Sunday, July 31, 2022

Book Review - Take My Hand; Dolen Perkins-Valdez


(Penguin Random House Audio - library loan)
(Lauren Daggett - narrator) - very good
(10 hours 57 min)

Take My Hand was a fascinating story about injustice.

Civil Townsend is a black nurse whose first job is at a government funded, family planning clinic in 1973 Montgomery, Alabama.  Her first clients are the young Williams sisters, Erica, 13 and India 11. The girls live in squalor with their illiterate widowed father and grandmother in a rundown one room cabin.  It seems the sisters, like many other young black girls were part of forced birth control program. They were to begin getting birt control injections, even though neither girl was sexually active or even had a boyfriend. The drug (Depo-Provera) hadn't even received FDA approval.  Things go from bad to worse when Civil later finds that the something unthinkable has happened to the girls. What has happened can't be undone. Civil is outraged and not done fighting for these girls others like them.

This story was loosely based on actual events of a case known as Reif vs. Weinberger. It was wonderful to see Civil, a young black woman who had many advantages growing up fight for these girls. Together with her nursing friend Alicia and a lawyer named Ty, they take on the government to address the atrocities which occurred as they fight for justice.  The story is told in two timelines (1973 and (2016) when Civil is now 67.  This was a very satisfying yet heartbreaking read and so appropriate to what is happening in this country today. Highly recommended - a must read.

Rating - 5/5 stars

19 comments:

  1. Heart breaking to think of the medical experiments and procedures that took place years before that continue to have repercussions.

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  2. I'm not sure I could take this one just now, but it does sound like an important read for those who can.

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  3. The story is so well written IMO; maybe at some point in the future Dorothy?

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  4. I saw this book in print at the library, but I've got so many checked out and also coming in for the next few weeks. I'll put a 'bookmark' on it and maybe try it in the fall. There won't be any new books coming out in the fall, right? Ha! Hope you have a peaceful, restful week, Diane. I know that life has been a bit tough for you lately. Hugs!

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    1. The story is excellent and well written Kay. Fall, might be a great time....why do we always think we will have more time in the next season? LOL

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  5. I had to send this back to the library unread about a month ago... too many holds all came at once! I'm looking forward to reaching the top of the list again. Glad to know you loved it.

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  6. JoAnn, I think you would really like it. I often need to return library books unread - why do they all come in at the same time? LOL

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  7. What a tragic story this one tells; that it's based on actual historical events makes it even more heartbreaking. Sounds like an intense read.

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    1. It wasn't as heartbreaking as it could have been had it been a less skilled writer. This was so well-done Sam and I loved that I was left with a feeling tha justice was being served.

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  8. This does sound like a heartbreaking read. And one that would make you angry at what happened to these two girls, too, especially when you think about it being based on something that really happened.

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    1. I know - exactly - so tragic and the fact that the father and grandmother were illiterate and unaware.

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  9. I started the Audible of this, this morning but not very far into it had to stop. Again, like with a lot of my Audible books, the first word of almost every sentence is missing. I could handle it for a while but now it annoys me, a lot! If you have Audible do your books do that?

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  10. Vicki, I have never notice that happening with my audible books - very strange. Have you reached out for help or requested credit? LIBRO.FM is a great site for audiobooks and they donate a portion of each purchase to an INDIE bookstore of your choice. There is an app as well and it's the same price as audible.

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  11. This sounds so amazing and I'm putting this on my tbr list. Great review!

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  12. That's a heartbreaking story and even more so since it was loosely based on actual events. Will keep this book in mind.

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  13. This is crazy awful this happened in history. I've heard others have liked this too. I will put it on my list. It's a bit heavy matter but worth knowing.

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  14. I am so glad you liked this one so much! I think it's so well done and extremely interesting.

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  15. This sounds like it would be a good choice for a book club discussion.

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