Sorrowland, by Rivers Soloman

 

Vern has grown up in a commune, one that is organized by a religious cult. As a bright child, she begins to question the beliefs of the adults raising her and chafes at the rules imposed on her. At the age of fifteen, she has already been married off to the cult leader and is pregnant. Desperately unhappy and with no one she can relate to, she escapes into the surrounding woods.

Rivers Solomon has drawn Vern's character in a well-written, intelligent manner. Vern is a young woman who is torn between some of the teachings of Cainites and what her intelligence perceives to be her truth. It is important to the story that the Cainites are African-Americans who separate themselves from the surrounding economy, especially white culture. The members of this community have sought to live together and help one another without persecution and mistreatment.  However, as Vern slowly realizes, the Cainites are still victims. There is an atrocity happening here, and it's told as an unfolding mystery. 

Vern's life in the woods is filled with birthing and raising twins, survivalist skills, and finding herself. She is a complex character who is damaged and confused by her childhood, angry with the adults in her life, especially her mother, and trying her hardest to be a better mother to her children. It is during this time in the woods that this novel begins to seem like science fiction--the way Vern is changing and her superhuman skills and strength alert us that something has been done to her.

Without giving away too much of the story, Vern does eventually become involved with other people and is able to confront her past as well as her present. 

The events I'm leaving out in this review are quite fascinating. The action is well-paced, the characters come off the page, and it's a pleasure to read about such strong female characters.  This is a thought-provoking, good read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this opportunity!