This is the story of Cassius. Cassius lives on a Virginia tobacco plantation called Sweetsmoke during the Civil War. While Cassius is a fictional character, the story itself of what life was like for a slave back in 1862 is in fact, based on truth. The author, David Fuller, draws us completely into his characters and this story.
Cassius is an amazing character, by far my favorite. He is a bright and strong man who has suffered many hardships of his own including beatings, yet in this novel he will risk everything, including his life to find the killer of Emoline Justice. Emoline was a freed black woman, who after Cassius had been severely beaten, took him in and cared for him. Not only that but she taught him to read, thereby opening a whole new world to him. He cared for her deeply and felt an overwhelming rage over her death. This novel follows Cassius as he figures out who her killer was and takes his revenge.
The writing in this novel is phenomenal. The author has a way with words that pulls you so deeply into this story that you can almost feel yourself the awful way of life that most of the slaves had. He plunges us into their daily lives of working in the fields to their never ending chores to the humiliation they suffer not only from beatings but just from the way they were treated on a daily basis.
David Fuller spent eight years researching this novel and it shows-this novel is rich in its descriptions and characters; the writing superb. While the subject matter is disturbing in parts, it is engrossing tale of life for the slaves and plantation owners back in 1862 during the Civil War.
I read this novel in a couple of days. I just couldn’t put it down. I needed to see what would happen to Cassius next and more like what he was going to do next. You really need to pick up this novel and experience this amazing story for yourself. I’m positive it will stay with me for a long time and I highly recommend it! I received this as an advanced reader’s copy from Harper Collins Canada and I’m so glad I did.
Dar,
Can you add this to the list of books to lend me? 🙂 It sounds amazing!!
Oh! I think I would love this book. How did you discover it?
LOL Jenn. It was amazing. Mom wants to read it too-you want to let her read it first? It’ll take her forever, you’d probably get it done faster.
Joy, I received this copy as an advanced reader’s copy from Harper Collins Canada. I sure am glad I did.
Sounds like a wonderful book, Dar. Great review!
Whatever is most convenient for you 🙂
Thanks, Dar. You know I’ll do the same for you..just let me know!
Thanks Mary!
Hey Jenn, I’ll send it off to you probably Thursday. You’ll get it finished long before ma will. lol. I’ll be anxious to hear your thoughts on it.
This book sounds like something I HAVE to read! The Civil War time period is one of my favorite eras to read about. I’m currently working my way through Uncle Tom’s Cabin–it would be fun to read this one soon!
Laura, you would love this one then! I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin last year. Another good one although I have to say I found this author’s writing style easier to read.
I’ll definitely have to check this one out! If it wasn’t for your review, I might’ve passed it over.
Thanks Anna, I hope you do check it out! It’s well worth reading.
Oh wow. Great review
Thanks Cheryl!
Sounds fascinating! I will definitely be on the lookout for this one!
I really enjoy your writing! You do such a great job at reviews.
Linda, thanks so much for the compliment. That really means a lot to me. Have a wonderful day!
Wow Dar–this sounds so great! Can you imagine spending 8 years researching one book–I bet the outcome of all that work really paid off in the book. I’ll definitely have to keep my eye open for this one!!
I know Trish, it’s hard to think of spending 8 years of your life on one book but it really goes to show the dedicaation to it that he had. I really hope it’ll be really successful as it’s a great work on his part for sure.
I really loved this book, too! Some of what I appreciated the most was that the slave owners didn’t fall into the two stereotypical norms that we find now – completely evil or mournful of the institution they’re forced to uphold (the Ashley Wilkes model). Fuller really rounded Hoke out and made him a real, flawed human being.
I agree Jennifer. I really liked how Fuller wrote about the slaves in this novel-he brought us into their everyday lives. Normally we only hear the tragic part of slavery which we did in this case too but we also got to see more. I also liked that Cassius wasn’t made to be just a slave-he was made into an intelligent character-he was by far my favorite.