I had been looking forward to reading this book and was a little bummed when TLC said the publisher was delaying shipping out our books because of a big announcement. Apparently The House of Eve was being selected for an exclusive book club. Was it Oprah? Was it a Jenna Bush plug on the Today Show? Or, was Sarah Jessica Parker getting involved. I wondered.
I finally received the book and the waiting was over. The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is the February 2023 Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club selection. Congratulations to Johnson! Thanks to TLC and Simon & Schuster for a promotional copy. All gushings and rants are my own and were not influenced by the free book I received.
About the book:
From the award-winning author of Yellow Wife, a daring and redemptive novel set in 1950s Philadelphia and Washington, DC, that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.
Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.
About the author:
Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of four novels, including Yellow Wife. Her accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction. She is a Kimbilio Fellow, former board member of the James River Writers, and a Tall Poppy Writer.
Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and three children.
As mentioned before, I was very excited to receive this book and even more so when I heard there was going to be a big announcement. The book did not disappoint.
Ruby tells her story in first person so Ruby is the character I identified with the most. She’s a motivated young women, trying to find a way to college. She takes advantage of the opportunities laid before her through the We Rise program and her career goal is to become an ophthalmologist so she can help solve the eye disease that is ravaging her beloved Nene. She’s well on her way until a kind Jewish boy crosses her path. (His mother is not so kind.)
The trials and tribulations that Ruby endures seem insurmountable. Her grandmother, Nene, has raised Ruby because her teenage mother was not able to care for her. As Nene ages, Ruby must move in with her mother, Inez, who has never learned to cope or lover her daughter. When she’s kicked out of Inez’ house because of her mother’s creeper boyfriend, she moves in with with an aunt. All of these households are just scraping by but at least her aunt’s home is full of love and support. Then, of course, there’s a major roadblock to her dreams.
The structure of the book is interesting. As Ruby tells her story in first-person, Eleanor’s tale is told in the third-person. (Their tales are relayed in alternating chapters.) Eleanor is from rural Ohio but has “made it” to prestigious Howard University. She is well on her way to becoming an archivist, something she seems to have the talent and love for. Eleanor meets her dream man, a young handsome medical student and her life seems perfect. Then, of course, there’s a major roadblock to her happiness.
Minor spoiler alert, but I appreciated that Johnson had both women succeed in their dreams, even though there was major heartbreak and heartache along the way. I also enjoyed the ending. (You will have to read for yourself to appreciate that.)
The food.
For the last TLC book review (Code Name Sapphire), I just couldn’t do a food tie-in. The story was so dark.
While the story in The House of Eve has its dark moments, it’s ultimately a tale of triumph for both Ruby and Eleanor. This is not a food-centric novel but there was a bit of food mentioned for inspriation.
The recipe that inspired me the most was the final one on my list. Eleanor’s mother baked cakes and pies to sell in order to help pad her meager college-fund. When Eleanor returns home after a fight with William, the aroma of pound cake in her mother’s kitchen helps sooth her.
With a homemade chocolate raspberry sauce.
This pound cake recipe is from the late 70s. You can read about the history of this recipe from one of my very early posts (so please don’t judge). I have adapted the recipe a bit by using butter (and not margarine) and halving the amounts for a smaller batch.
