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There are currently 24 member reviews
for This Here Is Love
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Gaye
Hope
A beautiful written story about the enslaved in America in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The book writes about the courage, perseverance and love of people who were treated in inhumane and despicable ways and because of their human capacity to think and to love, they had a will to survive in the hope for something better for themselves and future generations.
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Alison W. (Saint Marys, GA)
This Here is Love
As a High School English teacher, I try to get my hands on all genres of books to share with my students, colleagues, and friends. This is one of those books I cannot stop thinking about. The characters are rich and developed with such depth that you feel you have stepped back in time to share their pain. Without giving anything away, I found myself rooting for the unlikeliest of characters. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
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Joyce M. (Arlington, VA)
Honest Depiction of American Slavery
This Here is Love is an incredible novel. If you are a cryer get out a box of tissues. If you anger easily hold on to a stress ball. Ms Perry relates the story of the lives of an enslaved mother and daughter, an enslaved family whose father is free, and an indentured European family. The style of writing is easy reading; comes across as straight forward and matter-of-fact. Since there is no sugar coating some events may shock you.
The sad truth is that in this fictional tale everything that takes place is factual in the history of slavery and indentured servitude. The meaning behind the title is revealed about two thirds into the novel. What the characters in the book did for love was incredible. There was one character in the book that ended up with "skin in the game" that caused him to see what was most important in his life. There were a few times when I was able to smile and one opportunity to laugh out loud, but all in all the book was sobering and should be read by anyone interested in understanding what slavery was really like in America.
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Krissy
5 stars
I've struggled with how to summarize this book in few words. It's a book filled with heartbreak and suffering. Yet, at its core this is a story of love and of hope, which shines above all the rest. I found myself awed at the author's beautiful writing - the people, the emotion, the landscape and world building. While the people and stores are fiction, we know the heartbreak and injustices told in this book are seeded from a reality not so distant from today. It's a powerful story, one I would encourage everyone to read. Without a doubt a 5 star read.
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Mary L. (Portland, OR)
New Perspective
This Here Is Love brought me to a picture of the enslaved that I had not viewed before. Writing about both slavery and indenture was a very interesting juxtaposition. An outstanding book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come.
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Patricia W. (Desoto, TX)
A Powerful Story that Lingers with You
This Here Is Love is a story that will linger with you. Many stories tell about slavery, but this book is largely told from the viewpoint of the enslaved. You can feel their pain and watch how different people cope with the experience of loss, abuse, dehumanization, and powerlessness. It is set early in the settlement of the United States and also includes people coming to America as indentured servants. It is inconceivable that people can be persuaded to treat others as less than and with no hesitation to subject them to cruelty. As always, the wealthy and powerful rule the land. History should not be hidden or erased. I will recommend this book to all of my friends.
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Catherine O. (Altavista, VA)
Outstanding
This Here Is Love is not an easy book to read. The author helps us by giving short chapters and being terse about the violence.
After finishing the novel I had to reflect before writing my review. The book is set in the late 1600's, mainly in Virginia, where I now live. The novel follows an indentured Irish servant, Jack, as well as several slave families and one notable free slave as they survive in the harsh conditions of the day.
The characters and the author's understanding of the human characteristics are what make this novel remarkable. You will not forget David, Bless, Cassie or any of the strong, long suffering characters in this novel.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of realistic historical fiction. It is an important reminder of the pain and suffering that built our country. There are many themes for book clubs to discuss.
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