Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: Sugar by Bernice McFadden & Giveaway

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Sugar by Bernice McFadden is a book I would have to say will stick with me for a long time.  This book is not for the faint hearted I will say right off the bat.  The best way to describe it to me is raw and blunt- it is not a book prettied up for people to read- it’s authentic.  It gives us real life back in the 1950’s for the African Americans living in the deep South.  To me, this is what makes this book so powerful – the gritty realness of it.

Bernice McFadden’s writing is vivid in it’s descriptions and she writes with a depth of feeling I haven’t felt from a book in a long time.  Sugar is about two women: Pearl and Sugar and the ways in which lives intertwine even when you aren’t aware of it.  These two women end up affecting each others lives in so many ways.  As the book opens we are shocked by the brutal murder of Pearl’s daughter Jude.  It will leave you feeling battered just reading about it but it has implications further on in the book.  We then find ourselves whisked ahead fifteen years as these two women begin to forge the  friendship that will grow between them.

Pearl, a sixty year old woman is living her life with her husband Joe.  Jude was her daughter and Pearl has never gotten over the horror of the murder of her young daughter.  Pearl is just a simple woman living a simple life.  I was drawn to her in both her grief and in her personality in general.

Sugar is a woman who was left by her mother at a brothel – this is where she grew up.  No surprise that this is the direction her life took as well – she knew no other way.  She tried though, she had always wanted to be a singer but a young black girl – well, let’s just say it was assumed by many that she was anything but a singer.  It broke my heart to read of Sugar’s struggles.  Really she never had a chance with her upbringing and the times that this story takes place.

At first when Peal and Sugar come together there are some fireworks.  Sugar has been hurt by pretty much everyone in her life; she’s not open to new friendships.  Then again she’s never met someone like Pearl who just doesn’t give up.  Plus there’s this one big thing – Sugar reminds Pearl of her daughter Jude.  Over some time these women start to share their thoughts and feelings and in doing this, they are brought together in friendship.

It’s interesting to read just how cruel people can be.  Yes Sugar was a prostitute and I can well imagine that most women wouldn’t want her around their husbands but it still hurt me to read how they treated her.  I guess it’s because as a reader I had the background story on Sugar and could feel these sympathies.  Pearl however saw past that.  Now that’s not to say she agreed with what Sugar did  but she looked past the outer shell to the vulnerable person Sugar was inside and taught her that people could love her for who she was.  In turn, Sugar taught Pearl to live again; to be happy.

The novel Sugar just celebrated it’s 10th anniversary in January of this year.  I am surprised that I had never heard of it before but I have to say that I feel grateful now having had the opportunity to read this novel.  There is also a sequel to Sugar called This Bitter Earth which I intend to read soon.  Sugar is a novel of tragedy, love, loss, forgiveness and to me, most of all, friendship.  It’s well worth reading!  Again, just as a note there is blunt language and graphic sexual content but I have to say at the same time, that in many ways, that’s what makes this novel real in what is the tragedy of life for some.

Be sure to check out Bernice McFadden’s website for information on all of her novels.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I’m happy to say that courtesy of the author Bernice McFadden and the publisher, I have 3 copies of Sugar to share with my readers.  All you have to do…

  • Leave me a comment with a way to contact you.
  • Blog or Tweet this giveaway.

This giveaway is open to all!  I will be drawing for the winners on  Sunday, April 25, 2010.  Good luck everyone!

My thanks…to me – I bought my own copy of Sugar.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. This is exactly the type of book I'd read. I didn't know about this book before your review and certainly didn't know that it is 10 years old! I want to read Sugar's story. I'm glad this is an international giveaway, so I definitely want to give it a shot. Thanks!

    teh(dot)alice(at)gmail(dot)com

  2. I hadnt heard of it at all and am so glad that you have highlighted it. Thanks for that.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

  3. love to win this book. This is the second review I've seen on a blog and they were both complimentary.
    theroundfile at live dot com

  4. This sounds like a fantastic read. Excellent review – you really made me want to read this one!

    journey through books @ gmail dot com

  5. I am off to tweet about this one now

    bookjourney

    journeythroughbooks@gmail dot com

  6. I read Glorious last week and loved it! Everyone's been telling me that I should read Sugar. It sounds like a very powerful book.

    lovetoreadforfun (at)gmail (dot)com

  7. I already have this but just wanted to chime in and say I too thought it was a very good book worth reading! I loved the relationship between the two women, and the character depictions, and the warmth and humor and optimism in the midst of the bad things that happened. Your review is lovely and I hope it convinces many people to read this book!

  8. This sounds like a book that I would enjoy. I would love to be entered.

    Zia
    ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com

  9. Thanks for this giveaway. This story sounds compelling and I would love to read it. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

  10. wow, this book is 10 years old and I haven't even heard of it before. amazing…sounds like a good story. I'd be happy to read this one.

    savvyverseandwit AT gmail

    I'll pop this in my sidebar as usual.

  11. Oh my goodness, I think I would LOVE this book.

    Please enter me!

    I am a follower.

    I will post about it , hmmm, on Sat.? Just before the Read-a-thon.

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  12. Sounds like a good read—please enter me to win!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

  13. I just obtained a copy of her new book Glorious, and would love to read Sugar as well.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

  17. Please count me in. I would love to read this. Sounds very interesting to me.
    I am a follower.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

  18. Stories like this are great reminders to all of us to try not to judge people – you just never know the hardships someone else has had to deal with. Great review, Dar. No need to enter me.

  21. I really enjoyed Glorious, by Bernice McFadden, so I'd love to read this one too.

    sdeeth at msn dot com

  22. Please include me in this giveaway. I have read several reviews (all positive) of this book and would enjoy a chance to read it.
    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

  23. No need to enter me, as I have a copy that I will be reviewing shortly. It sounds like I am really going to love this book and I think you wrote a wonderful review on it. Glad you liked it so much, Dar!

  24. I have heard great reviews for this book and would love to win a copy.

    bthgordon at yahoo dot com

  25. It is very amazing how cruel we humans can be to each other…this book sounds hard to read but one that you won't regret spending time with!

  31. This is the first time I read about this book, but it seems good.

    Plase enter me for this giveaway: magabygc AT gmail DOT com

  33. wow, sounds great! I'm going to pass on the giveaway- I have too many TBRs- but I'll add it to my bookmooch list, and who knows 🙂

  34. Your review made me really want to read this book. The characters sound so interesting!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  35. This one sounds awesome. Please enter me for it..

    I follow

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

  36. This book has been on my to read list for a little while. I would love to win a copy. Please enter me.

    lovemykidsandbooks AT gmail DOT com

  40. I had never heard of the book before reading your review.

    Thank you for opening the giveaway up to all, worldwide.

    I am from South Africa and have seen and experienced many of the problems regarding black/white racism and the different experiences of people on both sides of the colour bar.

    Add to this I lost my daughter to an unsolved murder when she was only 24.

    I would dearly like to read this book.

    Thanks.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

  41. Again with the whole gripping, intense thing. I LOVE books in the old South that discuss slavery issues. They're some of my favorite reads. I follow, and tweeted. @herslntmusings

  46. This sounds amazing, and like you, I'd never heard of it. Thanks for the recommendation.

  51. Sounds awesome!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

  53. A book that would touch the heart and stimulate the soul… Would love to read this. Thank you!

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

  54. Oh Dar..I have wanted to read this one for a while. Please enter me. Your review only makes me want to read it more.

  55. This sounds really good. =] Ah, so many books to read, so little time!

    ihappydance at gmail dott com

  58. Brand new book to me and it's been around 10 years? Where have I been?

    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

  59. I loved this book the first time I read it I am definitely due for a read of this and the sequel

  60. I've been wanting to read this book for awhile. Like you, it sounds like one that would stay with me long after the last page is read. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Dar!

    Please count me in for a chance to win, thanks! I'll post here.

    wanda_waiting[@]hotmail[.]com

  69. I heard about this book awhile ago and it sounds like a great read. Please enter me for the giveway. I follow

    copperpenny12(at)hotmail(dot)com

  74. This one is going on my Wish List! Please count me in. Thanks so much!

    nfmgirl AT Gmail DOT com

  79. This book sounds amazing. Please count me in.
    I am a follower

    lisaglidewell(at)gmail(dot)com

  80. I am surprised I hadn't heard of this book. It sounds like a good window into a time period and segment of the country's population. I would hope the publisher is considering rereleasing this book. There have been several new books out lately that it would complement.

    I am a Follower.

    librarypat AT comcast DOT net

  84. This sounds interesting. Would love to give it a try. Count me in, please! :0)

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

  87. Please enter me in this giveaway – Thanks!

    seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

    And I am a follower!