The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson: Book Review

The House of Eve is an emotional read set in the 1950’s U.S. and follows two young women and their individual journeys to motherhood. I absolutely loved it.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to my local library for purchasing this audiobook.

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From The Publisher:

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his par­ents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

With their stories colliding in the most unexpected of ways, Ruby and Eleanor will both make decisions that shape the trajectory of their lives.

My Thoughts:

I love historical fiction set in the post-WWII era, and The House of Eve was one of my favourites. Set in both Philadelphia and Washington, the story is a moving story of sacrifice, determination and status and gender inequity. It is one of those books that will likely stay with me for many years to come.

The story is told through the point of view of two young black women. Eleanor is a college student while Ruby is a 15-year-old. Each of these women is determined to be the first college-educated woman in their family. The sacrifices made by their family to create this possibility are also clearly delineated.

Ruby’s story is particularly emotional. She has been provided with the opportunity to obtain one of two college scholarships out of a group of twelve black high school students in her community. Her home situation is challenging and she needs to work, go to school and attend special classes across town. Her only solace is the friendship and later romance that develops with a young Jewish teenager. Being an interracial couple in the 1950s is particularly challenging, but when Ruby finds herself pregnant all she has worked so hard for begins to disappear. That is until the boy’s mother steps in and proposes a deal.

Eleanor begins a romance with a medical student who ranks above her in social class. He comes from a family that includes a long list of doctors and has experienced a much different childhood than Eleanor. When the two marry and lose two pregnancies, Eleanor’s past catches up with her – one which begins a series of events shrouded in deceit.

The book highlights the inequities in race, gender and social class which to some extent continue to this day. It should also be noted that there is a very difficult moment that might be challenging to those readers who have experienced difficult labour and deliveries.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book which was narrated by Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis. Their performances felt authentic and really added to an already amazing book. I have no problem in recommending the audiobook version of this book.

I highly recommend The House of Eve to those readers who enjoy Historical Fiction or Women’s Fiction.

What I Liked:

• The level of character development
• The message in the book behind inequities in race, gender and social class
• The emphasis on education in breaking the chain of poverty