Welcome to Litsy!

There is no joy in this book. There almost feels like there is no through line. It felt like the author had 12 incredible character driven short stories and someone said let‘s put them together and make a book. Despite all this, it was great. We meet Hattie in the 1920s after she‘s left the South for the North. The first chapter, her chapter, is incredibly tragic. The other stories belong to her children all on the bad side of a crossroads. Pick!

First book of the new year! 2021 here I come!

After dealing with the loss of her first two children and having a husband who would rather spend his time and money acting as if he were still single with no responsibilities it takes everything Hattie has to just keep her children fed and clothed. This story of her family is told throughout different years and from different perspectives. Not an easy read but one I am glad I picked up.

Supported an independent bookstore owned by a black coupe I‘ve never met. I need more diversity in my life. #blacklivesmatter

Thank you so much @BarbaraBB for this wonderful book. Once I started reading the story of young Hattie & her twins I couldn‘t put the book down. Each chapter focused on one of Hattie‘s 11 children as the years move from 1925 - 1980. A remarkable story but still lots of unanswered questions #BookClubWorthy

#RedRoseSeptember I remember when this book came out and it was chosen as an Oprah selection. I never got around to reading it so I‘m thrilled that the lovely @BarbaraBB recently gifted me a copy🥰So instead of #TwoTribes I present 12 Tribes of Hattie🤗🤗🤗 And thanks for the #EightiesThrowback 🎶🤟🏽I 🖤Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Excellent book! I loved every story. They were based on Hattie and the 12 children she bore. Each story was juicy and kept my attention. Some shocking and some sad. All were good.

This book was full of depressing characters and attitudes, and I never could fully get myself in the mood to read it. Several of the characters/chapters were interesting, but all left me feeling unsatisfied with how Hattie and her children encountered and navigated the world.

Love the way Mathis told Hattie‘s story, through each of her children.

Sweeping story of family ties, US history, and race/class disparities. I didn‘t love it, but it was well written and poignant.

Oprah book club pick I found. Anyone familiar with this?

Creatively written. Enjoying.

I would not have chosen this book myself, but it seemed like a good choice for #5book5bingo for an Oprah book club book. I ended up liking it a lot more then expected. The story follows the lives of Hattie and her family through the years, each section focusing on another child.

We had to make an unexpected trip to urgent care which has derailed my reading some, but it‘s next to a half price books so I got to shop while I wait for my dude. (He‘s ok) #24in48

I can't say that I enjoyed this audio book, but it was definitely interesting enough to keep me listening. It's a consistently sad story of a woman who rushed into life and had to deal with a life that was too hard, some due to her choices and some due to tragedy. In the vein of Homegoing, but not of the same caliber. Just so-so for me.

Making my drive less boring. Not sure about this book yet.

This was quite a downer without giving any real insight into the characters. Each character had their own chapter that centered around Hattie and left much to the imagination. The characters weren't developed nor were they relatable to me. I usually enjoy a character driven book but unfortunately not this one.

I lost the dust jacket. Ok, ok, I hate dust jackets so I ditched it. Never the less I am enjoying the book.

One of my Tuesday thrift store finds works for #novemberbythenumbers

#MelodiousMusicals Day 1 (catch-up) This is a future bookclub choice, which has been "compared" to the biblical story of Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel. I always found the story of Joseph, his brothers and his coat of many colors a favorite bible story...I'm looking forward to reading this book but it's not until May....#GoGoGoJoseph

Emotional beginnings...

A reviewer on Goodreads very accurately stated "this is not a book you like". Hattie's 12 tribes are her children and one grandchild who each have a different story to tell - very few (if any?) ending happily. This book and its characters will stay with you.

I enjoyed this book; it was a book of growth. I felt though, that at the end, it was too abrupt. I can see the author's intention of showing how growth is never-ending; I just hoped for more closure. I'll be passing it on to my local LFL, but happy I got to read it.

Amazing...that is all.

Today was another great book sale at my local thrift bookstore. I got all these four books, barely new, for just $1.40! Three in english, one in spanish. I'm totally looking forward to get my hands on all of them. #BookHaul #Thriftstore #March

Didn't love the way the story played out. Mathis tells us the story of Hattie by looking at the lives of her 11 (!!!!!) children and one grandchild. I didn't feel like I connected to any of the characters, though I had great empathy for all of them. This review in the NY TIMES is helpful: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/books/the-twelve-tribes-of-hattie-by-ayana...

"My dignity would see us swinging from a tree."
I had bailed on this book a few times before. Listening to the audiobook in the car (when not listening to Gone Crazy in Alabama with my son) has been much better. #diversebooks

#booktober #debutnovels "Hattie knew her children did not think her a kind woman-perhaps she wasn't, but there hadn't been time for sentiment when they were young. She had failed them in vital ways but what good would it have done to spend the days hugging & kissing if there hadn't been anything to put in their bellies? They didn't understand that all the love she had was taken up with feeding & clothing them & preparing them to meet the world" ❤️

This is on my TBR. Started it a while back. Saving it for my challenge with @BeyondWords #septphotochallenge