Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
"And thank goodness for the memory. Because you never know, do you?"
I don't know where to start with this review, but I will let you know one thing: By the time I reached the final page, my eyes were watering.
After being jilted at the altar, Ebby decides to embark on a 3 month trip to France, to get away from her family, her home & her ex fiancé. Despite the remote location, Ebby bumps into her ex, with his new gf in tow. Ebby is left with no alternative but to reckon with her past. The m*rder of her brother, which took place 20 years earlier, her family history + the memories of Old Mo - the anchor of her family.
Good Dirt covers a multitude of themes:
Grief/ Family expectations/ Interracial dating / Trauma/ Slavery / Race.
One of the themes that struck me the most whilst reading was that of grief. Namely how it informs the choices of those left behind. How, at times, it hinders our ability to be rational, honest + present. This was very prominent within Ebby's immediately family. Ebby hides the pain of her brother's murder from her parents & everybody who she has a close relationship with, but as a result this causes her relationship to falter. Her father, Ed Freeman, is hiding a huge secret from his wife + daughter. And Ebby's mother, Soh, she has an unhealthy obsession with keeping all eyes on Ebby. Grief has altered the make up of this family & I believe that Wilkerson captured this side of grief perfectly.
Ebby herself was a really interesting character to read about. She placed an unhealthy amount of pressure on herself to become a model child for her parents, a sacrifice due to the untimely death of her brother. I never really thought about the pressure that the left behind sibling must feel.
I was surprised whilst reading to find out that this was not only a story of Ebby's struggles. While I enjoyed Ebby's growth & reading of her journey, I was particularly taken by the historical aspect of this book. Charmaine writes historical fiction so beautifully that I was captivated by the chapters from Moses + Willis.
As with most historical fiction relating to slavery, I always feel a pang of sadness that starts in my mind and radiates around my body until it settles in my heart. This story made me think of how lucky the Freeman's were to carry a piece of their family across 6 generations. Old Mo was not just a family heirloom. It was a family member, one that touched the lives, minds & hearts of the Freeman family.
As I continued to read this story, I found myself surprised that I was enjoying it, as it is quite a long-winded story, transversing the perspectives of many. But for me, it worked (maybe not Avery's character, but I suppose she was necessary to bridge the gap between Henry + Ebby). I don't think this will be a book for everyone, but I do hope that those who embark upon the journey of Good Dirt allow this story to unravel & spark thought to our history, our pain, our lost love, our hope, our existence. It wasn't in vain.
Just as the lives of these characters were not in vain. Their experiences shaped + moulded them, their futures, their descendents. In the end, the pain, the sorrow, the lessons, they’re all worth it.
"At least, this. At least, this."
For lovers of The Island of Missing Trees.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.85