Good Dirt: A Novel

I really enjoyed this book. I love books that go back and forth between the past and the present, and I love historical fiction. Some of the retelling of the enslaved family members really broke my heart, but It was needed to connect the readers to the main character's family's love of their heirloom.

“Words have power. So does the absence of words. Sometimes, when people choose not to speak, their silence can block out the sun.” Charmaine Wilkerson brings us another family saga drenched in generational trauma and secrets. The writing was in Wilkerson's signature beautiful, evocative style. The historical detail was interesting and intentional. However, I would have enjoyed the story more if it had stayed more focused and kept the multiple POV thing to a minimum. I wanted to love this as much as I loved Black Cake, but it fell a little short for me.

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