Lalita tademy was born in berkeley, california, far from her parents southern roots. The result of her twoyear search is cane river, a novel which quickly became both a new york times bestseller and an oprahs book club. Cane river lalita tademy, 2001 grand central publishing 584 pp. During the course of researching cane river, as she kept unearthing tender relationships in unexpected situations, tademy found herself frequently being forced to rethink some longheld beliefs about slavery. Her debut, cane river was translated into 11 languages, and became san franciscos one city, one book in 2007. Lalita tademys book, cane river, tells in fictional form the stories of four generations of the women in her family. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black.
Lalita tademy went on to write two other works of historical fiction called red river and citizens creek, but before cane river, she was not a professional writer. I learned a lot about the slaveplantationsmall farmer experience of creole louisiana. The culture she explores, that of slaves who remained in bondage until after the american civil war, bears some core similarities but radical dissimilarities to that of cane river s melrosest. The new york times bestselling author of the oprah book club pick cane river brings us the evocative story of a onceenslaved man who buys his freedom. In a blend of fact and fiction, tademy tells the story of four. Oprahs book club jewel and her husband, leston, have been blessed by a fifth child, a girl they name brenda kay. Suzette elisabeths youngest daughter, and the first to discover the promise and heartbreak of freedom. Dec 30, 2008 my book group chose cane river by lalita tademy for our january book.
After three years of uncertainty, working on multiple drafts of a story i was unsure anyone wanted to read, and another harrowing 18 months being rejected time after time by a succession of agents, i found an agent who believed in my novel, and then a publisher. Four generations of strong women in cane river showed us a side of slavery many of us had never seen before. During the course of researching cane river, as she kept unearthing tender relationships in unexpected situations, tademy found herself frequently being. Cow tom, born into slavery in alabama in 1810 and sold to a creek indian chief before his. Her mother elizabeth works in the kitchen of the plantation rosedew, and when. Since its beginnings in 1996, oprahs book club has become the goto source for your next best read. Warner books i think what lalita was able to do with this story is open the door for a lot of people who want to trace their own roots or look at what their heritage, what that. With the infidel creoles around cane river, we were lucky our eight rows were halffull. You get a book, you get a book, everyone gets a book. That led me to the authors original work, cane river, this one exploring her mothers side of the family red river explores her fathers side. Cane river by lalita tademy 2001, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. The story, focusing on the women that raised children, mostly by white men, in rural louisiana during the years before the civil war and into the 1930s, brings home the true tragedies of slavery.
By chance i had come across lalita tademys second novel red river in a book store. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from. Cane river tademy family chronicles, book 1 by lalita tademy. Beginning with tademys greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother elisabeth, this is a family saga that sweeps from the early days of slavery through the civil war into a precivil rights southa unique and moving slice of americas. How, in cane river, was the colorstruck attitude a help or hindrance in successive generations rising fortunes. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined. More than a television mogul, oprah is now one of our most influential literary tastemakers, launching author careers and skyrocketing books to the top of the bestseller lists. The story, focusing on the women that raised children, mostly by white men, in rural louisiana during the years before the civil war and.
Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black women as they battle. Cane river was a new york times bestseller and was selected for oprahs book club. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from slavery to freedom begins on a creole. Cane river was chosen for oprahs book club on june 20, 2001 mingling historical fact with fiction, lalita tademys epic novel is based on the lives of four generations of african american women and is the result of years of exhaustive research and an obsessive odyssey to uncover her familys past. Cane river is a wonderful novel, which i highly recommend. Cane river begins with elisabeth tademys greatgreatgreatgreatgrandmother and focuses on three women marked by her strength, her pride, and her instinct for survival. Beginning with tademys greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother elisabeth, this is a family saga that sweeps from the early days of slavery through the civil war into a precivil rights southa unique and moving slice of. W ere so excited to announce our may 2017 book club selection.
Information about the book, cane river fiction, mass market paperback, by lalita tademy warner books, feb 01, 2005 african american literature book club celebrating our literary legacy since 1997 black literature is for everyone african american literature book club. Lalita tademy follows four generations of african american women, from slavery to the early twentieth century, as they struggle for economic security and the future of their families along the cane river in rural. Cane river by lalita tademy 2002, paperback for sale online. Cane river discussion four generations of strong women in cane river showed us a side of slavery many of us had never seen before. Oprahs book club do you remember the first book she picked. Especially since it was an oprah book club pick at one point. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita. Lalita tademy has imbued life and blood into her family history, capturing you with her first sentence and only releasing you with her final word. It is a family saga that covers four generations of women born into slavery and searching for freedom. Cane river by lalita tademy book club discussion questions. Read the highlights from our onair discussion with lalita tademy. Read cane river by lalita tademy available from rakuten kobo. Nonetheless, her parents made sure their household louisiana west maintained a definite noncalifornia edge, including a steady supply of grits, gumbo, cornbread, and collard greens, and a stream of other transplanted southerners eager to share.
Subscribe to the oprahs book club newsletter sign up for the oprah. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cane river covers 7 years of lalita tademys familys history, written as fiction, but deeply rooted in years of research historical fact, and family lore. May 24, 2014 oprahs book club do you remember the first book she picked.
Louis waved suzette over for more blood pudding, and she hurried to his place at the head of the table. Book club cane river hawaii state public library system. Books similar to cane river meet your next favorite book. Apr 17, 2001 cane river ebook written by lalita tademy. Cane river oprahs book club by lalita tademy paperback. It is also a tale about the blurring of racial boundaries. After three years of uncertainty, working on multiple drafts of a story i was unsure anyone wanted to read, and another harrowing 18 months being rejected time after time by. Mingling historical fact with fiction, lalita tademys epic novel is based on the lives of four generations of african american women and is the result of years of exhaustive research and an obsessive odyssey to uncover her familys past. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a slave owned by a creole family, lalita tademy chronicles four generations of strong, determined black women as they. Dont forget to print your list of official oprahs book club selections and mark the ones youve completed.
Stanford university recently selected cane river as assigned reading for all incoming freshmen in 2015. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from slavery to freedom begins on a creole plantation in louisiana. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Special thanks to my supporters the new york times bestselling author of the oprah book club pick cane river brings us the evocative story of a onceenslaved man who buys his freedom after serving as a translator during the american indian wars, and his granddaughter, who sustains his legacy of courage. The women of cane river cane river begins with elisabeth tademys greatgreatgreatgreatgrandmother and focuses on three women marked by her strength, her pride, and her instinct for survival. The descriptions of the people and the places are very vivid. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of cane river.
Learn more about cane river, an oprahs book club selection. Cane river is an isolated community that lies on a small river in central louisiana. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of african. Set among the plantations in deepest louisiana, cane river follows the lives of five generations of women from the. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, cane river presents a slice of american history never before seen in such piercing and personal detail. Hailed as powerful, accomplished, and spellbinding, lalita tademys first novel cane river was a new york times bestseller and the 2001 oprah book club summer selection. Cane river oprahs book club by lalita tademy reading guide. I understand your discomfort, my dear, but the best church is a church nearby. My book group chose cane river by lalita tademy for our january book. Cane river by lalita tademy, 9780446615884, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Lalita tademys riveting family saga chronicles four generations of women born into slavery along the cane river in louisiana. Tademy left her career as the vicepresident of computer company sun microsystems to begin. I love books great books books to read my books this book love reading reading lists book lists reading time. This went on for the years it took me to write my first novel, cane river.
Apr 17, 2001 a new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from slavery to freedom begins on a creole plantation in louisiana. Cane river by lalita tademy reading guidebook club. Beginning with her greatgreatgreatgreat grandmother, a. Cane river by lalita tademy the new york times bestseller, oprahs book club and pick the unique and deeply moving epic of four generations of africanamerican women based on. But brenda kay, who was born with downs syndrome, is also a challenge.
Cane river oprahs book club 0446615889 by tademy, lalita. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read cane river. A story of three generations of strong women, slaves and the complexity of their lives, and the importance of family. Augustine society, whose families had lived as free from the late spanish period of louisiana history. A new york times bestseller and oprahs book club pickthe unique and deeply moving saga of four generations of africanamerican women whose journey from sla.
Cane river by lalita tademy 2002, paperback for sale. Cane river was chosen for oprahs book club on june 20, 2001. Cane river oprahs book club by lalita tademy reading. The complete oprahs book club list early bird books. Cane river by tademy, lalita and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Find cane river oprahs book club 0446615889 by tademy, lalita. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading cane river. This book came out quite a few years ago 2001 and i remember hearing a lot about it when it first came out. It is interesting to compare the dynamics of todays society to the groundwork laid out in this piece of fiction. Tademy takes historical fact and mingles it with fiction to weave a vivid and dramatic account of what life was like for the four remarkable women who came before her. Suzette elisabeths youngest daughter, and the first to. Cane river ebook by lalita tademy 9780759522428 rakuten kobo. Apr 01, 2002 tademy takes historical fact and mingles it with fiction to weave a vivid and dramatic account of what life was like for the four remarkable women who came before her.
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