Redwood Court

Title:  Redwood Court

Author:  Délana R. A. Dameron

Publication Information:  The Dial Press. 2024. 304 pages.

ISBN:  0593447026 / 978-0593447024

Rating:   ★★★

Book Source:  I received this book through NetGalley free of cost in exchange for an honest review.

Opening Sentence:  "My grandpa Teeta says I am the second and last daughter of Rhina, who is the only daughter of Weesie, who was the first daughter of Lady, who is the secret daughter of Big Sis, who was born to Sarah, who came from Esra, the adopted daughter of Ruth (who adopted her because Esra was a salve and was sold without her mama, but the story was Esra's mama had thirteen children depending on who asked and depending on if you counted those unborn or born dead)"

Favorite Quote:  "... the future and the joy and risk and pain are worth it if our generation experience a greater freedom than we're allotted."

Redwood Court is a story of a time and a place. Redwood Court is literally that - a cul-de-sac in an all-Black working-class suburb of Columbia, South Carolina. The main character is Mika as she grows up in the 1990s surrounded by family and their stories. The stories trace the history and reality of any family - the love, the loss, the joy, and the drama. Through this particular family, the book also portrays the history of being black in America, particularly in the American South. The fact that the reader sees these through the eyes of a child growing up in the 90s adds an additional layer as she navigates her childhood and also create an interesting perspective of the history embedded in the adult stories. As an adult reader, I read between the lines of what Mika sees to the deeper concepts that lie beyond.

The story is of history and community, much more character driven than plot driven. The place - Redwood Court - is as much a character in the book as the people. The history and the communitiy feels authentic. Redwood Court comes to life. I can see it full of real people, love, laughter, tears, conversations on the porch, and community coming together. The stories and the characters cover multiple generations and the history - spoken and unspoken - that surrounds them. It picks up on the everyday details of life, that help create a painting of this family and community. 

Being character and history driven, the story is a slow and quiet one. While that may be the goal, that also keeps it from engaging me emotionally. Sometimes it is too quiet and too focused on time and place. I want more story. Perhaps, I want more focus on any of the myriad story lines rather than having them all seem to fade into the bigger picture. I want more of an anchor in a character's story. The fact that the story also jumps back and forth in time makes this more of a challenge as well. Being time and place driven, the book also just ends. There is not truly a conclusion because the point is not a plot to be concluded.

That being said, I am glad I read it. It made me think and reflect on American history and on the bonds of family and community. It made me walk through my own memories of the "Redwood Courts" of our family history and all the stories they hold.

Please share your thoughts and leave a comment. I would love to "talk" to you.