Marlen Suyapa Bodden

"That was how I learned what my future was to be, and my only thought was that my dreams of escaping were those of a fool. My absurd notions of running away or being bought into freedom by Isaac were exposed for what they were, empty plans made by a girl in bondage."

Clarissa is born into Southern wealth - as the daughter of a plantation owner, she can expect privilege and honour all her life. Sarah is born into slavery - the daughter of a housekeeper, her life is considerably better than show more that of the fieldhands. The girls grow up together, which has its advantages for Sarah. But when Clarissa gets married and her father gives her Sarah as a maid, the two young women will be dependent on each other much more than they could have envisaged.

This novel is full of fantastically strong women. Sarah, Theodora Allen, Emmeline, Belle, Clarissa, Miss Mary - Bodden writes compelling, attention-grabbing, wonderful women, decisive in the courses of their lives. Sarah in particular is impulsive and gutsy, but the reader cannot help rooting for her. The twist at the end was actually quite harrowing - it was totally unexpected and cast the rest of the novel in a totally different light.

I was surprised by the social mores of the time in the white family - the common keeping of black mistresses, the physical abuse, the drinking... I don't really know why I was surprised by it when it featured pretty strongly a century later in The Shadow Queen. Amazing Grace is one of my favourite films, but it tells the story of slavery from a very British side. I have no way of knowing how accurate the depiction of the lives of cotton slaves is in The Wedding Gift, but like after I read The Help, I feel like I should do some learning. Which is a commendable result for a novel.

Buy it, borrow it, get it, read it. show less

If you love to read about the downfall of Montezuma by Cortez you will really enjoy this book. The battle descriptions are well done. This is told in the first person by Montezuma, Cortez and a female Mexican named Flower. I loved how this told about Flower and what she was going through in her life at this time. Well done. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

As this is based upon a true story, I'm going to do some digging and read the case upon which this incredible story is based. The main character is Sarah, daughter of a house slave and the plantation owner (I refuse to use "master"). Her determination to run to freedom and her incredibly strong ties to her long-suffering mother and her sister are heartbreaking and uplifting. The plantation owner's wife Theodora is also a victim of the system that kept all women of that time and place in show more bondage. A riveting and rewarding read. Great first novel, Marlen Bodden! show less

Poignant, heartbreaking, and unfortunately true.

THE WEDDING GIFT is beautiful in the sense of how the story is told in the author's marvelous prose and flowing style, but ugly in the harshness, cruelty, and reality of the events.

The characters will pull at your heart strings as you follow Emmeline, Belle, Sarah, and Theodora Allen through their day. The plantation owner's wife, Theodora Allen, is held under his thumb and must obey all his commands and put up with his physical and verbal show more abuse.

All these women are very strong characters in their own right, but have no rights in this era. This era seems to "own" the women whether they are free or enslaved. Another character who is one of the main characters, Clarissa Allen, Sarah's half sister and Clarissa's maid, is a spoiled brat but a good person underneath it all.

You will hate Mr. Cornelius Allen as well as most of the male characters for their cruelty and their shallow, arrogant thinking.

THE WEDDING GIFT is beautifully written and brings to light the way of life on a plantation and how it is run both inside and outside of the main house.

The book is told through Sarah and Theodora's voices. THE WEDDING GIFT talks about women and how they bond as well as how they endure the suffering at the hands of males whether it be verbal abuse, physical abuse, or infidelity. Infidelity on a plantation by the owner seemed to be something quite common.

I didn't want to put the book down. It was relayed so well and so smoothly that you felt as though you were there with all the characters crying with them and also helping them deal with what they had to endure whether they were the plantation's slaves or the owner's own family.

Don't miss out on this book....you just have to read it. You as a woman will want to share these experiences whether pleasant or unpleasant. You will also learn a great deal about history which more often than not is an unpleasant story as well as learning about the horrors of slavery and its impact on society.

A positive lesson though is to never give up, follow your dreams, and work hard. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review. show less