Cane River by Lalita Tademy (2001, Hardcover, Illustrated)

I absolutely adored this book. This is the 2nd non-fiction item chosen by my family's book club and it was definitely a worthy one! I found the stories of the author's ancestors to be so deeply rooted in the history of my own family. Four generations of women's lives chronicled from pre-Civil war to the early 20th century proved to be a fascinating display of strength, perseverance, determination and pride. At a time when women held no power and African-American women were believed to be mere property and a source of sexual gratification, the sheer will of these women to survive is celebratory enough. But the fact that they were able to obtain ownership of property and reunite their family which had been torn apart by slavery was simply exhilarating.

I cried, I laughed, and I kept on reading! Thank you, Ms. Tademy, for doing such wonderful genealogical research and introducing such remarkable women into my family's lives. It was a pleasure to make their 'acquaintances.'