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: Waste of Time....
Summary: 1 Stars
This story started out somewhat interesting but it never really went anywhere. I found myself struggling to get through the book. I kept thinking, I've got to continue reading because SOMETHING has to happen. Nothing ever did. Usually I like Oprah's picks but this one was way off the mark.Book Review: River, Cross My Heart
Summary: 4 Stars
I was sucked into this book over a weekend and loved every minute of it. If you like the other Oprah books you will not be disappointed. Great beach or weekend read.Book Review: Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars
Although the main characters are somewhat memorable the book fails to develop any of them with any degree of depth, therefore falling short of its claim to depict an entire community. I will say that at times the prose itself is beautiful and at times dreamlike, but the story itself is lacking. The novel just moves along centered along one tragedy but doesn't quite carry it thru. Without giving an ending away, let's just say, it ends abruptly and prematurely and at least I was left thinking "what did that mean"?. And I don't usually miss the meaning of a book.Book Review: A snap shot of Segregation of the early 1900's
Summary: 3 Stars
RIVER, CROSS MY HEART starts with the accidental drowning death of Clara, younger sister of Johnnie Mae Bynum. Johnnie Mae blames herself for the drowning, because she was supposed to be watching over Clara as they were playing in the waters of the Potomac River, and the story continues as we see Johnnie trying to make sense of Clara's death. The girls were swimming in the dangerous waters of the river because they were not allowed to swim in the public swimming pool, which was for Whites Only.Although one would think this was a story of a family trying to come to terms with a death in the family, it is not. This book is a series of disjointed snapshots about various friends and family members related to Johnnie Mae, and through these snap shots we get a broader picture of what life was like in Georgetown in the 1920's, if one was black.
Water seems to play an important part in this book, although again somewhat disjointly. Water was what killed young Clara, but water was also what brought joy to Johnnie Mae, who excelled at swimming and finds freedom when in the water. Although the book is more of a snapshot than a cohesive story, one can say that there is a theme involved where water is such a force that it can destroy, or build.
I can't give this book a 5 star recommendation, but I did enjoy the images that Breena Clarke painted in each of the chapters.
Book Review: Charming, touching and exceptional
Summary: 4 Stars
Brenna Clarke must have had some real experience with death. Only this would allow her to right such a truthfull, soul wrenching and heartfelt novel. The story about a young girl and her courage, perserverance and struggle to deal with the guilt and pain associated with passing is truly unique and extremly on-point. It took a very difficult and emotional subject (the death of a child) and in the end made it educational, positive and almost uplifting. It was also very interesting to learn more about life in Georgetown during this time (especially being from the DC Area). It was so ironic to learn that what is now the epitomy of hoity=toity yupiness in the DC metro area; originally regined as the lower-class (god forbid) black area. I admitt that since reading this I walked throught the streets of Gtown and up and down the Canal looking for the house of these girls and trying to see if I could spot the exact spot of the tragedy! I guess that says a lot for the author's descriptivness through-out the novel and the emotional bond that develops between reader and characters. I would most highly recommend this charming, quick and enjoyable read.