Review: A powerful, insightful examination of slavery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 17, 2014
“The Ribbon Tier” is a very dark, powerful work of fiction. It is a difficult read, not because of a complex plot, but because it begins in a very mysterious way in mysterious locations. The reader does not begin to understand when or where the book is taking place until nearly 4 chapters in, when it becomes clear that the book is happening in the slave-holding South.The novel changes perspective several times, at once being from the perspective of the trees around a plantation but then again taking place from the perspective of a slave. In other spots, the narrative shifts to a third-person perspective. All in all, the changes in voice make it difficult at times to keep track of who is narrating the piece.On the surface, the novel might appear to be a traditional story, but it is truly a fascinating examination of the cruel and terrible system of slavery that held sway over the South prior to and during the Civil War. The book attempts to humanize one particular slaveholder, and succeeds in doing so. The slaveholder is depicted as fickle, at once sympathetic towards his slaves but then cruel and inhumane towards them, demonstrating that he, while a cruel taskmaster, is not completely comfortable with his own behavior.If you are seeking an easy read, keep looking. On the other hand, if you want a powerful, insightful view into the horror of slavery, this book is an excellent choice.