Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
A mother and daughter with a shared talent for healing—and conjuring curses–are at the heart of this dazzling first novel.
Conjure Women is a sweeping story that brings the world of the South before and after the Civil War vividly to life. Spanning generations, it explores the lives of three unforgettable women: Miss May Belle, a wise healer; her precocious and observant daughter Rue, who is reluctant to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife; and their master’s daughter Varina. The secrets and bonds among these women come to a head at the birth of an accursed child, who sets the townspeople alight with fear, spreading superstition that threatens their newly won, tenuous freedom.
Richly imagined, brilliantly researched, magnificently written, Conjure Women moves back and forth in time to tell the haunting story of Rue, Varina, and May Belle, their passions and friendships, and how far they will go to save themselves and those they love.
Wowza….this book was insightful, emotional, enraging, intriguing, and impactful.
This book is historical fiction with just a touch of fantasy and magic…and it is written with such creativity and intelligence.
The story switches between time periods each chapter, identified as Freedomtime (life after the Civil War) and Slaverytime (life before the Civil War).
I have read many books that take place during this horrific time in American history, but I have never read one written quite the way this one is.
I read a review on the back cover that said it was a “heartbreaking joy” to read and another that said “if you are grieving for Toni Morrison, Afia Atakora is the young writer to read now”….I agree with these statements whole heartedly.
This book is about slavery and war and the horrors that surround it all….but it also is about motherhood, community, family, connection, friendship, self worth and self acceptance.
The strong bonds of womanhood and the connection and understanding that weaves between females is also a distinct thread throughout the pages.
“Worrying was a disease for women, and it came as a chronic ailment.”
The story focuses on two women–Rue and her mother May Belle. They can have at times a conflicting relationship, but it is one full of love and lessons. They learn from and lean on each other in unique ways…and their relationship is one full of contradictions and deep connections.
“Fix what you’ve done. Or live with it quiet.”
“Ain’t every woman’s daughter made from the death of the mama, somehow or another?”
May Belle is valued by Marse Charles because she is his enslaved people’s healer, midwife and community designated conjurer. For him, her value comes because she keeps his inventory healthy and well stocked (sickening as that is). For her fellow community members, she is valued (especially by the women) because she helps them in any time of trouble or need.
Eventually May Belle has to train Rue to take her place….and Rue discovers how quickly people can change their minds in how they view a person…how fast one can go from being revered to being feared.
While this IS a fictional story, the author drew from TONS of real historical accounts to incorporate as much truth as possible. One of her sources of information was from “Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews”.
I wish more people in our country–especially my fellow white people– would read books such as this and the sources she cites. The horrific reality of the transatlantic slave trade and the terrible, long lasting aftermath are not accurately taught nor addressed by MOST of our nation. It is unacceptable that a nation as a whole can not confront it’s ugly realities.
“There ain’t no easier lie to tell folks than the one they wanna believe.”
The realities of the post Civil War South were extremely difficult ones for the newly “freed”, trying to navigate how to survive in an entirely new way with next to nothing in resources. The author sheds light onto this in many ways.
“Freedom seemed to them to be as useless as the currency of a nation that didn’t exist anymore.”
This was an excellent piece of historical fiction and I definitely recommend it.
The ending was not what I expected but I think was a wonderful way to close the story.