The Disappointment Room

Book excerpt: The tale centers on Madeline Knight's decision to abandon her disappointing [infant]son to the care of Munday, the nurturing "Big House" slave. Munday becomes Charles' surrogate mother, and her daughter, Helen, is Charles' only childhood companion. The author skillfully weaves in historical details about slavery, plantation life, national and regional politics as well as a little romance and intrigue. The Southern drawl and slaves' Gullah dialect add authenticity, as does the presence of witchcraft and other cultural details about slaves and their privileged owners. Some strategic twists and turns hold the reader's interest, and the characters--with the exception of the status-seeking, power-hungry Madeline--earn the reader's empathy. Charles, Munday and Helen leave South Carolina for Boston, via war-torn Washington, D.C., where Charles confronts his long-lost mother. This bold step releases him to pursue freedom with his true family. The trio rejoice at their arrival in Boston, but racial segregation and second-class status dim their hope for freedom. Despite his happy marriage to Helen, Charles remains enslaved by dreams of returning to Coffin Point. Their experience brings readers to a new understanding of freedom nudging us to examine our own forms of slavery--to possessions, power and status. (Kirkus Review, 2012). This exciting tale ends generations later when the only surviving heir of Coffin Point, a boy also named Charles, loses his biological parents and is adopted by yet another power-hungry woman who gets Charles' adoption record released and begins her journey to blackmail, lie and cheat to become sole owner of the old plantation house and land. There is excellent intricate weaving of deja vu and familial history repeating itself. A very pleasurable, satisfying read.