White Mulberry: one woman's determination to survive despite the racial tensions

White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton is a moving story of a woman who lives between two worlds in order to survive. In 1928, Japanese-occupied Korea, eleven year old Miyoung has big dreams. When she is presented with the chance to pursue those dreams; however, she must leave her mother behind and live with her older sister and her husband in Japan. Knowing that Koreans are treated well in Japan, she must leave her name and culture behind. Once in Japan, she takes a new name and finds a new calling in nursing and finding solace in a local Korean church. What she never expects is to fall in love and find new purpose in her husband and their son. As war looms, she feels the racial tensions more than ever. Miyoung is faced with a choice: does she stay in Japan or does she find her chance to leave and provide a future for her and her family? 

White Mulberry was an Amazon First Reads choice for November. I loved the beautiful cover and was intrigued by the story as I have done a lot of research about Korea. I haven’t seen many historical books written from a Korean perspective. From the opening chapter to the closing author’s notes, I was deeply moved by Miyoung’s story. White Mulberry was inspired by the author’s Korean grandmother’s story which I love. I loved Miyoung as she struggles to hold on to her Korean identity and yet discovers a way to survive within the strict racial rules that the Japanese culture had put into place. I loved her resilience and determination to prove those against her wrong. It is a beautiful story about one woman, being caught between two worlds, who suffered the trauma of occupation, racism and displacement and yet still had the sheer determination to survive and reclaim her name and culture. I highly, highly recommend White Mulberry. 

White Mulberry will be available in paperback, eBook and audiobook 

on December 1, 2024

The Last House on the Street: sometimes the secrets of the past won't stay in the past

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is the story of two women, a generation apart, find themselves bound by a small town and a decades old mystery. In 1965, Eleanor “Ellie” Hockley grew up in the well-to-do town of Round Hill, North Carolina. Raised to be a proper Southern lady, she enrolled in college and is practically engaged to her bank manager boyfriend. Inspired by her late aunt, Ellie decides to spend her summer break as a volunteer with the SCOPE  project helping register black voters. Forty five years later, Kayla Carter prepares to move into the dream home she and her husband designed in the new Shadow Ridge Estates development. As she moves in, a mysterious woman warns her against living there as the woods and lake behind the house are rumored to be haunted. Soon she’ll learn the dark history of the land and a long buried secret that someone will do anything to protect. 

Diane Chamberlain is known for her intense dual timeline stories. She often features the dark and difficult racial history of the South and The Last House on the Street does not disappoint in that realm. Ms. Chamberlain does not shy away from the horrific, evil and vile acts done against the black community. It is a story that slowly builds to the climatic last chapters as the events seem to build and unravel at a fast pace. As I began to read, I was drawn more to Kayla and her story than Ellie. While I admire Ellie’s commitment to helping the black community gain their civil rights, I felt she was very naïve and even selfish. She was so determined in her desire to help that she plays down the potential violence and even the actual violence doesn’t open her eyes that she’s walking a dangerous line. Overall, I enjoyed the story. If you are a fan of Diane Chamberlain, you may enjoy The Last House on the Street. 

The Last House on the Street is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Single Black Female: an edgy, hard hitting story about the lives of four women

Single Black Female by Tracy Brown is the story of four women who must face life’s struggles as women, mothers, wives and what it means to be Black in America. Ivy Donovan is a successful stylist and entrepreneur who has raised her two sons after their father, Michael, was sentenced to prison. After years of loneliness, her loyalty to Michael has wavered and she is desperate to have more to her life than what she has. Cara “Coco” Norris is successful and single but something is lacking. Deja Maddox is a successful real estate agent, married to Bobby, a sergeant with the NYPD. It seems that they have made it. But everything isn’t what it seems in their high polished life. Nikki Diamond is an intelligent, self-made businesswoman and social media influencer with millions of adoring fans. She lives loud and large with no regrets and feels the ladies around her need to let loose. She is certainly willing to help them. However, they soon must face the ultimate test as one of their own gets caught up in a situation that polarizes a neighborhood and a community. Where will they stand? Who will they fight for? 

From the opening chapter, Tracy Brown’s story promises to be an edgy, no holds bar, hard hitting, and a reality gut check.. And wow, does she deliver! Yes, it is about four friends who struggle with “the dramatic twists and turns of life, love and what it means to “make it” in America”. However, she offers an in depth, brutally honest look into a life and a reality that I have never experienced and will never truly understand. These women find themselves in the Catch-22 of trying to better yourself and staying true to your roots and your neighborhood. Single Black Female holds nothing back as it highlights the nuances in the Black community as they live, love and face the joy and pain of being a Black woman. Ms. Brown writes a story that smolders with a hidden fire you know is there but you pretend it’s not. You wait as the flames get higher and higher until you can’t ignore it any longer. It is not light reading but I thoroughly enjoyed it as I hung on every word, turning each page as I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I highly recommend Single Black Female. 

Single Black Female is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Flowers in the Snow: a sweet story but left much to be desired

Flowers in the Snow by Danielle Stewart is the first book in The Edenville series which opens with Betty with her family as she receives the last letter from a dead, old friend. As she struggles with opening the letter, she tells her family how she met her friend. Rewind to 1961 in Edenville, North Carolina at the height of the KKK and the continued struggle to integrate the schools. Betty, then 11, meets Alma, 10, as she is running away from a group of boys who mean to harm her. Betty defends her and takes her home where she meets Alma’s family. Despite the social climate and warnings to stay away, Betty is drawn to the warmth and love of Alma and her family. As the tensions rise, Betty and Alma must find a way to stay friends. Will there ever be peace in their tiny town, or will it be destroyed by hate?

Flowers in the Snow is a sweet, dramatic story about a friendship that society didn’t want. The events of the story were a little farfetched and, in some cases, over too quickly. For instance, one male character in the beginning is as mean as they come and in a few short chapters, has made a complete 180. It was a good read, but I think it was over far too much and the author probably is hoping readers will continue the series to learn more. I’ve read other books which did a better job in telling a story of unlikely friendship in an uncertain time. I feel, as a first book in a series, Flowers in the Snow, should have gone a little more in depth and set up the rest of the series better. I doubt I will continue the series. Overall, I liked the series, there just isn’t anything pulling me to read further.

Flowers in the Snow

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook