A Respectable Trade by Philippa Gregory
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Book Reviews of A Respectable Trade
Book Review: snore...zzzzz...snore
Summary: 2 Stars
Ok, I'm a true Gregory fan. I always have been since "Wideacre" but I mean...come on!
Her other books were exciting and made me want to keep reading! This one...it fell very, very short. I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. Yes, reading about how all the slaves were treated was heart-wrenching, but I get it. I would like to have some sort of plot to go along with that.
When I did get a plot, it was a slow moving and dull one. I knew what was going to happen before it did and that just made it even more boring. Gregory used to have such flare! What happened here?
Book Review: I couldn't finish the book...
Summary: 2 Stars
I got through half of the book before I became so bored that I read the last chapter to find out what happens to the characters. The whole premise of European brutality towards African slaves becomes mundane repitition and nothing new or insightful is brought to light through the experiences of either Francis or Mehuru. It comes as no surprise that they fall in love nor is it the least bit interesting to read in light that the whole black man/woman smart, insightful slave and uncaring, raping, brutal white slaver stereotype is definitely overplayed.Book Review: Troubling
Summary: 2 Stars
As a black woman, I too found this difficult to read. On a practical level I felt that Ms. Gregory pushed too hard to make this story plausible. I found no link for this romance, no real spark. I found the 'love at first sight' a bit of rubbish for this day and time. Mehuru seemed to good, a little too "Kunta Kente-ish". And Frances was vapid and skittish, hardly the type of love match one is used to. I loved all her other books, but I had to make myself finish this.Book Review: Disappointing Characters
Summary: 2 Stars
One of my favorite things about Gregory's books are the personalities of the characters. For me, I could not make an emotional connection with anyone in this book. I could feel sorrow for characters and definitely for the slavery subject matter. I just feel that there was no life in the characters themselves. This book was by far the worst Philippa Gregory book that I have ever read. I never thought that it was possible to say that about one of her books!Book Review: Where is the research again?
Summary: 2 Stars
If you want to give a chance to a white female author that writes about black people, give Anne Rice a try. At least she attempts to know the people and culture she talks about. Muhuru was written from the outside and from a distance. A distance that goes from the United States to Japan.