Natalie Baszile

The inspiration for the acclaimed OWN TV series produced by Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay, returning for season two on June 20th “Smart and heartfelt and highly recommended.” —Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club Readers, booksellers, and critics alike are embracing Queen Sugar and cheering for its heroine, Charley Bordelon, an African American woman and single mother struggling to build a new life amid the complexities of the contemporary South. When Charley unexpectedly inherits eight hundred acres of sugarcane land, she and her eleven-year-old daughter say goodbye to smoggy Los Angeles and head to Louisiana. She soon learns, however, that cane farming is always going to be a white man’s business. As the sweltering summer unfolds, Charley struggles to balance the overwhelming challenges of a farm in decline with the demands of family and the startling desires of her own heart.

A Novel

Queen Sugar

Hoping for a new start when she unexpectedly inherits a sugarcane farm, Charley moves to Louisiana, where she confronts her grandmother's judgmental beliefs while balancing the farm's overwhelming challenges with the needs of her homesick daughter, her troubled brother and her own yearning heart.

Bella Baxter

My Lord. This was going to be a three-star rating until the last 20 or so pages of the book. This was a great story, I love seeing people leave everyday comforts in pursuits of a dream or goal. To see that person persevere and go through rough patches with God's grace, that is the story of my life.

To start off, I felt like nothing major really happened until I was 80% through but I appreciate Bazile's slow build into the major plot twist. But uh, is the farm still flourishing? Curious.

****Character Highs & Lows****

Charley- The protagonist of the story, very head-strong and bad-ass. Smart as hell but also stubborn as hell. Love her. I personally would have gone for Hollywood instead of Remy, ESPECIALLY after that "you're not like the black folk around here, it's almost like you're not even black" comment. Good night and good luck, sir. 

Ralph Angel- I spent the majority of this book being so fucking angry with him. Every time he'd have a fresh start somewhere, as lowly as it might seem, he deemed himself too good for it. And it's just so tragic what happens to him, and I feel for him, witnessing the atrocities that police brutality has brought upon the black community in America today. But Ralph Angel...people gave you so many chances and you blew it every time. You don't get to treat people however the fuck you want. Yes, you were wronged in so many ways, you did not deserve what happened to you, you deserved another chance. You had a good heart. You should have just been honest with everyone and let your pride down for a moment. 

Denton- Thank you for being that redeeming grace figure that we all need. 

Micah-Really needs a lesson in humility. When Ralph Angel said that she talked all of the time and was just a French-speaking know it all (ok the french-speaking part is mine), I couldn't help but agree. At some point, you gotta stop letting a child walk over you like this. ESPECIALLY A CHILD LIKE HER. Disrespectful. Not here for it.

Blue-God bless that poor child. Only out here with his action figure trying to balance out his father's anger. 

Hollywood- GOD BLESS YOU. Please come mow my grass and hand me $50K that you're not using!

Now I'm ready to watch the show!!! Speaking of, I'm thinking that Nova's character will be more of the Charley I was thinking of. I'm curious to see how they've adapted the show from the book.

Barbara Williford

** spoiler alert **
           As someone born and raised in Louisiana, this book title and plot intrigued me. I loved the history and knowledge of the sugar cane industry. Charly Bordelon was born and raised in California. When her father passes, she learns she has inherited 800 acres of sugar cane farm. She returns back to Louisiana to fulfill her fathers dream. She has to struggle with land that has been neglected, no money, no equipment, hurricane and being a black woman in the south. Against all odds, blood, sweat and tears plus a little help from strangers, she works her farm. All of this while raising a teenage daughter and a combative half brother.

I loved the plot but some of the characters were difficult to connect with. She has a bratty daughter who she has absolutely no control over. She only comes in the scene when she wants to throw a fit. A selfish drug addicted brother who can’t get past his bitterness and self importance to make something of himself. The ending did seem a little rushed. The author put all this effort in the details of the book only to have it rush quickly at the end. 

The “injustice” her brother suffered was an injustice of his own creation. All of his life, those “injustices” were from the choices he made. She said he suffered from his final “injustice” but let’s recap: he caused the OD of his baby momma and left her dead in a crack house, while he was getting high in said crack house his young son was in the car alone, he was driving a stolen car, he physically abused his grandmother, he stole, lied and cheated his own family, took that stolen money and spent on drugs and gambling, he shot his uncle and while on the run he refused to get out of the car when police asked. Sounds like he didn’t suffer from any “injustice.” The injustice was done to those who loved him and tried to help him.

As someone born and raised in Louisiana, this book title and plot intrigued me.  I loved the history and knowledge of the sugar cane industry.  Charly Bordelon was born and raised in California.  When her father passes, she learns she has inherited 800 acres of sugar cane farm.  She returns back to Louisiana to fulfill her fathers dream.  She has to struggle with land that has been neglected, no money, no equipment, hurricane and being a black woman in the south.  Against all odds, blood, sweat and tears plus a little help from strangers, she works her farm.  All of this while raising a teenage daughter and a combative half brother.

I loved the plot but some of the characters were difficult to connect with.  She has a bratty daughter who she has absolutely no control over.  She only comes in the scene when she wants to throw a fit.  A selfish drug addicted brother who can’t get past his bitterness and self importance to make something of himself.  The ending did seem a little rushed.  The author put all this effort in the details of the book only to have it rush quickly at the end.  The “injustice” her brother suffered was an injustice of his own creation.  All of his life, those “injustices” were from the choices he made.

As someone born and raised in Louisiana, this book title and plot intrigued me.  I loved the history and knowledge of the sugar cane industry.  Charly Bordelon was born and raised in California.  When her father passes, she learns she has inherited 800 acres of sugar cane farm.  She returns back to Louisiana to fulfill her fathers dream.  She has to struggle with land that has been neglected, no money, no equipment, hurricane and being a black woman in the south.  Against all odds, blood, sweat and tears plus a little help from strangers, she works her farm.  All of this while raising a teenage daughter and a combative half brother.

I loved the plot but some of the characters were difficult to connect with.  She has a bratty daughter who she has absolutely no control over.  She only comes in the scene when she wants to throw a fit.  A selfish drug addicted brother who can’t get past his bitterness and self importance to make something of himself.  The ending did seem a little rushed.  The author put all this effort in the details of the book only to have it rush quickly at the end.  The “injustice” her brother suffered was an injustice of his own creation.  All of his life, those “injustices” were from the choices he made.

Mahasin S Ameen

This was an amazing book and I'm mad at myself for just now getting around to reading it. I met Natalie Baszile at a library conference and have an autographed copy of this book. It's an excellent book that shows the strength and determination of family, but also shows how the echos of slavery still exist and the importance of fighting for what you think is right.

Queen Sugar A Novel

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