STORY-LINE:
In this drama filled book by author Suzanne Jenkins, the reader finds families divided by prejudice, shame, and secrets. Morton, Ojibwe Native American, lives in Michigan by the riverside in a cabin without modern conveniences, electricity, or phone. With an unorthodox common law marriage to Mike, an artist with Greek ancestry, she raises six children. Living the life of the old way, she has secrets she has carried her entire life. Secrets which when revealed will affect many. After the death of the child she gave up for adoption long ago, the time’s right for revelations.
Before the death of Esme Wynd’s mother at 62, she made a death-bed confession, revealing a secret few knew. Esme feels she must follow the revelation to its end. Esme travels to Michigan; setting the stage for drama, family discord, and facing revelations of secrets. Will these families withstand the scrutiny of the community, jealousies, shame, and friction as secrets come to light? My review follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
I am not sure where to start; I am not sure I can tell you of this dramatic and heart-wrenching story and do it justice. Filled with drama, family dynamics, and emotion, the reader’s taken on a journey of enlightenment. The book left me thoughtful and sorrowful as I realized how the past affects generations in the future with far-reaching results. Following Ravenna through her struggles and abuse, the reader finds she’s not defined by her past. But by strong character and her culture, which gave her strength to raise six children in an unorthodox common law marriage. Staying true to her Native American culture, she lives her life isolated in her woodland cabin. She was known as “the Indian woman who came to town in the canoe,” in her small town of conservative whites.
The plotting is smooth and steady as the reader follows her life from abuse and struggles, as well as, a one of a kind love. Jenkins revealed the lengths the United States Government was willing to employ to integrate the Native American‘s into the white culture. She is looked upon as less than the dirt under their white feet; she and her ancestors faced prejudice and ridicule. How can we call ourselves a Christian Nation when we were willing to annihilate an entire race and culture of the Native Americans? It made me sick to my stomach.
She rises above all her struggles as she lives by her inventive outlook and Ojibwe culture. Her children have issues and struggle due to their unorthodox upbringing; the children’s struggles were heart-wrenching. With strong family dynamics and the story-line character driven, Jenkins holds the reader’s interest.
In conclusion, when I started this story I did not expect the intense emotion I found; I read straight through as I followed the lives of these families. I found the pace of the novel steady as Jenkins revealed the underbelly of the Morton family with an intense character-driven story-line. With her vivid descriptions, I could smell the sweet grass and see the woodland Ravenna loved so well.
THE LIBERATION OF RAVENNA MORTON RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4.5
Suitable for anyone who enjoys a drama-filled story-line which does not use sex or fluff to fill the pages. I found this story a clean read.
ALSO, PLEASE NOTE:
Also, I borrowed this edition from Kindle Unlimited as well as receiving a copy from the author. I chose to review with honest romance book reviews voluntarily. Lastly, reviews of any novel are dependent on the author’s opinion. Consequently, all reviews online and on my blog, are my opinions.
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