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RAWSISTAZ Literary Group Attn: Reviews Editor 5885 Cumming Hwy, Ste 108-232 Sugar Hill, GA 30518
Reviewed: Aug 11, 2005
The Roux in the Gumbo by Kim Robinson RAW Rating: 5.0 (out of 5) One family's history THE ROUX IN THE GUMBO by Kim Robinson begins in 1850 Louisiana when the United States still practiced slavery. The first person we meet is Gizelle, a 12-year-old girl who was so miserable from the beatings and horrors of slavery that she prayed for death. Instead of dying, Gizelle was found by Tullulah, a mixed Indian and white healer, who nursed her back to health. She then removed Gizelle from slavery. As the story moves on, we are treated to the life stories of many people; some were slaves, others were not. Frequently the slave master took advantage of his female slaves, even going so far as to sexually abuse their own daughters they had sired with slaves. Many of the women felt helpless, but one French woman, on learning that her husband was abusing his slave daughters as well as her daughter, fought back. She visited a voodoo priestess and took care of him. After the Civil War was fought, we find the black women still being abused, but they had more options. Annie, whose white lover abandoned her to marry his sweetheart, opened a speakeasy and made illegal liquor. She also refused to take abuse from anyone and was adept with a pistol, a shotgun and a knife. People learned, sometimes the hard way, not to mess with Annie. There were many fascinating stories about the members of this large and interesting family. Kim Robinson has penned a truly wonderful novel that traces one black family from California back to its roots in slave-holding Louisiana. Her descriptions are so well done that you can smell the smoke and taste the homemade booze as you gamble in Annie's speakeasy. Sympathy for the slaves overwhelms you as the author describes brutal, uncaring overseers, masters and mistresses. Yet you can laugh at the antics of the family members as they make the very best of a poor situation. Even though there are many, many characters parading through the book, they are very easy to follow. It was fascinating reading about this family and how they overcame so much adversity. There is even the family gumbo recipe in the book. It is well worth reading, and if it were possible, I'd rate it at least a six. I couldn't put it down. Reviewed by alice Holman, RAWSISTAZ.com © Copyright 2001-2008
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