Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

A forgotten group of women in American history are the black mistresses of white slaveowners. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a great book that tells the story of these women who were brought to the Tawawa House, described on the back cover as "an idyllic retreat for Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their enslaved black mistresses."

Perkins-Valdez was able to succeed in engaging her readers in an immensity of feelings. Occasionally, I had to put the book down to keep from getting upset. One character, at a point in the book I did not like AT ALL. Even through these setbacks, I was thoroughly intrigued without being overwhelmed by the sensitive nature of the subject.

Wench gave me a deeper understanding and sensitivity to slave women who were used as sexual objects for their masters. Perkins-Valdez was able to use her research and imagination to help readers become a part of the womens' lives and how they each coped with their situation. Through reading this book I thought about the strength of these women and how I personally wonder, "Could I have been that strong?"

Does the title "Wench" encourage you or discourage you from reading this book? Do you think the subject of this book is too "heavy?"

--BK