Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks, MyShelf.com
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Cane River is a title that alludes to the old southern charm - romanticism even - of the old southern rivers, the days of the plantations, rich lives, and extravagant garden parties. There is nothing charming or romantic about the lives shared with us in this story. Lalita Tademy has written a compelling story, part fact and part fiction, about her family roots. It begins at Cane River, Louisiana, in 1834 with Suzette, who also fills us in on her mother’s life as a slave in Virginia years before that. The readers are taken through Suzette’s life, thorough her daughter Philomene’s life, then through Philomene’s daughter, Emily’s life, where the story ends, but not the dreams of four strong French-speaking slaves.

Slaves Elisabeth and Gerasime have four children; Suzette is one. The opening chapter falls upon Suzette, as she is getting back at Madame Derbanne for slapping her; already the sign of what’s to come. In present day, Derbanne is a well-known name in the south. The author’s family, with the exception of Elizabeth, began on Derbanne’s Creole plantation. Suzette hopes to wed a free black man, but learns the free do not wed slaves and fate has an unwilling course ahead for her. Her brief glimpse of freedom is just the beginning for this family with no last name.  Suzette falls victim to a French man and gives birth to Philomene. Philomene is enamored with freedom and blessed with visions. Philomene lives two lives and gives birth to Emily who experiences more freedom than the rest, but it eludes her in a new way.

Readers can expect to relive the dramatic southern era of slaves, civil war, slave freedom, sharecropping, the KKK, and more in Cane River.  Cane River is one of the most vivid, honest, haunting reads I have experienced in a long while; it’s not one I shall soon forget.
 
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