Review: Trying Times
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 10, 2013
LuLu was sold into slavery by her father. She was escorted onto Captain Osborn' s ship, wearing chains and shackles, her body felt as unpleasantly odoriferous as her clothes. Her mother, Marie, in a last valiant attempt, slashed the attacker with a hidden razor. He killed her with a belaying pin. That act cost the Captain a lot of money.Charles Durwood loved his wife Ella. She had suffered two miscarriages before giving birth to Edward. She lavished love on their son. Charles bought LuLu as a birthday present for his eccentric wife.Kwanni' s tears mixed with sweat. "Dat overseer don't know it yet, but he's done whupped his las'  slave. He kilt my Clara an' my baby." Kwanni had made a very important decision.LuLu could only speak French, but she understood her predicament when they cut away the concealment of her filthy rags. She fully understood the wicked gleam in men's eyes.  She was comely consignment property. The half-brothers, David and Samson, were also bought by Charles and Thomas. While they were away, Kwanni had taken his revenge, then he ran away from the plantation with his daddy and his granddaddy.David tried to explain about the effect that the approaching Civil War would have on all their lives to LuLu. They had a new master. Thomas Harding, cousin to Ella, widow of Charles Durwood. Reverend Alfred Torrence joined Louise Betancourt and David Freeman in marriage, complete with certificate. The five dollar gold coin that Samson had held, then given to David, was still in David's pocket.Complexities develop. Love is wrenched apart, and new life struggles to be born. LuLu was assisted by a good woman. Was she telling the truth about the gold coins? LuLu has learned to survive and surmount most obstacles. Though the Civil War was practically over, Dr. David Freeman knew very well about the chains of inequality, hated and ignorance. The pre-Civil War and the horrific effects of slavery are fully depicted within this novel by Tom Lewis. An engrossing read. One not easily put aside.