“Libertie” by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Published by Algonquin Books

Finished 2/15/22 – 3/5 stars

 

I decided Black History Month would be a great time to pull this one off the shelf and read it.  It’s the story of Libertie, a free black young woman living in New York after the Civil War.  Her mother wants her to follow in her footsteps to become a physician, but Libertie would like the freedom to make her own choices in life and follow her own dreams.  She then meets a Haitian man who promises her a wonderful new life in Haiti but the life she finds there is far from the freedom she desires. So although she was born free, she continues to find herself chasing true freedom to find her own happiness. 

 

I thought this book had great promise for the first half, while in the United States. Once the storyline moved to Haiti, I felt like it lost something. I truly can’t put my finger on what it was, I just preferred the first half over the second. I still enjoyed it and thought it was a good book, just not one of my favorites.

Eternal

 

“Eternal” by Lisa Scottoline

Published by Putnam

Finished 2/6/22 – 4.5/5 stars

 

I have greatly enjoyed reading many of Lisa Scottoline’s stand-alone novels as well as a couple of her humorous memoirs written with her daughter, but this was her first attempt at historical fiction, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  There was no need for me to be apprehensive though – she did an absolutely fabulous job.  It was a little slow in the beginning so I don’t feel like I can give it a full 5 stars, but it’s close.  The storyline itself was wonderful plus I thought it was well researched with plenty of real-life characters, places, and events and I found the majority of both the true and fictional characters to be well developed.  I also liked that, true to real life, it wasn’t a happy ending for all characters.  There was love and loss in multiple relationships throughout the story whether it be within family, friendship, or a romance.  The entire book just pulls at your heartstrings at multiple levels.  I even shed a few tears while reading. 

 

I’m not one that flags quotes while reading but there were actually a couple in the book that I wanted to share –

 

“Her heart felt happy and full, and that was how she learned that love warms the heart when it is given, regardless of whether it is received.”

 

“War was eternal, but so was peace.

Death was eternal, but so was life.

Darkness was eternal, but so was light.

Hate was eternal, but above all, so was love.”

 

I highly recommend this book but as a side note – you very well might find yourself craving pasta while you read because an Italian restaurant is one of the settings.