River, Cross My Heart: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club) by Breena Clarke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of River, Cross My Heart: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
Book Review: MASTERFULLY WRITTEN, STORY LACKING
Summary: 3 Stars
River Cross my heart is a heartwarming novel about the Bynum family and how they cope with the loss of Clara, the youngest child. The author, Breena Clark, is brillant in her use of descriptive vocabulary. Clark is at her best in allowing the reader to feel the pain that family endures. In addition, readers will find the setting to have the satisfaction of their Mama's down-home pecan pie. Georgetown is an easy-going town which is as simple as it is complex. Clark has also crafted an excellent blend of characters. Alas, It's like a poor cake made with the finest ingredients. Maybe its overdone, maybe its underdone: who knows! But after wrapping up this novel I can't say I've come away with anything new. At certain points the story seemed to a drag. After the first couple a chapters it just became a string of events with no real coherence. You'll find yourself struggling to figure what the point of this whole novel is. So that's it: The writing is good but the story is lacking.
Book Review: Hardships !
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is a really great book. Breena Clarke really took it as if she were a part of that time. She gives lots of lessons but there is one I really liked. Whenever a person dies, the lesson taught is life goes on and the family gets stronger. When the Bynum's daughter dies in the Potomac River, it was a sad time for them and living in the time that segregation was around was hard time for the Bynums and everyone eles. Over all, I really think everyone should read this book. In the book Clarke talks about talking to people who were a part of the segregation.This book showed me that people still have a good heart.Book Review: Enjoyable read
Summary: 4 Stars
The term "coming-of-age story" is probably highly over-used in Amazon reviews. However, that's truly the best way to describe this lovely story by Breena Clarke.Johnnie Mae has a fascination with water. It is near the water that her baby sister, Clara, dies; it is her fascination with the water that almost gets her arrested when she breaks into the white-only swimming pool; and it is her ability in the water that begins to break her out of the segregated world of 1925 Washington, DC. This book chronicles a year in Johnnie Mae's life when all of these events happen to her. Through these snapshots of her life, the reader is able to catch a glimpse of how segregated big-city life must have looked to a child.
Overall, the book is very enjoyable, and will be a quick read - perhaps for a summer day at the beach?
Book Review: Refreshing Read
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm used to reading mysteries and novels by Stephen King, so this novel was a refreshing break from the norm. I recently started a book club at my place of employment and this was our first title to explore. In the novel Johnnie Mae's character overcomes the times of hardship with remembrance of a lost loved one. Johnnie Mae's sister, dies a sorrowful death at the beginning of the novel, and all through she morns the loss while blaming herself, the novel, envelopes you in interesting characters and new friendships as Johnnie Mae grows and develops. In the end, she comes to terms with her loss, and joins with her sister in a sort of spiritual bond. This is a refreshing novel of courage and commitment.Book Review: A thought-provoking read. . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine living in North Carolina noy many years after slavery was abolished. This African-American family wanted to get out of the south where oppression was at an all time high and move to the north to raise their family in a what they considered to be a better town . . Georgetown that is. Georgetown was thought to be a safe haven for "colored folks" back in that day. This town is too segregated this community holds it binds together to make through. This book centers around Johnnie Mae a young child who is forced to deal with why the world is the way it is. It centers around the community swimming pool, the water is beautiful, it is brand new, and it it for whites only. Johnnie Mae loved to swim and was an excellent swimmer by nature. She had the responsibility of watching after her younger sister, Clara. While Johnnie Mae is cooling off in the Potomac River, her younger sister Clara drowns, and Johnnie Mae feels responsible. This story is about Johnnie Mae trying to find her place in the world, to figure out who she is. The only way to do it, is to swim. But Johnnie Mae's obsession with swimming was her parents hatred because of their beloved daugther lost in the river.
This book really made you think about life as you read. The author touched on some very strong feelings when she talked about how her mother greived her daughter's death. This book shows how the African-American community deals with life, death, racism, placism, and about the river across many of our hearts. Well done Breena Clark, well done.