Rating: 
Summary: A compelling, fictionalized family history.
Review: After researching generations of her family members who lived on Cane River in Louisiana, Lalita Tamedy chose to tell their stories in a fictionalized form, emphasizing the affects of slavery on the women of the family.Elisabeth, Suzette, and Philomene are all in turn subjected to sexual relationships with white men. As slaves, these women do not have the option of saying no, unless they are willing to risk their lives. But these women realize that they can push for some benefits as the result of these relationships, the most desireable being freedom. From one generation to the next, the offspring become lighter in skin color, which Suzette especially views as a positive. Yet the children in this family seem to be stuck in a kind of social and economic limbo, for once slavery is abolished, they are still not accepted by local whites and they often cannot find other "quality" blacks to marry. Even in freedom, the women of the family often settle for common law marriages with white men, which have to be hidden from the rest of the white community. This is for the most part a well written novel, although in spots the dialogue is a bit stiff. But the time and place come across wonderfully, and the final chapter serves as a very sensible ending.
Rating: 
Summary: A heartbreaking story without the satisfaction of justice
Review: Although it broke my heart many times over, I enjoyed listening to the abridged audiobook version of this story that spans several generations of African American women, beginning during pre-Civil War times and ending in the early 20th century. I was easily able to put myself in their place and feel outrage at their unfair treatment, but as with the characters in the story, it was an impotent outrage at best. I didn't even have the satisfaction of seeing anything resembling justice done in the end, outside of Philamene's psychic "glimpsing" of a better future for her descendants. I vacillated between giving this 3 stars or 4, and definitely would have given it at least 4 stars if the ending had turned out better. But it was still a story worth listening to.
Rating: 
Summary: Heartbreaking, yet triumphant.
Review: Cane River is the heartbreaking, yet triumphant, journey through four generations of black women born into slavery along Cane River, Louisiana. Each generation gathering strength and momentum from the last. Elizabeth, the matriarch of the family, watches helplessly as her daughter Suzette, then her granddaughter Philomene and finally her great granddaughter Emily are forced to bear the children of the white plantation owners. A "bleaching of the line" as she refers to it. Women forced to bear children who will never be legitmized nor inherit the land and property of their fathers. Yet each women able to better the life of herself and that of her children. I cried with these women in their heartbreaks. Heartbreaks such as being permanently seperated from their family in slave auctions. Children ripped from the parents, women ripped from their husbands, sisters ripped from their brothers. However, I rejoiced with these women in their triumphs. Triumphs such as Emily, born to a slave women, but yet given the opportunity to attend school where she learned to read and write. I commend Lalita Tademy on her first novel, part fact part fiction, tracing the lineage of her ancesters and telling their unforgettable stories.
Rating:
Summary: Finally
Review: Finally, I have actually read a book before Oprah picked it for her book of the month. I am so excited, her readers will absolutely love this book. I am also equally happy for the author, Lalita Tademy, who quit her job on faith to write her first novel. What a winner! River Cane deals with an issue surrounding slavery that unfortunately still affects us greatly today. The subject of the mulatto slave and the "high yellow" negro. I may not have liked the way in which the lighter negro was viewed in this book; saying such things as your lighter color will get you further in life or don't go out in the sun, it will mess your skin up, but I do respect the authors' decision to openly discuss this sensitive topic. It is a shame that even today this lighter skin vs dark skin topic is still very much alive and with us; despite James Brown's "I'm Black and I'm Proud! Cane River is a wonderfully written novel and a beautiful tribute to the authors' ancestors. It will make you sad to think how things were and just how far we have come today. Many thanks go out to the author for capturing this difficult, yet marvelous story.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent - Thought/Provoking
Review: I can't believe this is her first book. Tademy has done a superb job in documenting her family's history through fictional narrative. This story was moving and interesting throughout the book. Tademy expressed her ancestors' struggles so clearly that I felt moved to tears many times. Philomene was the strong heroine who so clearly understood what she had to do to keep this family together - that's why she stood out so clearly in Ms. Tademy's spirit while she did her research. Three African-American women, Suzette, Philomene, and Emily, who put family first and did what they had to do, given their circumstances, to survive, and yes, also succeed. While reading, I suddenly began questioning some of the stories passed down through my family, and now I'm encouraged to begin searching my own family roots and passing this vital information on to my children. Thanks Ms. Tademy, you did a fantastic job !
Rating:
Summary: My opinion of Cane River
Review: I do not know why, but I could not really get into this book. I usually enjoy narratives such as this, but I just could not enjoy it to the fullest. I think it took me almost a week to finish it (I read Alex Haley's Queen in a matter of hours!). My recommendation is read it, and draw your own conclusions. I am not sure if this is Ms. Tademy's first book or not, but if it is, I'm sure her 2nd try will be better :-)
Rating:
Summary: Amazing story...based on history and rich characters
Review: I read this book in no time flat! The research the author did must have been tremendous. Tademy brought these women to life, and of course she had never met them. What a gift to give her family by honouring them in their past. I live in Canada and slavery is not as large a part of our history as what it has been in the US. (although it did exist) In school, we really never learned about this sad part of history and my sources have only been in movies and TV. This book brought slavery and its tragedy to life. What it must have been like to have your family sold off and seperated. I cannot imagine it, yet Tademy documents it and you know it happened and it was real. You will love Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene and Emily; four generatations of strong women to admire and cry with. This book was a wonderful read, and worth 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Poignant story
Review: Impressive debut novel spanning the history of five generations. From the plantation to freedom, the story is overflowing with tales and rich descriptions of the times. This is a thoroughly delightful way to spend time. At its conclusion you'll be left wanting more of this wonderful tale. The characters are endearing and you are made to feel that you are there walking beside them. Beautifully written novel.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome story for first-time author
Review: Lalita Tademy has woven together a moving and heartwarming tale in her first novel, Cane River. Chosen for Oprah's Book Club, Tademy uses the skeleton of her family tree as the basis for this fascinating work of historical fiction. The author had personal knowledge as far back as her great-grandmother, who was born into slavery. She gave up a lucrative job to search out her family genealogy, which took two years to research and led to the writing of this book. Tademy was able to document as far back as Elizabeth, a kitchen slave who was sold from Virginia to Rosedew Plantation on the Cane River in Louisiana. The book traces the lives of Elizabeth and her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter (Suzette, Philomene and Emily). All four women were born into slavery, and all had children by white plantation owners (whether by force or by choice). They each had enough intelligence and enough drive to make sure that these men provided a better life for both themselves and their children. Each generation benefited in a different way from not having to work the fields to better living arrangements to education for their children and even the deeding of 163 acres of land. These four women also had the strength to keep their family together despite difficult times, and to even help them thrive into the 20th Century. But along with the successes, this is also a tale of heartache and tragedy. Slavery was never easy, no matter what the circumstances. Many times, a plantation owner would die and his slave families split up and sold to settle the estate. One happy slave couple were allowed to marry, only to have the husband sold up North because the executor of the estate wanted the wife to himself. Yellow fever, pneumonia, other diseases and childbirth claimed many lives. As each generation got lighter and lighter in complexion, there was the temptation to sever family ties and move to another part of the country so that they could pass as white (as one son actually did). After the Civil War, Emily lived in a common-law marriage with a Frenchman, building a house, running a store, and raising 5 children. When their house, their store and their lives were threatened by local whites, they were forced to separate. The Frenchman married a white woman, and the results were tragic. And despite the Civil War, blacks still had very few rights. When the Frenchman wanted to leave his estate to his mixed children (the only ones he had), they were denied because they were illegitimate. Of course they were illegitimate-it was illegal for mixed couples to marry. Tademy's research provides the reader with much to enrich this book including photos, drawings, maps, newspaper articles, wills, personal letters, tax records, and census lists. And although it is sometimes difficult to keep everyone straight in this story (a major problem with a book that spans 137 years and multiple generations), Tademy also provides us with a family tree to help. So if you're looking for good historic fiction or even a book to share with a book group, Cane River is an excellent choice. I would love to see Tademy continue this story in another book.
Rating:
Summary: A River of Family History.....
Review: Rich. Soulful. Interesting.
These words describe Cane River. As one becomes immersed in the book, the reader is knitted into the fabric of pride, love, and hardship. A wonderful historical novel!
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