read it…but I’m not expecting much.
**Aaron has the triplicate misfortune of being a lawyer, a Jew, & an abolitionist.
***You can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Athel—he’s not a bad guy, really, but he can’t make himself set aside the poisonous plantation worldview as his daughter Joleen (eventually) does.
I already have the sequel RAFAELLA, so I’ll read it…but I’m not expecting much.
**Aaron has the triplicate misfortune of being a lawyer, a Jew, & an abolitionist.
***You can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Athel—he’s not a bad guy, really, but he can’t make himself set aside the poisonous plantation worldview as his daughter Joleen (eventually) does.
June 23, 2021
I've read this a couple of times before, both many years ago. I only remembered that it is pretty raunchy in parts! There is a shell of history, and presumably the details of how people lived on plantations with slaves in the 1830s is somewhat accurate, and interesting. It is not the most intellectual novel.
June 14, 2015
Very good! Loved it! There are two or three more in the series which I plan to read!
April 18, 2015
An ok read, a little too predictable. Was expecting a little more from the storyline. Full of errors, and yes I did read the note from the publisher stating the author was trying to capture the dialog of the time, after I finished the book. These errors were misspellings, such as 'be' instead of 'he'. You would think a publisher would catch these. While I appreciate the publisher asking to be notified of errors, I won't be re-reading the one to find them. Sadly I won't be continuing on with this series.
August 20, 2014
GREAT READ
Held my interest throughout the entire book. Reminded me of Beulah Land, North and South, and Gone With The Wind. Great plot and left me wishing the story would continue.
Held my interest throughout the entire book. Reminded me of Beulah Land, North and South, and Gone With The Wind. Great plot and left me wishing the story would continue.
November 7, 2014
I won't be reading book 2 or 3.
November 6, 2014
50 shades meets slavery/plantation times.
August 13, 2015
Light summer reading,this might be for you
Light reading,but I
Enjoyed the book.going to read book two. There are some interesting character s in the book.enjoy it
Light reading,but I
Enjoyed the book.going to read book two. There are some interesting character s in the book.enjoy it
July 12, 2020
This was reccomended to me.
I have no idea why.
It's horrible.
I hated it.
I have no idea why.
It's horrible.
I hated it.
December 29, 2019
This was an awesome audiobook and I highly recommend it after I did some searching there a prompt Deavors family living in the Natchez, MS area during this time but I can not say if this was based on that family. The story tells of hardships, death, relationship between two brothers and their personal feelings of the slaves they owed. One brother (Apple) did not feel he owned them and most of the slaves had been with the family since around 1830 and had been owned by Apple's grandfather and their was a standing rule no selling or mistreatment of the slaves. The other brother (Lavone) was totally the opposite and he was willing do whatever to destroy his brother. The brothers story is the same story like Cain and Able because Lavon hatred for Apple who owned the plantation murder him in cold blood by stoning him.
On the other hand you meet the children of Apple and Estella and listen to their growing up and falling in love and having to watch their uncle Lavon do everything in his power to hurt them, their parents and the plantation. And here of the slaves who I many ways did more than serve the family but was like part of the family in running the plantation. And you meet Aaron who is an abolitionist and married to Jolene Deavors.
If you listen to his I would you ask you listen to it with an open mind and leave your personal feelings of slavery and the plantation lifestyle
On the other hand you meet the children of Apple and Estella and listen to their growing up and falling in love and having to watch their uncle Lavon do everything in his power to hurt them, their parents and the plantation. And here of the slaves who I many ways did more than serve the family but was like part of the family in running the plantation. And you meet Aaron who is an abolitionist and married to Jolene Deavors.
If you listen to his I would you ask you listen to it with an open mind and leave your personal feelings of slavery and the plantation lifestyle
August 14, 2018
Started out a 10 ended as a 100
Recently I have read books that started out as 5 stars and ended up barely scrapping to a 3. Plantation started out a 10 and ended as a100. For all its wealth this family was cursed but like most curses it was not apparent for years. The book did deal with taboo subjects and some erotica but it was done most tasteful well as tasteful as one could write on sexual taboos.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment of this series which I hope like this one I will not want to put down.
Recently I have read books that started out as 5 stars and ended up barely scrapping to a 3. Plantation started out a 10 and ended as a100. For all its wealth this family was cursed but like most curses it was not apparent for years. The book did deal with taboo subjects and some erotica but it was done most tasteful well as tasteful as one could write on sexual taboos.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next installment of this series which I hope like this one I will not want to put down.
April 19, 2022
usage of the N word
Book was good the N word was used to much in all the historical fiction or fact books I have read they have been sensitive in using this word either by calling the slave by name , colored, boy ,nigra or mulatto . though this story was good it’s writer was just to aggressive with the N’ word
Book was good the N word was used to much in all the historical fiction or fact books I have read they have been sensitive in using this word either by calling the slave by name , colored, boy ,nigra or mulatto . though this story was good it’s writer was just to aggressive with the N’ word
June 28, 2022
Author McNeill shows us the Old South in a good story with involving characters. I appreciate the author being brave enough to use the N word, as it would have been used in MS in the pre-Civil War south and describing some of the worst and painful aspects of slavery.
June 3, 2018
Loved it!!
November 19, 2018
Hatred is awful burden to carry
This an excellent book to read. It's was love determination spite of the atrocity hateful acts didn't stop family and.prosperity
This an excellent book to read. It's was love determination spite of the atrocity hateful acts didn't stop family and.prosperity
July 5, 2020
The Deavors
Was this family cursed? I don't know. I do know this was a great book. I only hope book 2 is as good or better.
Was this family cursed? I don't know. I do know this was a great book. I only hope book 2 is as good or better.
May 6, 2023
Trashiest book i have ever read
January 25, 2025
waste of paper
Boring story with some strange activities. Lots of semi-porn passages which added nothing to a pointless story. I laughed when I saw that it was one of a series.
Boring story with some strange activities. Lots of semi-porn passages which added nothing to a pointless story. I laughed when I saw that it was one of a series.
December 7, 2025
Book was decent.
A lot of inconsistencies.
A lot of inconsistencies.
October 20, 2019
In the days of pre-Civil War slavery - the unforgettable novel of a shocking portion of our American heritage. The time was not all magnolia blossoms and crinolines. It was more than romance and splendor. It was debauchery and slavery, gambling tables and dens of iniquity. It was murder and forgiveness. It was all the great contradiction of life in a golden era...
In the days of pre-Civil War slavery - the unforgettable novel of a shocking portion of our American heritage. The time was not all magnolia blossoms and crinolines. It was more than romance and splendor. It was debauchery and slavery, gambling tables and dens of iniquity. It was murder and forgiveness. It was all the great contradiction of life in a golden era...
In the days of pre-Civil War slavery - the unforgettable novel of a shocking portion of our American heritage. The time was not all magnolia blossoms and crinolines. It was more than romance and splendor. It was debauchery and slavery, gambling tables and dens of iniquity. It was murder and forgiveness. It was all the great contradiction of life in a golden era...
November 19, 2015
The Plantation is by George McNeill. It is set near Natchez in 1831 and beyond. It is a really good book and kept me glued to it. It is, however, rather a long book which for some may be a problem. For me, it just made it more interesting.
The Columns was left to Athel and Levon Deavers on the death of their father. Athel pretty much ran the estate while his brother played around. Eventually, Athel gave Levon his half of the estate and Levon left for Europe. Meanwhile, Athel and his wife Estelle raised their son Timbull and their daughter Joleen on the plantation. Joleen was the ultimate southern belle with a little tomboy thrown in. She knew she would inherit The Columns because her little brother was mentally strange. All he wanted to do was sit under the porch and play soldiers. She knew she would be looking after him all his life and she accepted it for it was her duty. Then Levon returns and wants to come back to the plantation but only for the money. Eventually Athel gives him an additional $5000 to get him away. Unfortunately Levon gambles his money away thinking he would make more to live the life he wanted in Europe. Now he is chained to Natchez. What will he do to break the Columns away from Athel and then Joleen? How low will he go? Does Joleen have the backbone to keep her plantation and still live a life she wants?
It is an excellent book. I can’t wait to read the next one.
The Columns was left to Athel and Levon Deavers on the death of their father. Athel pretty much ran the estate while his brother played around. Eventually, Athel gave Levon his half of the estate and Levon left for Europe. Meanwhile, Athel and his wife Estelle raised their son Timbull and their daughter Joleen on the plantation. Joleen was the ultimate southern belle with a little tomboy thrown in. She knew she would inherit The Columns because her little brother was mentally strange. All he wanted to do was sit under the porch and play soldiers. She knew she would be looking after him all his life and she accepted it for it was her duty. Then Levon returns and wants to come back to the plantation but only for the money. Eventually Athel gives him an additional $5000 to get him away. Unfortunately Levon gambles his money away thinking he would make more to live the life he wanted in Europe. Now he is chained to Natchez. What will he do to break the Columns away from Athel and then Joleen? How low will he go? Does Joleen have the backbone to keep her plantation and still live a life she wants?
It is an excellent book. I can’t wait to read the next one.
November 12, 2015
At first I wasn't certain about this book (it's a bit vulgar), and didn't think I would read the second book. As the story progressed, I become very interested in all the characters plus their story, and could not put the book down. Now I'm on to the second book to see what happens next in the lives of the Deavors.The story is based on a wealthy plantation family (Deavors) in an era when slavery was legal. Their lives are tumultuous and savage, and as the story progresses you see the characters grow and change.
I would not recommend this book to those who have a sensitivity to strong language, violence and sexual content. There's murder, prostitutes, brutality, beatings, relations between family members etc. I'm guessing this book isn't too far from the truth of how plantation life was...
I would not recommend this book to those who have a sensitivity to strong language, violence and sexual content. There's murder, prostitutes, brutality, beatings, relations between family members etc. I'm guessing this book isn't too far from the truth of how plantation life was...
November 7, 2014
I'm usually fine with outlandish plots and overused cliches (ie: former members of super secret military unit with a stupid unrealistic name become private detectives and proceed to save the world) as long as the story telling is compelling. In this book, it just wasn't. I might read the next book in the series, but this book doesn't motivate me to do so.
October 23, 2014
Great book!
This was a great book. I can hardly wait to start the sequel....book 2. Author put you right in this remarkably story seeing it from both sides, the slaves and the traditional beliefs of the proud South. Amazing story!
This was a great book. I can hardly wait to start the sequel....book 2. Author put you right in this remarkably story seeing it from both sides, the slaves and the traditional beliefs of the proud South. Amazing story!
November 18, 2014
This book started off being very interesting but at about the half way point-- it started to go down hill. By the end- it was actually pretty bad. A missed opportunity for a really good historical novel.
December 14, 2014
Very good reading.
A good reader would love this book.southern reading.
I .enjoy reading slave books. Makes you feel.bless.you.weren't,t.living.during that time.when.some whites had the gall to think they had the right to steal and enslaved people of color.
A good reader would love this book.southern reading.
I .enjoy reading slave books. Makes you feel.bless.you.weren't,t.living.during that time.when.some whites had the gall to think they had the right to steal and enslaved people of color.
June 1, 2014
Enjoyed
different story line. enjoyed reading it
suggest others read it too..
true book of southern hardship
am sure you will enjoy also
different story line. enjoyed reading it
suggest others read it too..
true book of southern hardship
am sure you will enjoy also
July 20, 2014
This was basically plantation porn / romance novel. Not very well written or totally believable. Be characters were not developed enough. Good beach read
January 25, 2015
An outcast brother seeks to take away the family plantation. Could have been a really good story with less sex and stronger characters. Still, my curiosity begs that I go on with the trilogy.
April 17, 2015
A must-read
A very informative,exciting read,from start to finish. It evoked a wide range of emotions from outright laughter to sadness and ended in a fitting manner.
A very informative,exciting read,from start to finish. It evoked a wide range of emotions from outright laughter to sadness and ended in a fitting manner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews