Read a Southern family drama about coming together in times of hardship
Queen Sugar — Natalie Baszile
What to Read This Week
Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile
What It’s About
I read this book in one sitting years ago and still think about it constantly — that’s how good this was. I read it sitting on the small balcony of my little one-bedroom apartment in the summertime, and the book gave me such a sense of place that I felt like I fell directly into the pages and was transported for the whole Sunday I was reading it.
You may have seen commercials or previews for a TV show of the same name — it was adapted from this book. It’s still running, in its 7th season, so it’s a good one to start as the winter sets in if you want a long-running show to watch.
The story follows the Bordelon family, specifically a mother-daughter duo. Charley’s father passes away and leaves her the eight-hundred-acre sugarcane farmland in rural Louisiana. Feeling that it’s a chance to start over with her young daughter, Micah, she leaves Los Angeles to go back to the family land. Not everyone in the family is happy Charley was left in charge, and she doesn’t really know what she’s doing — as her grandmother is constantly reminding her — and is up against all odds running a sugarcane business as a Southern Black family. She fights racism and sexism and general hatred while trying to raise her daughter, keep the family business alive, and learn more about her own family than she ever did while growing up with them.
This is an emotional, heartfelt book that does not shy away from conflict or characters making mistakes, making it one of the most compelling and realistic books I’ve personally read.
Why You Should Read It
It’s no secret by now that I love a good family drama story — whether it’s emotional and deep or silly and campy. This is definitely an emotional one, and I love the family dynamics at play here. While it’s a totally different story, I think anyone looking for a book to read after Pachinko will be surprised by this one and love it for the same reasons as they did that one: its deep-rooted ties to family and family history.
I also think Southern fiction has a reputation for being mostly about white, affluent families. There are a lot of those books out there, yes, but there are also incredible books that center lower class families, people of color, and other marginalized groups, and it’s important for readers to pick up those books too. If you’ve been looking to diversify your reading and haven’t been sure where to start, this is the book I’d hand to you. (Bonus: this is definitely a great book club book if your group is looking for its next selection.)
Next Up
I’m still on my quest to read books that have been on my shelves the longest, and my current pick is All Unquiet Things, which sadly is out of print, but the Kindle version is still available. (Or check out Anna Jarzab’s newest release, Breath Like Water.) I’m really enjoying this YA mystery that follows Neily and Audrey, one year after the death of their friend Carly, and they don’t believe the true murderer is the one in prison for the crime.
I also participated in Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon this past weekend, and spent all day Saturday reading. Okay, so not all day. But I did get in about 6 hours total of reading, finishing 3 books! It was fun to dedicate several hours to doing nothing but sitting in my chair with my books. Have you ever done a readathon?
Also, stay tuned for a bonus edition later this week celebrating Reading Under the Radar’s one-year anniversary! I’ll have polls and questions about what you’d like to see, some of my favorite past recommendations, and possibly a giveaway or two! (You know how much I love giveaways!)
More Books
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read a cozy and magical witchy book about belonging and finding your place
Read a novel about a reality TV family keeping secrets behind the cameras
Read a courtroom drama about an unexplained explosion and a police investigation
I also love hearing from readers! Let me know what kinds of books you’re looking for that you’d like to see featured, or send in your most recent five-star read (or two) and get a recommendation just for you. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Reply to this email to get in touch!
Sponsor an issue of Reading Under the Radar! Add your own banner image or use text only, and link to your publication, product, or service. Fill out this form to inquire about sponsoring a newsletter and featuring your book or publication!
Always looking for something I can sink my teeth in. Though cozy mysteries are my favorite reads, I like mixing it up with something of depth. I recently read "The Moonlight School" by Suzanne Woods Fisher, based on the true story of Cora Wilson Stewart and her drive to bring literacy to the Appalachia.
I am currently reading We Are Each Other's Harvest, an anthology of writing by and about Black farmers and ag people, that Natalie Baszile edited. It's really wonderful, and now I am excited to read her novel, too!