Review of Tangled Branches
-
Friederic Schröder
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 153
- Joined: 22 Feb 2023, 02:38
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 26
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-friederic-schr-der.html
- Latest Review: Tangled Branches by William Bailey
Review of Tangled Branches
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tangled Branches" by William Bailey.]
Tangled Branches by William Bailey is a historical fiction novel about the Burton and Perry families. Kaylan, a student at East Tennessee State University, was given a project by his professor to seek the history of his ancestors. He visited the Langston Community, where he encountered a family Bible that had his grandmother's name on it. He traced the donor and found William Matson Johnstone Jr. as the donor of the Bible. Getting to the Johnstone property, he encountered William Matson Johnstone, son of William Matson Johnstone Jr., who would later embark Kaylan on the journey of pain, slavery, love, anger, and loyalty experienced between the two families as he tells his story.
It all started in the early 1800s, when America had slaves and indentured servants. David Perry married Jane, who gave birth to William Perry, who was bound to Samuel by the land. The Perry family didn't believe in or acknowledge slavery. As of then, education was illegal for slaves, but still, David Perry made William and Samuel attend the same school, which was the Washington College Academy. Being educated gave Samuel more opportunities and made him more intellectual. Together, Samuel and William built a sawmill on Perry's farm. When Samuel married Tilly, a former slave on the Peter Miller, they gave birth to Benjamin, who was later bound to Wiley, the son of William Perry. Benjamin treated Wiley like a brother. shortly after the American Civil War outbreak began in 1861. William enrolled Wiley, who was 15 years old at the time, in a school for the disabled. The Confederates had been desperate and drafted Wiley into the army. To find out what happened then, grab a copy of the novel Tangled Branches by William Bailey.
What I found admirable about this novel were the lessons learned. I got to feel and understand what it was like to be in the 1800s of American history. Like the narrator said in the novel, what we consider wrong and evil now may not have been so in the past. The law that governed them in the past is different from the law that governs us now. As he narrated about the Perry's, Miller's, and Burton's families, history was well laid out and broken down for a deeper understanding, even for a common man. The novel also elicited from me strong emotions of bitterness for Emma and love for William, as he was a man who considered both slaves and men to be equal even before the war. I also felt pity for William, as he suffered terrible losses in his lifetime. It also became more hurtful when Emma inherited the farms and lived off of them by selling them. Although it is a long one, I didn't find any chapter to be monotonous, and I had a pleasurable read in this novel.
The novel was a good and enjoyable read, although I felt some points were quite irrelevant, which made the novel cumbersome to read. But in no way did it affect the joy and knowledge acquired from reading this novel.
After the lengthy hours of reading this novel, I would come to admit that it deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I would also state that it was professionally edited.
I would therefore recommend this novel to history lovers, as this was the major theme of the novel. I would also recommend this novel to readers who are interested in learning about American history during and after the American Civil War.
******
Tangled Branches
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tangled Branches by William Bailey is a historical fiction novel about the Burton and Perry families. Kaylan, a student at East Tennessee State University, was given a project by his professor to seek the history of his ancestors. He visited the Langston Community, where he encountered a family Bible that had his grandmother's name on it. He traced the donor and found William Matson Johnstone Jr. as the donor of the Bible. Getting to the Johnstone property, he encountered William Matson Johnstone, son of William Matson Johnstone Jr., who would later embark Kaylan on the journey of pain, slavery, love, anger, and loyalty experienced between the two families as he tells his story.
It all started in the early 1800s, when America had slaves and indentured servants. David Perry married Jane, who gave birth to William Perry, who was bound to Samuel by the land. The Perry family didn't believe in or acknowledge slavery. As of then, education was illegal for slaves, but still, David Perry made William and Samuel attend the same school, which was the Washington College Academy. Being educated gave Samuel more opportunities and made him more intellectual. Together, Samuel and William built a sawmill on Perry's farm. When Samuel married Tilly, a former slave on the Peter Miller, they gave birth to Benjamin, who was later bound to Wiley, the son of William Perry. Benjamin treated Wiley like a brother. shortly after the American Civil War outbreak began in 1861. William enrolled Wiley, who was 15 years old at the time, in a school for the disabled. The Confederates had been desperate and drafted Wiley into the army. To find out what happened then, grab a copy of the novel Tangled Branches by William Bailey.
What I found admirable about this novel were the lessons learned. I got to feel and understand what it was like to be in the 1800s of American history. Like the narrator said in the novel, what we consider wrong and evil now may not have been so in the past. The law that governed them in the past is different from the law that governs us now. As he narrated about the Perry's, Miller's, and Burton's families, history was well laid out and broken down for a deeper understanding, even for a common man. The novel also elicited from me strong emotions of bitterness for Emma and love for William, as he was a man who considered both slaves and men to be equal even before the war. I also felt pity for William, as he suffered terrible losses in his lifetime. It also became more hurtful when Emma inherited the farms and lived off of them by selling them. Although it is a long one, I didn't find any chapter to be monotonous, and I had a pleasurable read in this novel.
The novel was a good and enjoyable read, although I felt some points were quite irrelevant, which made the novel cumbersome to read. But in no way did it affect the joy and knowledge acquired from reading this novel.
After the lengthy hours of reading this novel, I would come to admit that it deserves a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and I would also state that it was professionally edited.
I would therefore recommend this novel to history lovers, as this was the major theme of the novel. I would also recommend this novel to readers who are interested in learning about American history during and after the American Civil War.
******
Tangled Branches
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Tangled Branches by William Bailey
-
WPBailey3
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 18 Jun 2023, 09:58
- Bookshelf Size: 0
Thank you for both the review and understanding. People tend to aggrandize their families when writing about them. I certainly did not do so with my great-grandmother Emma. Truthfully, I was kind to her and far more gentle than she deserved.
To write about the two families, both black and white, as honestly as possible was not easy. There are those on both sides of the family praising the book, and angry it was written. But for both groups, there is a new understanding our mutual history is not easy or clear-cut. It challenges many preconceived ideas and popular opinions. The two families thrived, because of, and in spite of the other.
No matter your opinions on any topic discussed, it was an honest rowdy romp through history.
Thank you for your review.
To write about the two families, both black and white, as honestly as possible was not easy. There are those on both sides of the family praising the book, and angry it was written. But for both groups, there is a new understanding our mutual history is not easy or clear-cut. It challenges many preconceived ideas and popular opinions. The two families thrived, because of, and in spite of the other.
No matter your opinions on any topic discussed, it was an honest rowdy romp through history.
Thank you for your review.
-
Okewunmi Pelumi
- Posts: 285
- Joined: 16 Aug 2023, 13:42
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 24
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-okewunmi-pelumi.html
- Latest Review: Surviving the Business of Healthcare by Barbara Galutia Regis PA-C
The author of this book did excellently.i also, love this review.
