The Ties That Bind and the Secrets That Haunt - an Editorial Review of "Water Thicker Than Blood"

Book Blurb:

In Water Thicker Than Blood, family secrets and lifelong bonds collide in a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of a tight-knit community, the novel follows Pearl, a resilient young woman navigating the complex dynamics of her fractured family. As she revisits her past, Pearl uncovers hidden truths that challenge her understanding of loyalty and kinship.

Through a series of interwoven stories, the book takes you on a journey alongside Pearl as she reflects on her formative years, marked by tragedy, sacrifice, and moments of unexpected joy. Her relationships with her siblings, particularly her baby sister Louise, serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of familial connections, even in the face of adversity.

Water Thicker Than Blood is a moving exploration of the ties that bind us, the secrets that haunt us, and the courage it takes to find our way back to each other. With richly drawn characters and evocative storytelling, this book is a compelling read for anyone who has ever experienced the complexities of family life.

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Author Bio:

Saundra Terrell is the mother of three and the grandmother of six, who resides in Philadelphia. After losing her husband of twenty-six -years, she started her own business, an Afro-centric crafts store, where she nurtured a creativity bug since she was a little girl. Her first novel, NO'BODY'S FAULT BUT MY OWN, her second novel, WATER THICKER THAN BLOOD, and her latest novel, ANOTHER ME, provide her with the perfect escape from life's "blues and allow her to explore and dictate relational truths. Her characters are complex, demonstrating her intrigue with the flaws of human behavior and her desire to understand better the inner conflicts that can often consume us. Terrell admits that her stories seem to write themselves and that her characters are no different than our friends, family members, and neighbors.

It is this element that connects us most to her words.

Saundra is also a writer of two children's books, ANNIE and the ANTS, The Farmer, HIS Wife, and Gods Knows What Else.

When Saundra had her craft store some years ago, she created most of the items. In her designs, she emphasized Afrocentricity. Her primary creations were her dolls, but she also designed jewelry, clothing, art made from cloth, and costumes for a play. She's been doing acrylic painting on canvas for the last six years.

Currently, she is hoping to have music accompanied by some of the song lyrics she wrote.

Editorial Review:

 “Johnny Mae laid her head down on the blanket on the cot in the dark, dreary corner of the small room at the back of the house. This place was better than most of the others where her father had left her. She shuddered as she thought about the shack she had stayed at in Farmville, North Carolina. That place had been the worst yet. She hadn’t slept the whole two weeks she had stayed with Marge Moody and her husband Shane. The shack was the dirtiest she had ever seen in the three years she’d been left with white strangers.”

“Water Thicker Than Blood” by Saundra Terrell is set in the years of slavery in the American South, and in the years and then decades following the Emancipation Proclamation. The story follows the fortunes of Johnny Mae, her siblings and her Grandmother Martha, among others. The narrative structure is based around family, and sets out the stories of individual family members of different generations.

The content is at times heartrending, from little Johnny Mae already warned by her grandmother about the way men looked at her, to the confronting antidote to unwelcome male attention. Johnny Mae is unfortunately not the only female family member to receive “the look”, and the outcome of that will also likely disillusion the modern reader. The matter of fact rendition of these matters adds to the emotion the reader will experience, with such a well-crafted storyline that creates an immediate connection with the female characters in particular.

Johnny Mae’s brothers also tug at the heartstrings, and the reader will wonder whether her father could have been a different or better parent if his own life experience had been different. Other characters are less likeable, including the slave owner who pontificates about racial issues and his own mother’s belief in equality, while prevailing on a young enslaved girl for an adult relationship. The language used by the author is likewise of its times, and while historically accurate, may test the modern reader.

But this moral darkness, contrasted with the overarching importance of family, is what makes a compelling historical novel. We all of us need a Grandmother Martha in our lives to see us through the bad. The years after slavery are challenging for this family, with hopes and dreams both realized and dashed through times of social change and differing fortunes.

“Pearl sent a telegram to Parrish telling him she wouldn’t be coming back to New Orleans. She hated to leave him high and dry without a headlining singer, but she couldn’t bear the idea of facing everyone at the club. From the beginning, Parrish had treated her as a daughter. He’d even co-signed her account at the bank. She trusted him completely. In her telegram, she requested he withdraw her funds from the bank and send them to her. She barely mentioned Charlie, saying only that Parrish had been right to warn her about him.”

The characterization in “Water Thicker Than Blood” is authentic and highly relatable, despite the times and setting. The bonds of family are timeless, although circumstances change through the generations. The novel contains dialogue and conversations, but also large passages of narrative, where some readers may consider they are being told rather than shown the storyline.

“Ma Pearl, are you all right?” Pearl opened her eyes and sat up in the bed. “I’ve been calling you for the longest time. I had to shake you to wake you up. I was getting worried.”

“I don’t know what happened, Pearlie. I was lying here, and then I fell asleep. I must have been more tired than I realized.”

“Maybe you should cut back on all the things you do for people. Everyone at the church acts as if they can’t do anything without you,” Pearlie scolded and sat down on the bed beside her.”

“Water Thicker Than Blood” by Saundra Terrell is a highly emotional read, drawing the reader into the lives of a Black family as they survive slavery and navigate the subsequent years. The power of family is an enduring theme, but this family has to contend with several challenges, not all of their own making. As the story continues the reader will gain a greater understanding of the characters’ motivations and background, making this a compelling read. Just like real life (and history!) there are several confronting instances, but hope endures throughout.

*****

“Water Thicker Than Blood” by Saundra Terrell receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company

Note: This book uses the n-word and the word “blackies”. The story has references to rape and attempted/suggested rape as well as white men either raping or having [not really] “consensual” “relationships” with young female enslaved persons who of course have no power or agency in any such interactions. This content may be confronting for some readers.

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