Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This topic is open for discussion about Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim



Book synopsis:
Mattie was never truly mine. That knowledge must have filled me as quickly and surely as the milk from her breasts. Although my family ‘owned’ her, although she occupied the center of my universe, her deepest affections lay elsewhere. So along with the comfort of her came the fear that I would lose her some day. This is our story...

So begins Lisbeth Wainwright’s compelling tale of coming-of-age in antebellum Virginia. Born to white plantation owners but raised by her enslaved black wet nurse, Mattie, Lisbeth’s childhood unfolds on the line between two very different worlds.

Growing up under the tender care of Mattie, Lisbeth adopts her surrogate mother’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring. In time, Lisbeth realizes she has freedoms and opportunities that Mattie does not have, though she’s confined by the societal expectations placed on women born to privilege. As Lisbeth grows up, she struggles to reconcile her love for her caregiver with her parents’ expectations, a task made all the more difficult as she becomes increasingly aware of the ugly realities of the American slavery system. When Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Lisbeth realizes she must make a choice, one that will require every ounce of the courage she learned from her beloved Mattie.

This compelling historical novel is a richly evocative tale of love, loss, and redemption set during one of the most sinister chapters of American history.


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Just bought my copy. I'm sure this will be a sad one.

Me, too. That's why I'm being a big chicken about reading it alone!

Excited to start this in a few days. I have a couple that I'm finishing up now, so I'll be ready on time. Thought I'd comment so I could find the thread and remind others. :) Who else is still planning to read this?

I am. I am trying to finish up the three books I am bouncing between so I can start next week.

It's been a crazy day, but I'm starting this tonight! I should be able to post more tomorrow. Looking forward to this one. I've been reading a lot of Mystery and Urban Fantasy lately, so this will be a nice change.

Sorry to be out of touch! I'm scrambling to keep up with everything and missed the notifications.

No worries, Becky! Glad you're here. :)

I started today and I'm liking it so far. I'm definitely interested to see where it goes.

23% (view spoiler)[ I thought it was so sad that Mattie had to leave her little baby to go take care of someone else's baby. I can't imagine having to do that as a mother. I felt so sorry for her.

I was a bit shocked that she attempted to smother Lisbeth the first day! I'm glad that she couldn't / wouldn't do it.

When I first met Anne, I felt a bit bad for her having not settled into her home and being a bit overpowered by the others in the room, but then I didn't like her at all when she was disgusted by her daughter's feeding. Then, with the fever she stepped up and I thought, she really does care about her daughter, she just has no clue how to be with her. I keep changing how I feel about her. I guess we'll see as the book continues where that goes. I like that that is often true with real people; some thing you like about them and others you don't. It makes her seem more real. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not quite as far as I hoped to be, but I really do like it. It really tugs on my heartstrings as a mother. If all goes well this afternoon, I'll get further into the book.

Chapter 1-4: (view spoiler)[This is one of the few books that had me in tears on the first chapter. I felt so horrible for Mattie having to leave Samuel behind. It wasn't just the separation from her child either, but the knowledge that she had zero control of her life. The author did a great job with her details. I hadn't given a second thought to the fact that Mattie wouldn't know how to tell time by the clock instead of the sun, or had never seen a mirror before.

Kristie...I was shocked that she was tempted to smother Elizabeth, too. The anger is understandable, but I'm glad she was able to pull herself together. (hide spoiler)]

Lots going on here!

Chapters 4-12: (view spoiler)[I thought it was smart the way Mattie took Lisbeth to the willow tree to study. Having Samuel there to learn alongside her must've seemed totally natural to the little girl. I'm sure this scenario happened over and over in the south...thank goodness. It was a dark enough time and escaped or newly freed slaves had enough trouble, at least some of them didn't have to add illiteracy to the pile.

I wonder what happened that was so bad Samuel couldn't wait? It certainly sounds like the Andersons are ugly minded people. How will Mattie catch up? I'm worried that she's pregnant again, too.

Elisabeth is growing on me. I like that she's taking conversations at the supper more seriously. She seems to know (at least at this point) that being a silent observer might be helpful to Mattie. (hide spoiler)]

Becky, I completely forgot to start this one. I'll try to start tonight to catch up.

Take your time, Michelle! I'm reading multiple books so I won't be blazing through any of them... LOL! I guess that means I'll finish a bunch at once and have several to count towards next week's total!

Becky - Response to your spoiler through chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ It seems like Samuel couldn't wait because the Andersons are terrible people. What they did to Mattie was horrible. He whipped her because her son ran away and he didn't even question her first. Plus the way he left her there unfed, without water, in the sun all day, and making her unbutton her blouse....I was afraid he was going to rape her. Plus, they have a room just to torture the slaves in?? Seems like he needed to get away fast. (hide spoiler)]

Through chapter 19 (view spoiler)[ I am shocked that Mattie and her family got away, but so happy for them. I hope everything turns out ok for their family. I was worried about Jordan when she was unresponsive at the stream.

It seems that Lisbeth is changing under her parents influence. She loved Mattie so much, it seems strange that she would be shocked, or really appalled, by Matthew becoming an abolitionist. I would have expected her to want to join them. I wonder if she will still join him in the future or if she'll settle for all the money that comes with marrying someone she finds uninteresting.

Also, I was horrified that Lisbeth is apparently with the boy that threw rocks at Poppy's grave marker and scoffed at her when she told him he was being disrespectful. Plus, at the party when they were dancing he didn't listen to her at all, to the point where she passed out because he didn't hear her saying that she needed to stop. Then, he left her in the care of another young man so he could fulfill his dancing expectations! It certainly seems as though he doesn't care for her at all. He is just fulfilling his marriage obligations. I'm worried that if they end up married, he may be a very poor husband, to the point of abusive. I certainly hope she doesn't marry him and comes to her senses! (hide spoiler)]

Yep! The Andersons are (view spoiler)[evil incarnate. What blows my mind is that the author captures the truth of the times. It was commonly accepted practice and slaves in the South had a miserable existence. So sad. (hide spoiler)]

I finished it today. I hadn't planned to, but I got to a point where I just couldn't leave them like that! I had to finish.

Becky - I agree, the author did an amazing job making the people, the time, and the location feel so real. (end of book) (view spoiler)[ No one in this book was perfect, they were all flawed, and it made it feel so much more real. I actually worried about the characters. I was so disgusted with Edward and then with Lisbeth's mother! It is so horrifying that everyone just thought that was ok. I was so glad that she made the decision that she did and married Matthew. :)

I even liked the end of the book. A bit sad that Mattie and Lisbeth weren't really reunited, but much more realistic. Even if the two of them ending up living so close and finding each other was much too coincidental. (hide spoiler)]

Yes! I was the same way and blazed through the last half. I couldn't put it down. (view spoiler)[I was really worried that Mattie would be permanently separated from Jordon after the men stopped the wagon. Poor Jordan! Can you imagine how awful it would be to wake up in another place with total strangers and be left in a cellar for days without any explanation? AT THREE YEARS OLD!? Such a horrible time in our history.

Edward, Lisbeth's parents, and all the characters from her home disgusted me with their views toward slavery. What a bunch of hypocrites. I'm so glad that Lisbeth was able to see through all the bull and make up her own mind. I was so proud of her when she went to Michael!

Some of the other reviews are a bit critical that the author glossed over the abuse the majority of slaves suffered, but I really don't think that was the point of the story. There was enough brutality and injustice to make the point. The focus was on Elizabeth and Mattie's relationship, which is what the author intended from the beginning. I would be afraid this story could've been lost among the details if she dug too deep into other characters.

I found the ending bittersweet, but I couldn't imagine it ending any other way. It was honest and realistic for that dangerous time. The last scene between Lisbeth and Mattie will stay with me forever. Such a powerful story! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I agree. I think if she went more in depth as to the abuse the slaves suffered through it would have taken away from the story. I think a lot of people want all the gory details and that's not always best. We know it was horrific and the author made mention of some of those events and hinted at others. I wanted to feel the emotion of the story, not be flooded by nightmare scenes. This story will stay with me a long time too. I'm so glad I read it. (hide spoiler)]

I'm happy the two of you have finished the books. I finished it too. I'll come back in here to discuss the book. :)