Pomegranate: A Novel

Real and beautiful

Ranita has just been released from prison after four years, and she's on the road to recovery and hoping to get her kids back, physically and emotionally.
This story weaves the past into the present, and we learn all the things, good and bad, that shaped the Ranita of the present.

This book was very well written. I loved the time line going back in between chapters of current life, yet this book had me on edge thinking Ranita was going to do something to be sent back to prison. I liked it but did not like the story line if that makes sense, too much trauma, but it is reality for so many women, maybe too many.

Reviewed by Fallon Vaughn 🖊️ Pomegranates are an interesting fruit. On the outside it’s hard to decipher what they are all about. They look promising enough, and then it’s slightly hard to get to the inside. Then once you finally peel the skin away you’re left with hundreds of tiny fleshy bits that appear to be bursting with flavor. But what flavor? Then finally you put a few in your mouth and it’s nothing like you expected. It’s tart, but also sweet, but then at the core the seeds are bitter… And that experience of eating and tasting a pomegranate is exactly how I felt about this book… Ranita had a life that wasn’t always perfect, and the not perfect parts caused her to spend several years incarcerated. Upon her release back into society she has to face several demons and slay them in order to get her children back and move forward in life from the not so perfect parts. This book had a lot of trauma and hurt wrapped tightly around the fleshy bits. Some parts of it were sweet and others were downright bitter. The main character went through a lot and the book left me feeling exhausted. It wasn’t the easiest read for me due to all the triggers, but I rooted for Ranita the entire way. I appreciate the glimpse of life through the eyes of someone recovering from addiction and re-entering society, especially due to my line of work. But, my spirit has been yearning for light reads lately. And with all of that being said… Just like a pomegranate (the fruit) may not be for you, I would still suggest you at least try it… You may enjoy it and this book. 🖊️Reviewed by Fallon Vaughn, moderator For This BrowneGirl Reads Book Club 2024 #thisbrownegirlreads #tbgrbookclub