Overall, what did you think of Happy Land? (No spoilers in this thread, please!)
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I really enjoyed it. I was fascinated by the story and the history. Characters were very well developed. Overall very positive read.
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Because it’s based on an actual place, the book feels more authentic and relevant.
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I don’t know where to put this but has anyone read The American Queen by Vanessa Miller? I’m pretty sure it is the nonfiction story of Happy Land.
From the book jacket: “Transformative and breathtakingly honest, THE AMERICAN QUEEN shares the unsung true history of a kingdom built as a refuge for the courageous people who dared to dream of a different way of life.”
I feel like this version may hold more interest for me. There was something about Happy Land that just didn’t quite feel authentic. I could probably say this better after reading the nonfiction but I haven’t gotten to it yet. Hopefully soon.
I felt that it gave a good picture of what life read like then. I lived in Asheville for a few years, c and was familiar with many of the places they talk about.
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I just got my copy, so I don’t yet have an overall feel for it. So far, I’m finding it very interesting and am looking forward to finishing it soon
Yeah, sorry about the delay. The weather really messed up the book’s delivery.
I really enjoyed Happy Land. The story was captivating and inspiring. The book didn’t sugarcoat hardships in the community, but the description of the community was very positive. In addition to the success of the community, the fact behind gradual loss was shocking. I was completely unaware that people could lose land that held for generations through no fault of their own but due to land laws.
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I liked the book. It was well written and it was a fast read. It was hard to put down. I liked learning about Happy Land and that so many people joined and were safe from outsiders. I liked everything about Luella. She certainly was a Queen! I also enjoyed Mother Rita, oh my her flower gardens!
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I was really captivated by it. The story, the characters, the interlaced generational chapters all worked for me. I read it in a very short period of time and think Perkins-Valdez is a gifted writer with an important story to tell.
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I’m glad the story of the Black “Kingdoms” and communities formed after the Civil War is being told, and it was good to lean of the many injustices that took Black people’s land away from them (90% lost in the 20th century!) But I, too, feel I’d rather have read the non-fiction actual history – the storytelling didn’t captivate me, the writing often felt plodding, with pedestrian details that didn’t really illuminate much, and the characters often felt flat. I could often see plot twists coming from miles away
I agree with you about wanting to read the non-fiction, actual details. The storytelling sometimes felt forced to me
I’ll try to remember to post about The American Queen when I fit it into my mile high tbr.
I know I’ve said this before, but I love a well-written historical novel that reveals something or someone from the past that I had never heard of before. Happy Land did that. Very interesting.
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I thought it was very good! I loved going back and forth, following the two timelines. I’m guessing that’s hard for an author to do well, and I thought Perkins-Valdez did a nice job. I sometimes was impatient to get back to Luella’s story.
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I might also want to read a nonfiction account, but I love historical fiction for giving me an idea of what people might have said and FELT in various situations, and that’s hard to do in nonfiction - unless there are diaries available.
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Oh I love good historical fiction too! This story though felt a little too “generic” to me – I wanted more complexity in the characters’ feelings and specificity in the details.
One of my favorite phrases is, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” This book reminded me how true that is. It opened my eyes to the strength and determination of enslaved people who, despite unimaginable hardship, built their own community. They did not wait for perfect circumstances or overthink the odds against them — they simply persevered and made a life, and ultimately a success, out of what little they were given. And I would be remiss if I did not mention the beautiful cover art. It perfectly reflects the spirit and tone of the story within.
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I loved the book. Once i got into it, i couldn’t put it down. I had no idea there were communities like this after the Civil War, and the culture was very interesting.
I love historical fiction, especially books that feature strong women who want to upset the status quo. I’ve been committed to reading books by marginalized authors, and I think this one is definitely worth the read.
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