Blonde Roots

It was dark but there was a full moon, which shone directly onto me, providing a luminous, otherworldly glow, apparently. “I name you, my dearest, treasured new daughter, Doris Scagglethorpe,” he said, his voice throaty with emotion. “Doris Scagglethorpe: behold the only thing greater than yourself.”

A part of me was a little worried that a satirical narrative of slavery that found its commentary simply in inverting the races of the slave-holding and the enslaved would be facile. But I also love Bernadine Evaristo's work, so I went ahead, and I'm glad I did, because I found it a sharp, at times searing, literary device. There is some darkly funny stuff going on here, from the title itself to the designation of “Europa” as the Gray Continent. Beyond that, this novel contains some of the most harrowing and devastating depictions of slavery I have ever read, particularly the transport scenes. Recommend

Asking the question “What if Afrikans had discovered Europe and enslaved whytes” this novel follows the escape attempt of Omorenomwara (born Doris Scragglethorpe). Using a mixture of black humour and insightful comments into the nature of slavery and racism, this novel tells a truly remarkable story. Well worth the time - first to read the book, then to ponder it.

I liked the premise of this novel, a “what if” story of the slave trade where Whytes are slaves to the Blaks. It did really make you reflect not only on the story but the real slave trade too - which I guess was the plan! However, I got a bit bored of it towards the middle and was glad to get a voice change to draw my interest back. All in all I enjoyed it and the ending was satisfactory but definitely not a patch on Girl, Woman, Other.