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    Glorious
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    Glorious
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    Glorious
    Ebook273 pages4 hours

    Glorious

    By Bernice L. McFadden

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    "The seeming inevitability of cruel fate juxtaposes the triumph of the spirit in this remarkably rich and powerful novel, Glorious. Bernice McFadden's fully realized characters are complicated, imperfect beings, but if ever a character were worthy of love and honor, it is her Easter Bartlett. This very American story is fascinating; it is also heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and beautifully written."Binnie Kirshenbaum, author of The Scenic Route

    "Riveting. . . . I am as impressed by its structural strength as by the searing and expertly imagined scenes.”Toni Morrison, on The Warmest December

    >Glorious is set against the backdrops of the Jim Crow South, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights era. Blending the truth of American history with the fruits of Bernice L. McFadden’s rich imagination, this is the story of Easter Venetta Bartlett, a fictional Harlem Renaissance writer whose tumultuous path to success, ruin, and revival offers a candid portrait of the American experience in all its beauty and cruelty.

    Glorious is ultimately an audacious exploration into the nature of self-hatred, love, possession, ego, betrayal, and, finally, redemption.

    aBernice L. McFadden is the author of six critically acclaimed novels, including the classic Sugar and Nowhere Is a Place, which was a Washington Post best fiction title for 2006. She is a two-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of two fiction honors from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). McFadden lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she is working on her next novel.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAkashic Books
    Release dateMay 1, 2010
    ISBN9781936070787
    Unavailable
    Glorious
    Author

    Bernice L. McFadden

    Bernice L. McFadden is the author of nine critically acclaimed novels including Sugar, Loving Donovan, Nowhere Is a Place, The Warmest December, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors' Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012), Glorious, and The Book of Harlan (winner of a 2017 American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction). She is a four-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of three awards from the BCALA.

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    Reviews for Glorious

    4.5/5

    4 ratings9 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Okay folks. Once again, I've had the pleasure of reading a book that turned out to be on the right side of awesome. The author sent an e-mail and inquired about a review. I don't often turn down an opportunity to read books so I was up for it. I had no idea what to expect when I recieved it from the publisher. It's not a very long book at 239 pages and at first glance, the cover didn't really tell me much about what the book was about.If you're a writer or aspiring author as I am, you know that the gatekeepers of the literary world are not keen on prologues. They'd rather you weave that information into the body of the story itself. I'm going to do something a little different this time. Instead of giving you the blurb from the back of the book, I'm going to give you a taste of the prologue. No rule is absolute and this is an example of a prologue that accomplishes it's goal--to set the stage for a poignant, painful tale that has been all too true in the annuls of American history. Behold...If Jack Johnson had let James Jeffries beat him on July 4, 1910, which would have proven once and for all that a white man was ten times better than a negro, then black folks wouldn't have been walking around with their backs straight and chests puffed out, smiling like Cheshire cats, upsetting good, God-fearing white folk who didnt mind seeing their Negros happy, but didn't like seeing them proud.If Jack Johnson had given up and allowed James Jeffries to clip him on the chin, which would have sent him hurling down to the floor where he could have pretended to be knocked out cold, then maybe Easter Barlett's father wouldn't have twirled his wife and daughters around the house by thier pinky fingers and his son John Bartelett Jr. wouldn't have felt for the first time in his life to be pleased and glad to be a black man. And if Jack Jackson had let the shouts of "Kill that nigger" that rang out from the crowd unravel him or the Nevada heat irritate him, maybe then he would have lost the fight and things would have remained as they were.Things could have gone a different way if Jack Johnson hadn't gotten the notion some years earlier to cap his teeth in gold, so his smile added insult to injury when he was announced the victor of "The Fight of the Century," and that glittering grin slapped white folk hard across their faces.And if John Bartlett Sr. hadn't bet on Jack Johnson to win, then he wouldn't have had the extra money to buy his wife and two daughters new dresses from the most expensive dress shop in town, and the older of the two girls called Rlizbeth wouldn't have let her hair down and donned that brand-new yellow dress that made her look like an angel, so those white boys wouldn't have noticed her, wouldnt have called out to her from across the road, wouldn't have followed her and jumped her just as she reached the bend and dragged her into the brush, where they raped and beat her.If all of that hadn't happened, then Easter wouldn't have looked up to see her sister crawling home on all fours like a dog, with a bloodstain shaped like the state of Texas on the backside of Rlizbeth's dress. Easter wouldn't have bore witness to the bite marks on Rlizabeth's breasts, and wouldn't have heard the silence that streamed out of Rlizabeth's mouth when she opened it to scream.NO SOUND AT ALL.Bernice McFadden is a masterfull storyteller. I winced more than once at some of the scenes that are a template of fact in America's ugly history of racism and inhumanity to his fellow man. And yet, while it is a story of paradise lost, it takes the reader on a journey to paradise and redemption regained again. You'll follow Easter Bartlett on her journey from young girl, whose sister's rape changed the trajectory of her life, to a woman of advanced years who see's the hand of justice work its slow, but steady resolve in her own painful saga.McFadden weaves historical figures into the story with an ease and flow that clearly shows her skill and attention to historical detail. Marvelous.
    • 4/5
      Easter Bartlett has just left her home in the South after a series of devastating events has struck her family. Traveling alone from town to town, Easter goes from working as a sideshow act in a traveling circus to becoming a schoolteacher in a one room school. Though she meets new acquaintances and falls in love, Easter is ever on the move whenever the difficulties of life threaten to trap her. When she meets up with an old friend from her home town, Easter decides to travel to New York and gets caught up in the Harlem Renaissance, becoming a contributor of short stories to various magazines. In New York, Easter runs into an old friend from the circus and meets a very rich white woman who will become her benefactor, never dreaming that one day this woman will betray her in the worst of ways and send her future spinning out of control. Though Easter has risen high, she ultimately falls to earth once again, her dreams and plans thrown by the wayside of her ever-changing life. Filled with heartache and wisdom, Bernice McFadden blends the tale of Easter Bartlett with the tale of the real life heroes of the Jim Crow south and the Harlem Renaissance.This book was a very quick read for me. The fact that the prose was so fluid, coupled with the fact that the story moved along with such a great clip made this a book that I was easily engrossed in and finished in one afternoon. Easter's story is one filled with frustration, heartbreak and pain. She made for a very likable protagonist and I relished the time spent with her. She had a great innocence about her and she saw the world in such an interesting way that it was impossible not to fall in love with her. Most of her reactions to her fate seemed genuine and well written but there were points that I felt that I would have loved to have read more about her internal thought process.The story itself was very inspired. McFadden has a lot to say about the marginalization of the black community during the early century, and says it well. She brings to her reader the agonies and atrocities of lynching and the despicable aspects of segregation and prejudice in crystal clear prose, never overdoing it. Instead she paints a picture of the inequalities between the two races with intensity and a level of reality that I was really able to appreciate. Her characters, real and imagined, were truly a product of their times and they really opened my eyes to the vast gulf separating the races during that time period.I think that one of the most interesting parts of the book revolved around the storyline of Easter's time at the circus. It was there that she met the flamboyantly sexual and intense dancer, Rain. Though the story alludes to the fact that Easter had bisexual leanings, it was never clearly picked as a subject to focus on in the narrative. Rain and Easter's relationship was interesting because it held the hallmarks of a mother/daughter relationship, as well as being a sisterly and lover-like relationship. When Easter flees the circus, it was easy to see that what she was really fleeing was the feelings that she had for Rain, feelings that were, unfortunately for her, not reciprocated. I was saddened that Easter had to leave with such sadness and bitterness in her heart but was very pleased when the two women's paths crossed again in New York. Though their relationship was very different the second time around, it was nice to see that their journey together would continue.As the story winds towards its conclusion, Easter has been relegated to a sad fate. Many years have passed and due to the scandal that transpired after her betrayal, Easter is left living out her days far from the splendor in which she once lived. I liked the way McFadden chose to reveal those lost days of Easter's past through flashbacks and thought that it was fitting that she eventually was able to put the pain of her past to rest. Easter found a way to live with her lot after all, though the twists of her tale were full of the sadness of dreams left unfulfilled.This book had an ever-winding and surprising story that I felt was written with genuine feeling and clarity. I think that those readers who have not yet tried any of McFadden's books would probably do well to start here, though I have also heard great things about another book of hers, called Sugar. If you are the type of reader who enjoys character driven dramas that deal with some of the darker parts of American history, I would definitely recommend this book to you. I think that although it's a shorter read, it carries an important message that should be passed down through the generations. A very thoughtful read. Recommended!
    • 5/5
      From My Blog...Spanning the years from 1910 to 1961, Bernice L. McFadden takes the reader back to a time many want to forget, yet should not be forgotten in her novel Glorious. The reader is introduced to Easter Bartlett a young woman born in Waycross, Georgia, who takes the reader through the atrocities of rape, lynching, and murder to a traveling Vaudeville act, Slocum's Traveling Brigade, to the birth of the Harlem Renaissance. Glorious is a beautifully crafted narrative of historical moments, heart-breaking facts, joys and betrayals as told through the eyes of Easter Bartlett a loving, kind woman who happened to also be a voracious reader and writer in a time when those who where not white were typically not literate. Glorious is a novel that takes the reader through five decades and numerous states filled with beautiful prose, dialect, and description, the characters spring to life off the pages and one cannot help but to share in the sorrowful moments as well as the joyful ones. Bernice L. McFadden, through her graceful and resilient character, Easter Bartlett, brings history to life and makes the reader feel as though they are there beside Easter. Glorious is a novel that should be read, pondered, read again and discussed, and a novel I wholeheartedly recommend to all readers.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing book this is!! I was hooked from the Prologue and couldn't put it down. The story is full of every emotion I've ever felt and then some. It will make you cringe, cry and be in awe of the people you're reading about. It will make you laugh and want to hug many of the characters and tell them how proud you are of them. It will make you want to say "shame on you" to others. The book is so well written that it seems like these are real people and the book is a true story. I'm sure parts of it are, the book is about a very cruel time. This is a powerful story and one I think everyone should read.
    • 5/5
      Praises to Bernice McFadden, she is one of the most gifted artists of contemporary literature. I have had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions. Her Blog is wonderful to read when your in-between reading her books.When her books are available for purchase, it is without a doubt that I will be running to the store to buy it. Glorious was no exception. McFadden does an excellent job of weaving real historical figures and events with fictional ones into the story. The novel opens with the historic "Fight of the Century" between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries. Much mention is made of Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association and Ota Benga, the African pygmy, one of the first humans to be exhibited in a zoo.This amazing story takes you from the horrors of the South to Harlem Renaissance.Referencing, Langston Hughes and A'lelia Walker, daughter of Madame CJ Walker and Claude McKay and Carl Van Vechten. The protagonist and fictional character, Easter Bartlett is strong and resilient and was very likable. McFadden created unforgettable characters that draw you into the story with well conceived plots. LOVED IT!
    • 5/5
      I could not put down this book! McFadden drew me into Easter's story and showed me what the world was like for black women prior to, during, and after the Harlem Renaissance. Easter's struggles, successes, and life will stay with me long after the last page has been read. The prose is strong, lyrical at times in its description, with forthright observations that leave judgement to the reader.
    • 5/5
      From the dirt roads of Waycross, Georgia to the busy streets of Harlem, Bernice McFadden once again delivers perfection in her latest novel, Glorious. With actual historical events playing in the background, we are introduced to Easter Bartlett and her family.The historic "Fight of the Century" between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries sets in motion a series of events that eventually push Easter out of Georgia and eventually land her in Harlem. Much mention is made of Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association. A story set in Harlem at such a time would be incomplete with referencing the Harlem Renaissance and Ms. McFadden deftly weaves in noted members of the Renaissance, including A'lelia Bundles, daughter of Madame CJ Walker and a patron of the arts, and Langston Hughes. Others such as Claude McKay and Carl Van Vechten are also mentioned.With writing as rich and vivid as only she can do it, Ms. McFadden draws you into the life of Easter Bartlett and doesn't release you easily. I found myself yearning to read this while at the same time putting it down in order to savor it and prolong the inevitable end. While I usually give away books that I've already read, this is one that will have to stay in my library.
    • 4/5
      Right off the heels of Loving Donovan by Bernice McFadden, I was encouraged by my Twitter followers to read Glorious. It did not take much coaxing! I am such a Bernice McFadden fan. I put down my current reads scored Glorious from the library and immediately started reading. Our narrator is a young Easter Bartlett from Waycross, GA. We enter her life when her sister Rlizbeth has experienced a horrible life changing event. This tragedy changed the family forever and sent Easter on the journey of a lifetime. With her mother dead, father remarried, and sister despondent, Easter set off on an uncharted course. Her new life begins as a maid and ironically ends as one. Easter meets people and has experiences on her way that made for some great stories that she wrote about daily. After viewing a friend being lynched and baby cut from her womb, Easter knew it was time to leave the Jim Crow south. She finds herself in the middle of a traveling vaudeville act and falling in love with its main attraction, Rain. When Rain didn't return her love and betrayed her with another, Easter walked away and set off on another journey. This one led her into the arms of a young lover. When that well ran dry, Easter found herself on a train where she ran into her childhood friend Madeline. With no plan and no family ties, Madeline talked her into going to Harlem.Easter started a new life in Harlem. Shortly after arriving, Easter had to make a major life decision. She also met the man she would marry, Colin, he was a West Indian. Then one day Easter had a visit from the past, Rain. Rain brought rain and sunshine into Easter's life. Throughout her life Easter wrote stories as an escape but now she had an opportunity to have her stories published. She became a part of the well known movement known as the Harlem Renaissance. Meredith, Rain's lover, encouraged Easter to publish her work and later became her benefactor. This proved to be a blessing and a curse. I loved the blend of fact and fiction McFadden let flow throughout this book. I must say one of my favorite parts of the book was when Easter met Langston Hughes. McFadden just eased him in so seamlessly. It’s no secret that I am fan of McFadden’s work, but what I really appreciate about her writing style is how she blends a character’s background/history into the story. This is her “signature” in my opinion. Another reoccurring theme in McFadden’s work is women who are faced with some of the most insurmountable pain and suffering yet they persevere. These are women with real issues that they work through and find love and restoration in the midst of it all.
    • 4/5
      Back in 1910 a black man defeated a white man in a fair fight and the black people who’d laid bets on the result were understandably elated. Soon afterwards, a girl called Easter, who already had plenty of reasons for hatred in her life, wrote that one word HATE on a piece of paper, crumpled it up, and buried it.Easter wrote many other words too as she grew older in a world of radical unfairness and unthinking cruelty. Glorious, by Bernice McFadden, is her tale. Reading how a pregnant black cook is murdered because a total stranger, unfortunately also black, has committed a crime, then watching the slaughter of her unborn child, leaves the reader sickened and saddened for all those others whose stories have not been, and surely should be told. But Easter buries her hate and herself and moves on.The novel introduces a fascinating cast of characters, some larger than life, some smaller, some real and some imagined. But all the lives are gloriously genuine and so powerfully told. I even found myself searching for author E.V. Gibbs on the internet, to see if she really existed. But I’ve read Their Eyes were watching God, so I know Zora Neale Hurston was real.The story progresses from Georgia to railroad tracks to Harlem and high-class apartments in New York. Through waves of powerful emotions, innocent errors and devastating betrayals, it all ends back where it began, in the small town of Waycross, Georgia. Years have passed and it’s now 1961. The world is changing, but hasn’t changed enough. And the reader learns where Easter’s wonderful mind and words have led her. It could be tragic, but instead it’s powerfully hopeful, beautiful and moving. And the quote from Zora Neale Hurston on the final page—“God balances the sheet in time”—rings gloriously true in the reader’s mind.