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Africaville
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
9 posts | 3 read | 8 to read
A ferociously talented writer makes his stunning debut with this richly woven tapestry, set in a small Nova Scotia town settled by former slaves, that depicts several generations of one family bound together and torn apart by blood, faith, time, and fate. Vogue : Best Books to Read This Winter Structured as a triptych, Africaville chronicles the lives of three generations of the Sebolt familyKath Ella, her son Omar/Etienne, and her grandson Warnerwhose lives unfold against the tumultuous events of the twentieth century from the Great Depression of the 1930s, through the social protests of the 1960s to the economic upheavals in the 1980s. A century earlier, Kath Ellas ancestors established a new home in Nova Scotia. Like her ancestors, Kath Ellas life is shaped by hardshipshe struggles to conceive and to provide for her family during the long, bitter Canadian winters. She must also contend with the locals lingering suspicions about the dark-skinned outsiders who live in their midst. Kath Ellas fierce love for her son, Omar, cannot help her overcome the racial prejudices that linger in this remote, tight-knit place. As he grows up, the rebellious Omar refutes the past and decides to break from the family, threatening to upend all that Kath Ella and her people have tried to build. Over the decades, each successive generation drifts further from Africaville, yet they take a piece of this indelible place with them as they make their way to Montreal, Vermont, and beyond, to the deep South of America. As it explores notions of identity, passing, cross-racial relationships, the importance of place, and the meaning of home, Africaville tells the larger story of the black experience in parts of Canada and the United States. Vibrant and lyrical, filled with colorful details, and told in a powerful, haunting voice, this extraordinary novelas atmospheric and steeped in history as The Known World, Barracoon, The Underground Railroad, and The Twelve Tribes of Hattieis a landmark work from a sure-to-be major literary talent.
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Hooked_on_books
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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While I‘m in denial that March is already over, I am pleased with my progress on #ReadingAfrica2022! In March, I added Madagascar, Liberia, Chad, Zambia, Comoros, and Mozambique! I feel like I‘m I‘m pretty good shape, though there‘s still a long way to go. 🇲🇬 🇱🇷 🇹🇩 🇿🇲 🇰🇲 🇲🇿

BarbaraBB You‘re making great progress! 2y
Librarybelle Excellent progress!!!! 2y
39 likes2 comments
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Owlizabeth
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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I may have been overly ambitious at the library today...

LeahBergen Oops. 😆 4y
Owlizabeth @LeahBergen when will I learn?? 😂 4y
readordierachel I've heard nothing but good things about This Is How You Lose the Time War. 4y
See All 6 Comments
Christine It‘s not your fault that they had so many good titles available! 😁 4y
Cathythoughts I really enjoyed Such A Fun Age 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 4y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Time War will 🤯🤯🤯 And One Damned Thing is such a fun adventure. Im looking up the others! Enjoy! 4y
59 likes6 comments
review
DebinHawaii
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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Pickpick

Moving & memorable, this debut novel made me think & taught me about the history of Africville, in Nova Scotia a community settled by former slaves. About multiple generations of the Sebolt family set there, Montreal & Alabama from the 1930-90s, starting with Kath Ella & her son & grandson-all seeking identity & belonging. Paired with a Griddled Fish Cake recipe found in a Saveur Magazine magazine article on the community. Review/recipe link👇🏻

51 likes1 comment
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Hazel0303
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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Pickpick

I think this was a good, solid first effort. I definitely understand the struggles I've seen with the change in perspective and third person narrative, but overall this worked for me.

It definitely deserves to be read deliberately and with patience. (Something that is challenging at this time of year so I think the publishing company did the book a disservice by publishing now.

Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2953138997

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LinesUponAPage
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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Pickpick

Debut Novel, Africaville, from Jeffrey Colvin started off a little slow then started moving at the speed of a tractor hoeing the fields in Halifax. Kath Ella is a young woman at the start; going from the past of her family to her & her son Etienne's multi-generational life.

Africaville delves into the question of being confident enough in yourself that you can deal with other people's hang-ups back in the '50s & '60s about interracial marriage.

43 likes2 stack adds
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LinesUponAPage
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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After a long weekend of City and Police Department parties, volunteering at the Children‘s Justice Center fundraiser of a silent auction on Gingerbread Houses, and Christmas tree hunting i needed to relax and read a little bit. Do you ever get that way? Just too much going on that you need to chill or you will go crazy? #readandrelax #newarcreviewcomingsoon #newbookrelease

tdrosebud This looks so cozy! 4y
Soubhiville Yes I definitely get “socialed out” and need recharge breaks! Your tree and home look lovely. Hope you had a nice break. 4y
BookNotes Weekend wedding. Books for the re-charge! 4y
See All 9 Comments
Copwithabook Yep I have totally lost track of days and almost forgot my wife‘s birthday 😬 that would have cost me 4y
LinesUponAPage @tdrosebud thank you. It truly is. 4y
LinesUponAPage @Soubhiville thank you! I‘m glad you recharge too! 4y
LinesUponAPage @Copwithabook dog house comes to mind for forgetting g something like that. Glad you remembered! 4y
LinesUponAPage @CherylRussell woo hoo to the books! Although, weddings are a joyous time. They do become emotionally taxing sometimes. 4y
brit91 😍🎄 4y
60 likes9 comments
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Hazel0303
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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There are a lot of mixed reviews on this, but it's definitely an important read. Enjoying it so far.

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LinesUponAPage
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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“I‘ll bet you would go, if only to see what prank the boys do this year. Remember last year when they glued a whole ream of colored construction paper on Mr. Geedish‘s Ford?” Kath Ella laughs.. “I have an idea.” “Imagine that.” “How about this year the girls do a prank?” “Halt the bus right there. I am getting off.” “But wait. Let me finish.” “Halt the bus, I said. You are finished.”

—What a funny way to stop her friend from getting carried away.

29 likes1 stack add
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LinesUponAPage
Africaville: A Novel | Jeffrey Colvin
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“I‘ll bet you would go, if only to see what prank the boys do this year. Remember last year when they glued a whole ream of colored construction paper on Mr. Geedish‘s Ford?” Kath Ella laughs... “I have an idea.” “Imagine that.” “How about this year the girls do a prank?” “Halt the bus right there. I am getting off.” “But wait. Let me finish.” “Halt the bus, I said. You are finished.”

What a funny way to stop her friend from getting carried away.