Remembrance

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Rita Woods’ deft writing and compelling narrative makes it difficult to believe that Remembrance is her debut novel. While some commenters have remarked that the jumps between points of view detract from the stories, I find that to be one of the novel’s strengths. Rita’s intriguing descriptions of Gaelle’s and Winter’s interactions, Margot’s survival and escape, Mother Abigail’s overarching presence and life in Remembrance propel the novel and compel contemplation of the women’s positions, predicaments and powers. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found her characters in all four settings memorable, remarkable, and relatable in their loss, endurance, suffering and flourishing.

I received an Advance Reading Copy of Remembrance by Rita Woods from the publisher (Forge) in exchange for an honest review. Remembrance is scheduled for release on January 21, 2020.Remembrance is a historical fiction/ magical realism novel that takes place in two different time periods. The story follows two women in the pre-civil war era and one woman in the current day. Their stories intertwine in the novel, exploring the boundaries of physical space and stretching the limits of time.The bulk of the story takes place in and around the settlement of Remembrance. This is a community of blacks who have set themselves apart from slavery-torn America. The settlement is led by Mother Abigail, a woman with the ability to manipulate space. She protects her community, keeping them hidden from the world around them, allowing them to live a life of freedom and choose to interact with the larger world only when they choose to. At the time of the story, Mother Abigail is beginning to fade, and looking to pass her role in the community on to her her adopted daughter, Winter.Winter is struggling to find her place in the community, and struggling to figure out what powers she might, or might not, have. Due to Mother Abigail’s failing health, the boundary between Remembrance is fading, thrusting Winter into interactions with the world she is not prepared for.In a parallel, but later, time, we also follow Gaelle. Gaelle works in a nursing home, where she takes care of a mysterious older woman no one seems to be able to connect to. Gaelle breaks through to the woman, learning that her name is Winter, and that strange things happen when the two of them are together.The story in Remembrance is well-developed, painting a clear picture of a community fighting to survive in a changing world. It is filled with a cast of characters with goals and challenges that drive the story forward. The story in present day was less well developed. I found myself struggling to connect this story with Remembrance, other than the obvious connection of Winter. I ended up feeling that the novel would have been complete without the current day story, since it did not seem as well-developed or important to the book as a whole.The same applies to the characters. We spent enough time with Winter and Mother Abigail for me to understand who they were and get invested in their goals. I did not feel the same for Gaelle, largely because I just didn’t get enough time with her.Overall, I thought Remembrance was a sometimes lovely, sometimes terrifying, sometimes magical novel that might have been even better with some adjustments to the modern-day portion of the story.

Multiple timelines and multiple points of view tell me this debut author doesn't shy away from a challenge. Nor does she mince words about slavery and racism. And we need to read books like this.Well developed characters, a sense of place that leaves you with no doubt as to where she , the writer, has taken you, the reader, this book will take your breath away!

A story of the past and present, Remembrance is a beautiful tale of 4 strong women. Follow these women through their journeys as you learn of their losses, the horrible atrocities they endured, and watch them persevere. Their suffering transforms into the strength to save others and remake themselves. If you like historical stories, strong female characters, and magic, I highly recommend Remembrance.

This book is a mixture of history, magic and suspense. The story of four women who have lives that somehow intertwine through time—1700s, 1800s and present day. It is an amazing story and insightful about the lives of these women and their survival. This is a book I would highly recommend. I am enjoyed this book so much.

It was very good throughout the beginning and middle. Once I got to 86% I felt it overstayed it’s welcome and I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I think winter, mother Abigail could have been a book by themselves and then the second book could have been Gaëlle. I am not sure my Margot was apart of the story at all. But very action packed and great descriptions. Plot was definitely stronger in the middle.

I loved the story. Remembrance is something everyone can relate to in regards of "home." I would highly recommend this book!

It’s a bit of a difficult book to read. The good these women had—whatever they could preserve—was taken from them, and there is no turning away from it. But their power to protect the world and what is good in it—that was forged through generations, finding expression not just in a woman’s ability to transform material reality, but in the gift of healing, giving birth, loving each other—remains everlasting.

To categorize this book as "Historical Fiction" is misleading and deceptive to the reader. This mystical, fantasy story drags on and on, and I found myself struggling to reach the very disappointing end. I wish I had not invested the time or money I spent on this book.