The most recent book of bestselling author Margaret Wilkerson Sexton was chosen as Reese's book club's September 2022 pick, so I'm a little late getting to it. I also plan to read one of her earlier novels, The Revisioners, so look out for that review a little later. This book deals with sexual assault of a minor, a car accident, death of a spouse, homophobia, hate crimes, racism, fatphobia, and alcoholism.
Vivian always had dreams of being a star, but it didn't work out from her. She fled with her husband from her family's home after her father was killed by the Ku Klux Klan, and they found a new home in California. Together they had three daughters, three daughters who could sing, and Vivian realized that maybe her dream wasn't dead after all. She taught all of her daughters to perform, pushing them to be their best in their rehearsals on their rooftop, and together they became "The Salvations". But just when it seems like all their dreams might really come to fruition, her daughters realize they may have dreams of their own. We navigate the sometimes choppy waters of a family, with all the ups, downs, excitement, and disappointments that come with it.
This book is very well done. It is from several points of view: all three daughters and the mother have their own chapters. I wasn't sure at the beginning how well I would like it, but it really did start to catch me and I think it will stick with me for awhile. In fact, the two elder daughters have a falling out as teenagers that has never fully healed, and it still hurts me a bit that they never talk about it. The eldest daughter, Ruth, is the star of their girl group but it turns out she doesn't want the fame and stardom at all; just a quiet life built with the man she loves. But after gets that quiet life, she finds that she misses the music more than she thought. Esther, the middle daughter, I really saw myself in. She is the least naturally talented daughter of Vivian's and must work harder for everything she gets. She's developed a dry, sarcastic sense of humor to protect her sensitive inner self, and she finds a calling where she least expects it. And the youngest, Chloe, seems so sweet and the only one who really shares her mother's dream of being a star. In the background, as these young women decide what sort of future they want for themselves and fight for their right to choose, they have to deal with the neighborhood they've grown up in, the neighborhood in which Vivian found safety and community, being sold out from under them in the name of gentrification.
I'm giving On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton 4.5 stars out of 5. A subtle look at the intricacies of familial relationships, a group of women learning about themselves, healing from the hurts (sometimes deep hurts) of the past. It has a very real take on what it means to be a daughter to a woman who loves but who is also overbearing. I really enjoyed this book, especially its perspective that we don't get to see very often: a close knit black neighborhood where everybody knows everybody and the secrets don't stay secret for long.
To see more by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, visit https://margaretwilkersonsexton.com/home
Pairs well with a jazz record and some red beans and rice.
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