Welcome to Litsy!

I have mixed feelings about this story of an African girl given by her father into slavery at a religious shrine in a misguided effort to save her family from a rash of bad fortune. It‘s a fast moving story on a difficult topic that is still somehow compulsively readable. However, the writing style is so straightforward and simple, it almost feels totally artless and seems to quickly gloss over plot points that would benefit from more detail.

You know what‘s weird? When you‘re reading a book about something truly appalling but it is written in such a way that it is a quick, easy, unputdownable read. You know what else is weird? Googling the author and finding out she went to school in the town where you live. #SmallWorldAfterAll

Started out well, but the last half had some pacing issues that made it feel like the book was glossing over some of the serious challenges of recovering from trauma.

I had no idea ritual servitude (basically a form of slavery) existed. I appreciate this book for bringing it to light. It‘s a fast paced read, as it‘s a relatively short book & a lot happens in it. At times it felt like it was a bit overly rushed & I feel like it could have dug a little deeper, but I think it would make a good book club read. It‘s a harrowing subject and a heartbreaking story but with sparks of hope in it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #womensprize

Nine-year-old Abeo is given into religious servitude—sex slavery—in this novel set in a fictional West African country. The situation is not a fictional one, however, making this is an important book for shining a light on a horrendous contemporary practice. Readers know from the outset that Abeo gets out, and then the backstory unfolds in quick chapters. It‘s a page turner.
(Author photo from the internet.)

After I finished reading this novel, I watched a review by Chris of Bookish Cauldron, who‘s reading all of the titles on the Women‘s Prize list. It sounds like the book was entirely rewritten after the ARCs were sent out, because what I read bears little resemblance to what Chris describes. I don‘t remember coming across the word ‘Jesus‘ once, for example. I didn‘t find much in the way of Christian overtones at all. https://youtu.be/_44n476ThBw

Opening sentence: “On the morning of the day she killed him, the sun sat high and white in a sky washed clean of clouds by an early-morning downpour.”

This book chronicles the life of Abeo, who lives a life of comfort and happiness in a (fictional) African country until the age of 9, when her father takes her from her bed in the middle of the night and drops her into a life of ritual slavery (unfortunately NOT fictional, even today). While the book takes a lighter approach than it could have and doesn‘t detail the horrible suffering, it still packs a hell of a punch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#WomensPrize2019

#womensprize2019 Longlisted for the Women‘s Prize for Fiction and available on #Hoopla. This book provides what could have been a fascinating look at the archaic practice of ritual slavery in parts of Africa. It follows the story of a young girl, Abeo, whose father gives her to a local priest to atone for the family‘s past sins. Unfortunately, I found the writing very superficial and it seemed to gloss over what should have been major plot points.

Second book finished from the Women‘s Prize for Fiction Longlist 2019 📚

#Butterflies #LiteraryLuck

This is on this year‘s Woman‘s Prize for Fiction longlist. I‘m already beginning to hear some great things about this@ so might end up buying it.

https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/praise-song-for-the-butterflies-be...

This #WomensPrize longlisted novel contains such a compelling tale of survival and dynamically explores the meaning of family. Bernice L. McFadden has such admirable control in how she paces and evokes a story I really admired this novel and was captivated by its story.

When Abeo is 9, her father, hoping to atone for bad deeds in the family's past, the leaves her at a religious shrine to become trokosi - bride for the gods. For the next 15 years, she was physically and sexually abused, long after the practice was made illegal. McFadden shines a light on the practice of ritual servitude in Western Africa and the trauma and resilience that it leaves in it's wake. I couldn't put this down. #readsoullit

“Scars are proof of survival, they shouldn‘t be hidden - it‘s a story someone may need to see in order to believe that beyond their pain and suffering, there is healing”

I read this all in one day I was so taken by the story. This book is about a young girl sacrificed by her father into slavery, and her path back to freedom. It‘s violent without being graphic, and eternally hopeful. I loved it so much. You should all read it.

Comforted by Black Jack while finishing this intense story. Follows a girl who basically grows up as a sex slave for a religious figure after being given away by her father as an offering to the gods. Really disturbing stuff, but the author is able to convey her message with getting too graphic with the details. In some ways, the simplistic language used to describe the atrocities is even more impactful.

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷/5 Cheers!⁣⁣
I went into this book completely blind. Once I discovered the subject matter, I went to google to educate myself on Trokosi. The setting is a fictional West African country & Abeo Kata is a 9 y.o. girl who is ripped from her privilege lifestyle when her father forces her to become a slave in a religious sect. ⁣⁣This was a haunting & heartbreaking read that stayed with me weeks after I finished. #spinesvines #diversespines

Starting this one today. Should be a quick read, though based on the blurb, it sounds like it will be devastating...

Loved loved loved this book! I'm late to join the Bernice McFadden train but I'm definitely enjoying the ride.
You know you're reading a great book when you get attached to both the "good" and "bad" characters. Highly recommend.

Here it is! My 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review! Of Praise Song for the Butterflies by Bernice L. McFadden.
Thank you again Akashic Books for this opportunity.
https://readerthenblogger.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/praise-song-for-the-butterfli...

This short novel packs a big punch. Abeo Kata grows up in West Africa in a happy and comfortable home and family. After some troubles visit the family, her superstitious and religious grandmother urges Abeo's father to send her to a shrine to be enslaved to a priest in order to change the luck of the family. Abeo undergoes terrible treatment ⚠️ Ultimately, this book brings hope and celebrates survival. #LibraryThing #EarlyReviewers

“Scars are proof of survival, they shouldn‘t be hidden — it‘s a story someone may need to see in order to believe that beyond their pain and suffering, there is healing.”

Oooooh!!! Check out my #LibraryThing #EarlyReviewer win for this month!!! This is another author who will be featured at this year‘s Decatur Book Festival!!! #DBF2018