Review: An excellent, moving book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2013
I came across The Ribbon Tier about a month after finishing Uncle Tom's Cabin. I have to say this is the better book, though really there's no comparison between the two being of vastly different styles. It starts off harsh, as any book dealing with the subject of slavery probably should, but also decidedly abrupt, as if you had just been dropped off at a house overrun with chaos and left to figure things out on your own. That's a good thing, by the way, that the author didn't feel the need to waste half a chapter telling you every minute detail of what came before so you entered already up to speed. This isn't an action story but because of his writing style, it hooks you in like one and holds you tightly throughout. The Ribbon Tier is deep, not the sort you read a few pages and set aside for a few days because it requires your attention to fully grasp. and I suspect everyone will take away a different message at the end. Jeb's conflict between his faith in God and his doubt about why a loving God would continue to allow children to be born with the Mark of Ham, condemned from birth and eternally damned, and his fear that perhaps his attempt to teach them about the bible might even anger God is a sharp reminder of the teachings and beliefs of the era and location as slavery was often firmly supported by the churches and pastors as being God's will.I won't give away any spoilers, but I think you can tell by now this book left a lasting impression on me. Very well written, very unique voice throughout, just an outstanding book overall. As a side note I will never hear that old song about tying the yellow ribbon around the old oak tree in the same light after reading this.