An amazing book! Profound and impacting, very well written. Each chapter, a perspective from a different character; done in seamless transition from each point of view. I have read other books written in that manner that completely chop up a book--not so with Mudbound. The strong women in this novel: I felt for Laura, with the life changes and shocking events that transpired around her when she least expected. I loved her tender heart that she worried about expressing with the pervasive attitudes around her. Even her forbidden thoughts were real. I loved Florence for her strong presence and personality. She never apologized for her superstitious additions to her spirituality. The men all had a tug-of-war going on within themselves. Henry--his love for farming, yet struggle to provide for his family and make them happy. Hap--his desire to break out of what had been "the black man's" lot in life to this point in history, and be his own man by owning land. Jamie--oh Jamie, suffering inside with his relationship with alcohol; and his poor relationship with his father. Ronsel-a true unsung hero, who could not live his desires because of the color of his skin. Last but not least-Pappy. Self absorbed to cover self loathing. Who could like him? I really think it is the picture of how awful things were for African Americans in the deep south in the 1940's. I was truly struck by the pictures Ronsel & Jamie painted of the racist, heinous Nazi's; then how whites treated blacks right in their own back yard. The night I finished this book, I had very vivid dreams just before I woke up. The strong impact of this novel is staying with me.
Rating: 5 stars!
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