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A review by passionyoungwrites
Tumbling by Diane McKinney-Whetstone
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“Her baby needed lavenders, and pinks, and lime greens. All Ethel could give her was red.”
💕
Noon with a past incident that prevented her from desiring sex, turning to church and caring from others. Herbie a hard working man who couldn’t get sex from his wife, turned to a blues singer - Ethel, mostly, and eventually a love for the newborn - Fannie, that he found on his way from Club Royale. Fannie, given up as a newborn but loved by Noon and Herbie, had the gift of sight but also turned to making sure that everyone around her was okay. Liz, the little girl that lost both parents in a car fire and raised by her aunt - Ethel and then left for Noon and Herbie to care for.
Then there’s Willie Mann, he grew up working earlier than he should’ve, then turned to sweet talking women in the basement of Club Royale. And last Ethel, a blues singer who witnessed a traumatizing event in her childhood, who turned to caring for men in her own way; that’s how she thought she righted the wrong that her mother committed years ago.
💕
The title tumbling was very fitting to this novel. Everybody was tumbling, trying to cope with their own struggles. Children born and left for a nurturing family to care for. The girls grew up together, learned, lived, and still struggled. But the most important thing here was that they learned that family will remain constant, and love from those that care for you the most will never run dry.
💕
My favorite character was Ethel. One, she was honest with herself and her capabilities when it came to raise a child. Knowing she couldn’t fit motherhood in with her career, she did the best she could. She actually took time in finding a home where she knew love was present, studying Noon from a distance and eventually up close. And in the end, when all truths were revealed she gave Noon and Herbie everything they’d wanted for so long.
💕
Noon with a past incident that prevented her from desiring sex, turning to church and caring from others. Herbie a hard working man who couldn’t get sex from his wife, turned to a blues singer - Ethel, mostly, and eventually a love for the newborn - Fannie, that he found on his way from Club Royale. Fannie, given up as a newborn but loved by Noon and Herbie, had the gift of sight but also turned to making sure that everyone around her was okay. Liz, the little girl that lost both parents in a car fire and raised by her aunt - Ethel and then left for Noon and Herbie to care for.
Then there’s Willie Mann, he grew up working earlier than he should’ve, then turned to sweet talking women in the basement of Club Royale. And last Ethel, a blues singer who witnessed a traumatizing event in her childhood, who turned to caring for men in her own way; that’s how she thought she righted the wrong that her mother committed years ago.
💕
The title tumbling was very fitting to this novel. Everybody was tumbling, trying to cope with their own struggles. Children born and left for a nurturing family to care for. The girls grew up together, learned, lived, and still struggled. But the most important thing here was that they learned that family will remain constant, and love from those that care for you the most will never run dry.
💕
My favorite character was Ethel. One, she was honest with herself and her capabilities when it came to raise a child. Knowing she couldn’t fit motherhood in with her career, she did the best she could. She actually took time in finding a home where she knew love was present, studying Noon from a distance and eventually up close. And in the end, when all truths were revealed she gave Noon and Herbie everything they’d wanted for so long.