Genres:
African
American fiction,
historical fiction,
women's issues.
Themes:
family dynamics,
romance,
perseverance
"Struggles
of the Women Folk" is based on fictional characters created from stories
my grandma shared with me when I was child.
It is the
story of Georgie, a young Black girl in the South during the 1940s. I hope that
you can appreciate her pain, suffering and betrayal as you travel
with her on highs and lows you won't anticipate. This is the
story of the power of a woman's courage, love, strength and faith that
exists within each and every one us, whether we know it or not..
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, so much so that i
could not put it down until it was finished. But at 81 pages (on a kindle) that’s
no hardship. This is a book about the sacrifices that women make in order for
them and theirs to survive, secrets, oppression, relationships and the expectations
we have and how we try to live up to them.
The story centres around the narrator Georgie, who suffers a
trauma as a young girl and has to live with the horror of it for the rest of
her life. It seems as though troubles continue to look for, and find her. There
are some familial relationship themes that are familiar to many of us,
especially for those who are less well off in society. The mother who tries by
all means to fend for and support her children. The aunt who only seems to care
about herself, and neglects her child, only to eventually relate the story of
how she got to be so bitter and torn. Which changes the relationship between
her and her niece which had been so strained for so long. The rich benefactor woman
who seems to have it all but is constrained by all of her wealth and family
expectations. She cannot live her life, and so ends up ruining somebody else’s
life by taking what is most dear to them, with no conscience or care.
These are all struggles that women folk face, from time
immemorial. But with the Christian slant, it helps one remember that though we
face these struggles, God is an ever present helper to those in need. Even in
the midst of turmoil when we feel most alone and destroyed. I especially like
the way Georgie prays. She remembers to give thanks and ask for help throughout.
Georgie herself sums up the theme of the “struggles of women
folk”.....p67 Chapter 14 “Don’t really know why one day can be so joyous and
the next be filled with so much heartache that ya can’t even breathe.”
I found the book too short and did not delve into the
personal emotional feelings of the characters besides the immediately obvious. And
there is that whole negative perception of men from the older female
characters, where they keep reminding us to expect the worst from men, our
fathers and lovers, which irritates me, but since not long is spent going into
this, it does not grate on the nerves.
Overall a satisfying short read.
Get
it now on:
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