Julie Dash

This is the book chosen by Charleston County Library for the 2011 One Book program. Read about it here. I'd not heard of it prior to the selection.

The history of South Carolina fascinates me. I've lived here over half my life (33 years and counting, though not in one stretch) and I continue to love learning about the cultures of Carolina. The Gullah world, in particular is a lesson in survivor-ship and courage. I stand in awe of what these people, torn from their world, created through generations when transplanted so violently to the Carolina coast.

This story provided a portal back into the 1920's, capturing the life of sea island folks and a young woman who has returned to the island of her heritage from Harlem for anthropological study of the culture she came from. The characters are all richly drawn, and I've been told that there is interplay between the film (released 1991) and the book, though the book certainly stands alone quite successfully. I have not yet seen Dash's film, but intend to. (My friend, author Robert Jordan, said after seeing the film years ago that had he moved away from Carolina, seeing this film would have made him homesick and wish to return.) The richness of the characters and story, interwoven with the telling of the lies (stories) which give back-history created a fabulous tapestry. One other element, which completely captured me, was the sprinkling of potions and recipes for charms through the book. (The first one, on page 23, I told my friend Mary about, since she makes soaps and aromatherapy scents. I'm going to try it, too: "Mix 75 drops of peppermint oil with 35 drops of eucalyptus oil, 10 drops of clove, and 1/2 cup of spring water. Shake the mixture around the four corners of the room to bring the nature inside. As the mixture ages, the scent will become stronger."

I usually don't give a synopsis of a story in my reviews, and will carry on that tradition. However, I will say, this is a marvelous "lie" told by Julie Dash.… (més)