I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Photo Credit: Goodreads
I have just been loving dual narrative novels lately. I can’t believe how many I have read, most in a row, and honestly, I seem to love each and every one of them.
The Wedding Gift by Marlen Suyapa Bodden is one of those dual narrative novels.
The Wedding Gift is the story of Sarah Campbell, a slave during the 1850s, whose father is the plantation owner. Sarah is the playmate to and the maid of Clarissa, her half-sister. Although this isn’t fully known to them at the time (but don’t worry, you find out soon enough, so it’s not giving anything away!).
The other narrative is told by Theodora Allen, the mistress of the plantation.
Sarah’s not happy as a slave. But why should she be? And Theodora seems to be a little too free-thinking as a mistress.
The Wedding Gift kept me hooked for most of the story. At one point, maybe 3/4 of the way through, it lagged a little. However, the ending twist was completely shocking and made up for the lag.
This would be a good novel for you to read if you’re a fan of The Help by Kathryn Stockett or The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.
If my review doesn’t at least intrigue you, the positive feedback from authors like Tom Wolfe and Kathleen Grissom should at least pique your interest.
This book comes out today, so make sure you pick up your copy of the novel.
Are you a fan of the dual narrative novel?
Interested in getting your own copy? Check out The Wedding Gift on Amazon
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I also love duel narrative! It lets you get into the heads of several characters and I love seeing the same situation from two perspectives. 🙂
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I agree. They can be really great because they give you such a good perspective of, usually, a similar story from multiple people.
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Sounds great, and I’m a fan of The help 🙂
I also like books with two narrators, or with two settings or two different times, or everything together 😉
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Then this one would be perfect for you, Isi!
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I am certainly intrigued about this one! I like dual narrative, but I prefer the narrators to not be love interests, so I’m definitely interested in getting a copy of The Wedding Gift.
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Yes, these narrators are in no way at all love interests! I actually don’t read anything romance at all, it’s soooo not my thing. If there is any sort of love story, I’ll only read it if it’s a teeeeensy piece of the story, with a strong storyline that is not romance to carry it through.
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I recently read the kitchen house and really liked it. I haven’t read the help yet though!
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The Help was soooooo good!!! It’s definitely a must-read!!!
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Yes, I like dual narrative, I liked The Help, and I LOVE twist endings!!!
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Is this a rerelease?
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I don’t know the full details, but with another book I am reviewing for the same PR firm, the book was self-published and will be re-released with a publishing company. I am assuming this one is in a similar situation, but I’m not 100% sure.
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I love dual narratives and I loved The Help! Kitchen House I haven’t read yet, but have been definitely intrigued. I think this one is going on my TBR list. Thanks for an awesome review 🙂
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Glad I could share a new one with you!
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I love dual narrative!! (oops I almost spelled that “duel” which… well, that could be fun, too!)
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Haha! Well in some of them, they are duel dual narratives! But not in this one. 🙂
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I like shocking endings, and as long as the book hooked you for most of the time then it’s good! I will be looking out for it, maybe add it to the TBR
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Yes, and this book hooked me, dropped me a little, then shocked me with the ending, so all-in-all, it worked!
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I love dual narratives but I’m also really picky about whether they are done right.
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I completely agree. Sometimes they are done really well, like in Astor Place Vintage, and other times, not as well, as in the book I am reading for _ _ (which I’ll tell you on the phone but not here)
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I love dual narratives too! I’ve read a few people recently who saying that they’re tired of this type of story, but I feel like I’m just discovering them 🙂
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I think they can become tedious when you read many of them at once, but I enjoy them when I have non-dual narrative breaks in between.
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