Droughtlander suggestions: Check out The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Sadeqa Johnson is one of my favorite authors when it comes to the real stories of Black women in America. The House of Eve is worth checking out.
One of the books I highly recommend during Droughtlander is Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson. Well, she’s back with another must-read, and this is another book that follows the real stories of Black women in America. Instead of being set in the times of slavery, though, it’s set during the Jim Crow era.
The House of Eve is a harrowing tale. Johnson covers some of the darker parts of history that we can’t forget or we run the risk of repeating. At the heart of it, though, is a story of two young women just trying to get ahead and fit in.
What is The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson about?
The book follows 15-year-old Ruby and college student Eleanor. They both come from similar backgrounds and have similar ideals. They want to succeed in education to be able to become something, getting out of the lives they would live if they stay with their parents.
However, fate has some different ideas. Ruby ends up pregnant after a relationship with a boy “not meant” for her. Shimmy is a white Jewish boy with money, and his mom is less than impressed when she finds out what the two have been up to. Instead of even considering allowing Ruby into her family, she finds a way to take care of the baby problem.
It leads to Ruby going to a place where young girls are forced to give up their babies for adoption. The Catholic church finds suitable homes for them.
This connects us to Eleanor’s story. She falls for a Black man who comes from a rich family. William’s family isn’t happy with his choice of bride, but they have no choice but to accept. Well, they have no choice but to put up with Eleanor. When she realizes that fitting in is only half the battle, we see how she fares.
You see, Eleanor realizes that she can’t have a child of her own. What happens when she finds out about the place Ruby has been sent to?
Why read The House of Eve during Droughtlander?
The book is more than worth reading to get through Droughtlander. I don’t think it will take you long. I finished the advance copy I got in a weekend. It was just so good! I found the same with Yellow Wife.
The characters are well-written. I literally hear their voices in my head while reading, and I can picture the settings so clearly. My heart breaks for Ruby, but I love that we see this young girl who knows what she wants in her future. She never takes her eyes off that prize.
We get a look at 1950s America, and that is important in the world of Outlander. After all, we know that Claire’s friend Joe struggles with being one of the first Black men to enter medical school. The books don’t go into Joe’s story, but it’s there in the background. The House of Eve gives us a little more insight into the racism of the past.
My only complaint is that I wanted to read more. I want to see Ruby’s life after giving birth, and I want to see Eleanor’s life with her family and getting her degree. I do think they’re important stories to continue telling, so I hope Johnson considers picking things up even with a novella about the two.
Next. Read The Rose Code by Kate Quinn during Droughtlander. dark
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is coming out on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Get it on Amazon.