i don't watch oprah either Jackie, but her book club books always have stickers on the label, so i know i have read a dozen or so books from her list.
I liked *** Edward's (can't think of the first name this second!) book Slaves in the Family, that documented his family's history of slavery-- and all that went on, (like an unmarried uncle, who openly lived with a black woman (born into slavery, but freed) and had a dozen children with her, during their 25 year relationship, but was always refered to as he was unmarried. (the white family totally ignored his relationship, and his children.)
Cane River (on Oprah list) is an other history of a family, half in half out of slavery, and its involvement in mixed common law marriages. its not as well detailed or documented, and its very different in style, but since my family is an immigrant one, this past history of the US, is something unreal to me. But, as a citizen of US, it is part of my history too, so i need to know about it. (I don't feel entitled to take all the good of the past, like the constitution, with out accepting some of the responsiblity for the past, like slavery)
neither book focuses on physical hardships, (beating, etc) but on the emotional damage to families-- both sort term and long term. Edward's book was better, i think, but Cane River wasnt' bad. i suspect Cane River reached a wider audience as a result of being on Oprah list.
