Wench

Book: Wench: A Novel by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Read the synopsis of Wench on the author's website: Wench: A Novel

Wench is a novel centered around four enslaved American women as told from the point of view of one of the women, Eliza (called Lizzie).
It has the usual theme for a historical fiction novel set in the American antebellum era that is centered on enslaved people: the quest for freedom.

I imagine the desire for freedom was always on a slave's minds even if it wasn't on their tongues.

"Long as he a slave, he ain't gone never be a man," he said.
"You an abolitionist now?"
He set his hat on the stump beside her. "Ain't no such thing as a colored abolitionist. That's a word for the white folks. We ain't got to distinguish ourselves." P. 281, Wench, Perkins-Valdez.

However, while Wench gives you the prerequisite freedom struggle, it also gives you a glimpse of what life may have been like for an enslaved American - specially, showing us how the enslaved mistresses of southern slaveholders spent their time at a vacation resort... in a free state no less.

One thing for sure, it was not a vacation!

Through Lizzie's eyes we experience the complexities of a slave's life and relationships; the distinct protocols needed for interacting with others which are dictated by sex, skin color and/or socioeconomic class, and of course, emotions.

There was a comment that gave me pause:

"And this is for you too," Mawu said, handing her a piece of folded paper. Lizzie spreads the paper out. There was a drawing....
"You drew this for me?" Lizzie asked.
Mawu cursed. "Girl, is you always thinking about love?..." P.275, Wench, Perkins-Valdez.

The fact that Lizzie appreciates that small gesture (as you read on you will find its actually part of a grand gesture) of her friend taking time out to draw her a picture made me wonder: is this woman starved for love or is her capacity for love so large that she is sensitive to the little things? The same for Mawu too, that seems like a "takes one to know one" response.

Wench would make a good Lifetime network movie, or perhaps Oprah can produce it for OWN.  Peruse the spoilery, yet enticing, customer reviews for Wench on Amazon.com to see why: Wench: A Novel Perkins-Valdez