Memphis
Fiction
Dial Press
April 5, 2022
Hardcover
272
Purchased
In the summer of 1995, ten-year-old Joan, her mother, and her younger sister flee her father's violence, seeking refuge at her mother's ancestral home in Memphis. Half a century ago, Joan's grandfather built this majestic house in the historic Black neighborhood of Douglass--only to be lynched days after becoming the first Black detective in Memphis. This wasn't the first time violence altered the course of Joan's family's trajectory, and she knows it won't be the last. Longing to become an artist, Joan pours her rage and grief into sketching portraits of the women of North Memphis--including their enigmatic neighbor Miss Dawn, who seems to know something about curses.
Unfolding over seventy years through a chorus of voices, Memphis weaves back and forth in time to show how the past and future are forever intertwined. It is only when Joan comes to see herself as a continuation of a long matrilineal tradition--and the women in her family as her guides to healing--that she understands that her life does not have to be defined by vengeance. That the sole weapon she needs is her paintbrush.
Inspired by the author's own family history, Memphis explores the complexity of what we pass down, not only in our families, but in our country: police brutality and justice, powerlessness and freedom, fate and forgiveness, doubt and faith, sacrifice and love.
My review:
A well written novel spanning about 70 years in the lives of three generations of the North family. The blurb for this book does a good job of explaining the major plot points, but for the most part this is a character driven book. The reader is given access to the thoughts and fears of this family as they navigate the joys and pitfalls that they experience in life. We see how each character deals with the hand they've been dealt, and the intense bonds of family. There are several historical events touched on throughout the narrative, among them the Civil Rights movement, and 9/11. There were wonderful descriptions of life in Memphis, so much so that you felt like you were there within the story. Keep in mind there are trigger warnings for abuse (physical and sexual). The women were all well fleshed out, and their relationships to each other were clearly the backbone of the novel. The story did dip back and forth between characters and time a lot, this was probably my only minor complaint.
Another well written debut novel, which was inspired by the author's family history. If you want a good character driven family saga that puts you right in the middle of the story, this one would be a great choice.
