Donna Hill (1)

Confessions in B Flat was a particular treat for me. I am, admittedly, not a huge fan of historical fiction. But the lure of its description was too much for me to walk away. Two young Civil Rights activists from differing ideologies find themselves struggling to figure out if a relationship can withstand their polarized views.

Anita and Jason are, in many ways, like oil and water. Despite coming from a “bougie” background, Anita, a part-time waitress and poet, moves to the beat of her show more own drum and is often compelled by a sense of doing what fulfills her. She finds herself a follower of Malcolm X and is deeply committed to all Harlem has to give. Jason, a Georgia native who comes north to spread the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is more bound by duty and expectation. He wants to do what is right, even if it comes with a sacrifice. Their initial interactions are fraught with conflict about how they approach the fight for civil rights, but their chemistry is undeniable.

Hill masterfully captured the culture wars that existed in the ’60s. Jason’s Southern roots came with lofty expectations around gender roles and respectability that he was loathe to depart from. Anita had that same upbringing, but the Northern environment meant she engaged with them in a more fluid way. The tension, literally and figuratively, represented the shifting from traditional to more modern ways of thinking among the Black community around this era. So for all of the courtship dances with their families, the two move to their own pace in a way that feels right, social expectations be damned.

The characters in this book featured depth and complexity and sometimes a bit of hypocrisy. Anita was intent on living life on her own terms, whether that be her faith, her activism, her relationships. She wasn’t so much stubborn as she was fighting to make sure her voice was heard. Jason’s fight to do what he believed was right took him away from all that felt safe, even if it meant putting himself in harm’s way. Hill’s portrayal of them both showed that neither character was wholly inflexible, but their choices were deeply rooted in their own life experiences and the world they knew could come to fruition. They were at times endearing, infuriating, but always authentic and relatable.

My favorite feature of Confessions in B-Flat is its embedding of actual landmarks into the story to the point where they as as much a character in the story as Anita and Jason. More than just neighborhood names and well-known streets, the settings include staple restaurants and Black-owned businesses. The author goes a step further to include photos of the settings. While the images themselves aren’t necessary, they do add a touch of palpability and context. The resulting vibe is a book that feels part historical fiction, part scrapbook.

For readers who are particularly interested in history, this book will be a treat for how it highlights major figures and seminal events in the world broadly and the Civil Rights Movement nationally. Beyond Martin and Malcolm, there are references to well-known figures including John Lewis, Angela Davis, and Bayard Rustin. But there were also lesser known (to me) events such as the Cambridge, Maryland riots. As someone who considers myself well-versed, I found that I learned new things and was eagerly bouncing between looking up unfamiliar names and places as Hill introduced them.

Confessions in B Flat is more than a romance and it’s more than another fictionalized account of the Civil Rights era. It’s an honest look at two regular people doing their best to find their place in the movement. It is an examination of how the Black community as a whole worked to reconcile their warring ideals as they sought a more just world. It’s also an opportunity to reconsider assumptions about people on the other side of the “fence.” I think that what takes Confessions in B Flat from being another historical romance to a book that has lessons that can still be applied today. show less

There are many sayings about not being able to go home again, for whatever reason, but Alessandra Fleming must return to her hometown after being notified that he has been hospitalized due to a fall. For Alessandra, there's never a good time to go "home," especially since she's preparing for her first art show and must take a leave of absence from her job at the art gallery. But Alessandra does return to her home in Sag Harbor and tries to uncover the secrets of her family's past, along with show more her past, in an effort to understand her father and rebuild their relationship. Little does Alessandra know, but her family has deep and dark ties to Sag Harbor, dating back to the 19th century and the slave trade. Throughout Alessandra's visit home, she experiences flashes of someone else in some other time. Is she going crazy? Will the secrets she uncovers help her understand who she is, where she's come from, and what's happening to her? Will Alessandra be able to build a relationship with the new man in her life, Zach Renard?

I Am Ayah: The Way Home is presented with a dual timeline, the contemporary story dealing with Alessandra, and the historical narrative of Ayah, a woman kidnapped from Africa and an escapee from enslavement. One of the big questions seems to be what do these two women have in common even though they're separated by centuries. The author gradually reveals Ayah's saga and that of her descendants. It was heartening to see Alessandra make an attempt to reconcile with her father, as well as see the friendship and burgeoning romance develop between her and Zach. The author presents realistic characters that are all too flawed, but she intersperses this with bits of humor to lighten up the story. Zach's grandmother, Grace Oweku aka Mrs. O, is an amazing elder, dispensing lots of wisdom. I enjoyed all of the characters, the dual timelines, and the action. I Am Ayah: The Way Home is much more than a romance. I found it to be an intriguing and entrancing read about family history and heritage, not just Ayah's, but Alessandra's and Zach's as well. Of course, the romance added just the right amount of spice to the story. If you enjoy stories with a blend of historical and contemporary timelines, stories filled with family angst and drama, or stories with romantic elements, then you'll definitely want to grab a copy of I Am Ayah: The Way Home. I've ordered a print copy of this book for my 88-y.o. book diva mother to read. Something tells me she's going to enjoy this one just as much as I did.

Happy Reading, y'all! ♦

This review posted on 06/01/2023 at https://thebookdivasreads.com/2023/06/01/book-review-i-am-ayah-the-way-home-by-d... show less

Title: Confessions in B-Flat
Author: Donna Hill
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Confessions in B-Flat" by Donna Hill

My Speculation:

Wow, now this is one read that will keep your attention till the end that was not only a good read but very timely due to what is going on in our world 2020 even though this event happened during the 1960s. And believe it or not, this civil unrest is still happening in some fashion now in our world of 2020.

It was show more quite an interesting read for Jason Tanner and Anita Hopkins, who meet on a bus going to New York City. We find Jason was being 'sent by Dr. King to help get the message of passive resistance to the people up north, which showed clashing with how Anita's had her support going for the support of Malcolm X's ideology.' As the story continues, it was good seeing if these two will clash due to their separate political differences that deal with civil rights, but what will happen when there is a beautiful love story connection between these two? What was it about Anita's special way she could put out the poetry at the B Flat that will keep you wanting more? The other characters in this story were well-developed and well-defined, giving the story that special punch in this emotional, educational, and gratifying read. This read reminds me of how far we've come since the Civil Rights area and how relatable now we are in the Black Lives Matter movement 2020. show less

I appreciated the lack of drama for most of this book. The leads behave pretty maturely until near the end. The way it all wraps up so nicely is very romantic and left me with a good feeling. Other personal things in their lives play out beautifully also. Strong start, sweet finish.