Good Dirt: A Novel

The book tells several different stories - the mystery of a robbery gone wrong, the history of a jar made by the main character’s ancestor who was an enslaved potter in South Carolina, a young woman struggling with PTSD, and a bride abandoned at the altar. It’s a lot, but most of it works. Most of all, I love the stories about pottery and learning this part of American History. The novel is its best when it recounts the history of the jar, and at its worst when focused on the untangling of the engagement gone wrong. But definitely a worth while and very good read.

This was a great novel, excellent read. I did, however, sometimes get lost in the storytelling. It jumps all over the place in terms of POVs and years. I found myself wanting to know more about Ebby, Henry, and Avery, not the POV of the thieves, the dispatcher, or even at times, Robert. Some of it just seemed unnecessary. But overall I would recommend this book to others

I wouldn't normally pick up this genre. The history would have typically bored me. However, the history in the book was more interesting than the main character. Additionally, the ending feel really flat for me

SPOILER REVIEW: In her follow-up to her blockbuster deput Black cake. Wilkerson explores heartbreak, legacy, generational trauma, history, redemption and Forgiveness. The story is centered around an affluent Black family and the murder and loss of their son Baz. No one really knows what happened or who did it, except for Baz’s younger sister Ebby freeman. She witnessed everything that happened to her brother but when asked if she had seen anything she said no. Years later a high profile break-up leaves her alone at the alter and Ebby Freeman flees running from her past all together. The topics of race and class play a huge role in the story line. Author review: Personally while reading the authors book Black Cake I was left extremely confused and I don’t think I finished it, it wasn’t until I watched the Hulu series adaptation that certain parts of the book began to make sense for me to visually see. There are so many timeline switch’s, making the book a bit choppy, and long winded at times in my opinion. Since this is now the second book I’ve read I am attributing this to being the authors style of book writing, which I’m not much of a fan but I can see why others might be. I’m just not a fan of the authors writing style

I struggled to get through this one, which is upsetting because I loved Black Cake. It’s a slow read. There’s way too many POVs and the jumping between timelines and characters is an incoherent mess. I really didn’t get into the story until Part 3 (over halfway through the book). Part 3 is when the central story really takes center stage. I feel like the first half of the book I was waiting for it to get to the point and then I was truly engaged in the second half.