Cover of Sugar

Sugar

by Bernice L. McFadden · 2000

Sugar Lacey seriesbook 1 of 2Next:This Bitter Earth(2002) →

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"Strong and folksy storytelling...think Zora Neale Hurston...Sugarspeaks of what is real." —The Dallas Morning NewsFrom an exciting new voice in African-American contemporary fiction comes a novel Ebonypraised for its "unforgettable images, unique characters, and moving story that keeps the pages turning until the end." The Chicago Defendercalls Sugar"a literary explosion...McFadden reveals amazing talent." The novel opens when a young prostitute comes to Bigelow, Arkansas, to start over, far from her haunting past. Sugar moves next door to Pearl, who is still grieving for the daughter who was murdered fifteen years before. Over sweet-potato pie, an unlikely friendship begins, transforming both women's lives—and the life of an entire town.

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Sugar brings a Southern African-American town vividly to life, with its flowering magnolia trees, lingering scents of jasmine and honeysuckle, and white picket fences that keep strangers out—but ignorance and superstition in. To read this novel is to take a journey through loss and suffering to a place of forgiveness, understanding, and grace. McFadden is the author of the novels Gathering of Waters, Glorious,and This Bitter Earth.

Genre
historical fictionhistorical fictionMore like thisLess of thisliterary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of thiscrimecrimeMore like thisLess of thismysterymysteryMore like thisLess of thisromanceromanceMore like thisLess of this
Themes
African AmericanAfrican AmericanMore like thisLess of thiswomenwomenMore like thisLess of thisfriendshipfriendshipMore like thisLess of thisrelationshipsrelationshipsMore like thisLess of thisdiversitydiversityMore like thisLess of this
Setting
2000s2000sMore like thisLess of thisArkansasArkansasMore like thisLess of thisAmerican SouthAmerican SouthMore like thisLess of thisAfricaAfricaMore like thisLess of this
Subject
sciencescienceMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 240 pages

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