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This one wasn‘t for me. Could tell it was well researched. Some authors can put together a good narrative with relatively little information. Others have to insert “it‘s believed” or “experts think” or “it‘s unknown” into the mix. That, for me, halts the narrative too much so it‘s start-stop-start-stop and there was enough of that here to be distracting. Appreciate the effort to tell the story, but the method didn‘t work well for me.

This book had really good parts and parts that I was bothered by.

The parts I really enjoyed was learning about Jefferson‘s three daughters lives. His two surviving daughters with his wife and then his daughter with Sally Hemings all led such different lives and the author did great research on all three. There is just more limited information about Harriet Hemings, especially after she left Monticello.

Such a great book about Jefferson‘s three daughters of two races who survived to adulthood. I wish we knew more about what happened to Sally‘s daughter, but apparently she did a really good job of covering her tracks after she “escaped” from slavery. Also loved the take on Sally Hemmings who likely used her relationship with Jefferson to negotiate a better situation for herself and her children.

#pandemicbirthday #litsylove My 6 year old couldn‘t wait for me to birthday, so we birthday now. Mostly homemade drawings and one book from my mom. And lots of LitsyLove letters!

The author does an excellent job of showing attitudes towards gender and race at the time Thomas Jefferson‘s daughters were living. His two white daughters received excellent educations for females at that time and were considered privileged. Another daughter Harriet (by his slave Sally Hemings) escaped VA and passed for white, probably in Washington DC, & we don‘t know her fate. All three daughters had such potential but was restricted by 👇

Look at what I just saw on Facebook! Details are still forthcoming on how the DAR Library will run this new book club (virtually? In-person? When? Etc) , but maybe it‘d be something you‘d like to do also @mrsmarch @umbrellagirl (and share thoughts here on Litsy) ?! I‘m definitely interested in reading both.

I am not even sure I want to visit Monticello again. I left with Harriett.

I loved this book on so many different levels. Its the first hx book that I will deem a favorite. I loved the author‘s writing style, her perspective (neither romanticizing or demonizing the events), her putting bits of her own feelings into the story and on and on. This is not just a story about the Jeffersons and Hemings or about slavery vs. freedom. It causes us to take a deep, serious look at human nature, who we really are as people⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was Jefferson‘s intention, rather than oversight or error, to design his home in a way that imposed order on the mountain: women and children relegated to the invisible upper floors, slaves and their work hidden beneath the terraces.
(So interesting. My Photo: Monticello 2/16)

So delighted to find this book that offers all the best things that I love about reading. For sure, it has already inspired another trip to Monticello

I found absolutely the best library books for my vacation. You already know though that I am taking more than two books. 🤓

Soaking up stories from the 18th century.

Oh man, whoever checked out this book before me went to lunch at an Indian restaurant; yum! 😋 #librarylife