Avey Johnson, a middle-aged African American widow, embarks on a journey of self-discovery during a Caribbean cruise with friends. Feeling disconnected and restless, she decides to leave the ship in Grenada and joins an annual pilgrimage to the island of Carriacou, where she reconnects with her African heritage and confronts her past. Through flashbacks and memories, the protagonist grapples with her identity, the loss of her husband, and the assimilation into a suburban life that has left her feeling empty. Paule Marshall weaves a narrative that delves into themes of roots, heritage, and the complexities of self-discovery.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of grief, loss, racism, and exploring cultural identity, which may be intense for some readers.
From The Publisher:
From the acclaimed author of Daughters and Brown Girl, Brownstones comes a "work of exceptional wisdom, maturity, and generosity, one in which the palpable humanity of its characters transcends any considerations of race or sex"( Washington Post Book World ).
Avey Johnson-a black, middle-aged, middle-class widow given to hats, gloves, and pearls-has long since put behind her the Harlem of her childhood. Then on a cruise to the Caribbean with two friends, inspired by a troubling dream, she senses her life beginning to unravel-and in a panic packs her bag in the middle of the night and abandons her friends at the next port of call. The unexpected and beautiful adventure that follows provides Avey with the links to the culture and history she has so long disavowed.
"Astonishingly moving."-Anne Tyler, The New York Times Book Review
What can you read after
Praisesong for the Widow?
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