Book Review: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (historical fiction)

Set in the 1800s, a period marked by significant scientific and humanitarian advancements, this sweeping tale takes us from the British West Indies to the Arctic, Canada, England, and Africa.

Buy this book

Published in 2018

Published by Patrick Crean Editions
an imprint of HarperCollins Publications Ltd.

won the Scotiabank Giller prize in 2018

finalist for The Man Booker Prize

Sympathetic protagonist Washington Black is born a slave and is told the only way to freedom is death. And yet he finds another way.

When Washington watches Titch draw he thinks: 'I had never seen such artisty...And suddenly I knew that I wanted--desperately wanted--to do it too. I wanted to create a world with my hands.' (p. 45)

In an interview with Chatelaine magazine's reporter Emily Landau (January 2019) Author Esi Edugyan revealed that she gained inspiration for Washington Black from historic figures--Roger Tichborne and Olaudah Equiano.

Favourite quotes...

"If not for yourself, then for those like you who would never get the chance of it. Men as talented as you who will never get the chance of anything." (p. 306)

"There are several kinds of happiness, Washington. Sometimes it is not for us to choose, or even understand, the one granted to us."  (p. 402)

More... 

In 2013, I reviewed Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Next post...

Sunday, March 24 at approximately 5 PM PST



A Wake for the Dreamland --a prize-winning historical fiction novel-- by Laurel Deedrich-Mayne is set in the years before, during and after World War II.

How writing short stories can improve your writing by Leanne Dyck

(What is housed in this tent? And why is it good news for my writing?
For the answer, stroll down to the very end of this post.)

'An ordinary day--but with a suitcase it in. -Arleen Pare (Leaving Now)

'There is a story always ahead of you.' -Michael Ondaatje (The Cat's Table)

'They would always go home; they belonged to the place they came from. Other people were destined to keep leaving, over and over again.' -Alix Ohlin (Inside)

'She swung the thick, strong rope of her voice round the words, coming down hard on them, cinching them together. Then she flung the notes bold up in the air, high and hornlike.' -Esi Edugyan (Half Blood Blues)

'It was a wisp of a dream, like trying to catch wind in your hand.' -Will Ferguson (419)

'It was like walking into joy.' -Louise Penny (The Beautiful Mystery)

How do you learn to write like this?

Perhaps by learning how to pick the right word.

And how do you do that?

By chiseling away at your writing so that plot; character development--nothing matters but the words. By writing flash fiction... 

Flash fiction:  a self-contained short story (meaning the story has a beginning, middle, end) with a limited word count (usually under 1,000 words).

As you can imagine, such a reduced word count is extremely limiting. You are limited to one moment in time. Such writing relies on the author's ability to choose the correct word. You don't have the luxury of padding. It's challenging but very enjoyable. And many authors find it to be the perfect counterbalance for working on longer work.

'The challenge of flash fiction is to tell a complete story in which every word is absolutely essential.' -Jason Gurley

For sale:  baby shoes, never worn.
This six word story by Ernest Hemingway's is an extreme example of flash fiction.
More about this story

Here is one of my attempts at extreme flash fiction...

One sunny day a worm went for a wiggle. He meets a robin.

1,500...1,000...500...20...6? How low will you go?

More tips...

Stories in your pocket:  how to write flash fiction



Sharing my author journey...

What do you feed a writer?
Good books, of course.
Where do you get good books at a price a writer who is establishing 

Book Review Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

Paris, 1940. A brilliant jazz musician, Hiero, is arrested by the Nazis and never heard from again. He is twenty years old. He is a German citizen. And he is black.

Fifty years later, his friend and fellow musician, Sid, must relive that unforgettable time, revealing the friendships, love affairs and treacheries that sealed Hiero's fate. From the smoky bars of pre-war Berlin to the salons of Paris--where the legendary Louis Armstrong makes an appearance--Sid, with his distinctive and rhythmic German-American slang, leads the reader through a fascinating world alive with passion, music and the spirit of the Resistance.

My thoughts...

-Half-Blood Blues is like smooth, mournful jazz. So rich, so full, so mellow with a subtle longing for hope.

-Esi Edugyan captured the language, the culture, the promise of an era.

-it's a study on how to develop a character's voice

-it isn't an easy book to read. Some of the imaginary. The slang. But it is worth it.

-The mystery leads the reader on:  what did Sid do? Why can't he forgive himself?

-I admire the power of the words bookmarked between 'It wasn't a dream' on page 303 to 304.
She takes us right there and doesn't let us go until we've seen everything.

Favourite quotes...

'My mind swum back through its fog.' (p. 121)

'Her voice thrummed like a muscle. It was low and rich, with the quiver of something mustering its strength.' (p. 122)

'She swung the thick, strong rope of her voice round the words, coming down hard on them, cinching them together. Then she flung the notes bold up in the air, high and horn-like. But her voice was at its core a sailor's voice, rough and mannish. Her low notes bitter croaks, filled with muddy regret.' (p. 122)

This story has residence beyond the book.
The kid's last words to Sid:  'I see you like it was fifty years ago.' 
(p. 309)

Questions that remain...

If I was Sid, what decision would I have made?

If I was "the kid", would have I forgiven?


***
I'm thrilled to write that I've finished writing No, Smoke The Other End. It is now with my first reader. 
And I've been preparing The Sweater Curse:  a novel for submission to publishing houses.

Yes, everything was going along swimmingly until...a flue bug found a cozy, new home. It's wiped me out. So I can only spend short periods on the keyboard. Thankfully I am able to do a lot of reading. : )
***
Next post:  Please welcome Johnny Ray