Review: Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I read this book, especially considering that I'm constantly complaining about how busy I am. But Afia Atakora’s debut novel, Conjure Women, was a thrilling and suspenseful story too good to put down.
The novel is a historical fiction set two years after the American Civil War in a rural village of mostly back inhabitants who occupy the former slave quarters of the ruined plantation where they were previously enslaved.
The novel’s central character, Rue, works as the town's healer and midwife, following in the footsteps of her mother, Miss May Bell, who worked as the plantation’s healing woman during slavery time.
Much of the story’s conflict revolves around one of the children Rue delivers named Bean. Bean is a strange child, born in an intact amniotic sac, sometimes called a caul. He’s described as having “pallid white,” scaly skin, and full-black eyes. As the novel progresses, Bean’s presence within the community serves as a continuous source of curiosity and conflict as does his unexplained connection or kinship with Rue.
Another source of suspense is the dangerous secret Rue and Ma Doe, the village schoolmaster, are keeping. If discovered, their secret would threaten the very existence of the town. To make matters even more contentious, a charismatic minster named Bruh Abel comes to town, offering a type of healing that seems at odds with Rues.
Many things make this novel a good read. One of those is that it is not told linearly. Instead, Atakora jumps back and forth in time, alternating between slavery time, wartime, and freedom time. In my Barnes & Noble addition, there’s a section in the back where Atakora talks about the intentionality of this choice. She writes that she intended for the past to feel “deeply entwined with the present,’” creating a “cyclical type of evolution.”
Another key element of this novel is how Atakora is able to build suspense, create complex relationships between characters, and gracefully reveal several surprising and well-executed plot twists.
Not surprisingly, I'm giving this novel five out of five stars. It is beautifully written, entertaining, and does a wonderful job of portraying complex, realistic female characters. So, if you are 16 years of age or older go out and get this book, or check it out from your local library. You won’t be disappointed.
