House of Rougeaux
A Novel
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4.0 • 3 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
For Abeje and her brother Adunbi, home is the slave quarters of a Caribbean sugar plantation on the Island of Martinique. Under the watchful eye of their mother they survive, despite what threatens to break them. But when one night of brutality leaves the two children orphaned, it is the strength of their extraordinary bond that carries them through, establishing a legacy of tremendous spirit and courage that will sustain the Rougeaux family for generations to come.
In literary prose, award-winning author Jenny Jaeckel creates a brilliantly imagined epic, weaving a multi-layered narrative that celebrates family as much as it exposes systemic brutalization and the ways in which it marks us. As each new member of the family takes the spotlight a fresh piece of the puzzle is illuminated until at last, spanning nearly two centuries, the end brings us back to the beginning.
Jaeckel masterfully blends genres of mysticism, coming-of-age, folklore, and historical fiction with explorations of gender and race, creating a wondrous tale of hope and healing through trauma. A relevant work of love, determination, and the many small achievements that make up greatness, House of Rougeaux draws a new map of what it means to be family.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Actor Turpin's skill with a vast array of accents brings the characters of Jaeckel's multigenerational novel to life. The story begins with a young brother and sister, Adunbi and Abeje, who are slaves on the Caribbean island of Martinique in the 18th century, and follows Adunbi's descendants to Quebec City, Montreal, Philadelphia, and New York City in the proceeding centuries. In each era, a different character is highlighted: Abeje becomes a respected healer; Adunbi's daughter, Hetty, is taken to Quebec City and becomes emancipated; Hetty's son Guillaume is successful, marries, and has children, but hides his homosexuality until a chance encounter changes his life; Eleanor, Guillaume's musically talented daughter, gets an opportunity to audition for a prestigious conservatory in New York, which takes her life in unexpected directions. Turpin's cool, clear voice fluidly takes the listener from place to place, and her accent switches seamlessly from Caribbean to French to English to American Southern, giving each character a distinct and authentic voice. Turpin's multifaceted performance enhances this rich tapestry of a novel. A Raincloud hardcover.
