Review: Slavery
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 31, 2013
Garrick McFadden's book, "The Ribbon Tier" is a book about how four different characters deal with slavery. I don't want to give too many details and give away the entire book, but when you start reading, everything is very abrupt. The reader is dropped into a scenario where they're watching a community from the outside protecting each other from someone who is presumably outside and getting ready to terrorize them. Then it cuts to the perspective of the trees. The reader must continue on, picking up details here and there before they understand what is going on. This is where perseverance pays off.The novel isn't so much about the characters as it is about the institution of slavery and it really drives that message home in blunt and horrific ways. However, the institution was and is horrific, no matter what time period, and we can't forget about this part of our history lest we repeat it. Also, I am not a religious person, but the book does have many Bible verses, some which may require a few readings to grasp their meaning if you're not religious. They fit in with the time period and that masters and slaves alike tended to live in a more God-fearing world.This is not a casual beach read by any means- this book requires the reader to think and carefully consider the matter at hand. It is thought-provoking, to say the least.I look forward to picking this book up again- this is the kind of work where you will reap more rewards from repeated readings.