MisterE676's Full Review: Alex Haley and David Stevens - Mama Flora's Family
As a child I heard references now and then to Kunta Kinte and remember seeing advertisements for the miniseries known as "Roots". I was always curious about it, and one day decided to pick up the novel and give it a read through. I enjoyed that book thoroughly and was then turned on to his other novels... such as Mama Flora's Family.
I don't know much about Alex Haley. He has won numerous awards for his works in print, and I believe he did pass away in the early 1990's.
Mama Flora's Family is a tale about a black woman who has no choice but to raise her family as a single mother when her husband is murdered by white men. This tale does span over a decent length of time, as Haley tends to tell a great story about people who are linked together (three generations in this instance) in a most captivating style.
Mama Flora's Family tells the tale of a family in search of different things and taking different paths. Her daughter embarks on a trip to Africa on a soul searching mission. Her son Willie lets go of his bond to the church and heading off to Chicago. Eventually he ends up doing battle during World War II and marrying his childhood sweetheart. Their kids get involved in drugs and militant black movements.
At the center of all of this is Mama Flora... the matriarch of the family. She tries to keep her kids in line, but they strive for their own independence in different ways.
Eventually Flora sees her ideals come to fruition by her sister's daughter who was adopted by Flora. She is a college graduate, does community/civic work, and falls in love with a poet. His inspiration leads her on a journey to Africa... a trip that ends with amazing results.
While I don't think this book quite had the passion of Roots or perhaps even Queen, it is still an excellent novel that would be worth reading. Recommended for people of all ages looking for a story of family love, inspiration, leadership, and the art of keeping a family bound together through the roughest times.
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