Today I have a review of The Atlas of Reds and Blues by Devi S. Laskar. Thank you to Counterpoint Press for my copy and the invitation to review. The book is now available!
My Thoughts:
There’s so much I could tell you about The Atlas of Blues and Reds, but there’s so much I’d rather you experience completely on your own if you decide to pick this up. This book is a treasure and a standout.
The narrator, known as The Mother, moves with her family from Atlanta city-proper to the suburbs, where she quickly finds that, though decades have passed since her own childhood, not much has changed.
The questions are always the same. “Where are you from?” “No, really- where are you from?” The narrator was born in the United States to Bengali immigrant parents. But that answer is never enough.
Now she has three daughters to protect and a husband who works all the time, leaving her to fend for the children herself.
The Mother has been living on edge due to the racism she’s been experiencing, and it all comes to a head one morning when the police raid her house. Based loosely on the author’s personal experience with a similar raid, this story instantly comes vividly and sharply to life.
The police call to her house is baseless, and rather than her usual complacency, her anger boils over. The Mother is shot.
The Atlas of Reds and Blues is an enlightening portrayal of the experience of some second-generation Americans. It offers insight into being a woman of color at work, in the suburbs, as a friend, a wife, and mother. The writing is lyrical and the storyline completely immersive. Overall, I easily give The Atlas of Reds and Blues my highest recommendation. It made me think. It made me feel. It left me inspired.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
An arresting debut novel which bears witness to American racism and abuse of power, tracing one woman’s shift from acquiescence to resistance.
When an unnamed narrator moves her family from the city of Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small southern town. Despite the intervening decades, the woman, known only as The Mother, is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrant parents, her truthful answer, here, is never enough. She finds herself navigating a climate of lingering racism with three daughters in tow and a husband who spends more time in business class than at home.
The Mother’s simmering anger breaks through one morning, when, during a baseless and prejudice-driven police raid on her house, she finally refuses to be calm, complacent, polite—and is ultimately shot. As she lies bleeding on her driveway, The Mother struggles to make sense of her past and decipher her present—how did she end up here?
Devi S. Laskar has written a brilliant debut novel novel that grapples with the complexities of the second-generation American experience, what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace, a sister, a wife, a mother to daughters in today’s America. Drawing inspiration from the author’s own terrifying experience of a raid on her home, The Atlas of Reds and Bluesexplores, in exquisite, lyrical prose, an alternate reality that might have been.
Have you read The Atlas of Reds and Blues, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Wonderful review and beautiful picture, Jennifer. I am looking forward to this cultural read. Thanks, Jennifer and enjoy your weekend. 🌸🌷😊❤️📚🌻🌹
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Great review Jennifer and I love the picture you took of this book. It sounds very emotional and heart wrenching. A tough story about the discrimination that goes on and affects to many.
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I have not yet heard of this book or author. I will be on the lookout for it. Another wonderful review, Jennifer!
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I love the sound of this book! I must definitely check it out! Great review, Jennifer! And tulips!!!!!!! 😍😍😍❤️❤️
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Thanks, Jee! It’s a wonderful read, and you’ll recognize the setting, I think! ♥️ Almost tulip time in the yard! Woo hoo! 🌷 ♥️
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This sounds intense! And exactly the kind of story we need right now. Thanks for sharing this 😊
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Thanks, Tammy, and I agree- we definitely could use more perspectives likes this!
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Awesome review! Will save this on my list for when i feel like reading a contemporary 🙂
P.S. beautiful picture! Tulips are my fave 🙂
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Thanks, Norrie! Tulips are my favorite too! This is such a good and important book. I hope you get a chance to read it. ♥️
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Great review 💚
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Thank you! ♥️
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Oh this one sounds so good! Awesome review Jen!! I’m off to check the library! Happy Friday!
Love the tulips!!⚘🌷⚘🌷
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Thanks, Sus! This author is originally from North Carolina. I hope you can find the book! ♥️ I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday! Xoxo
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Wow this sounds like an emotional (and heart-wrenching) read that will really provoke thought. Just reading the synopsis, I am so upset for The Mother. Going on my mile long list!
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It’s definitely an emotional and thought-provoking book, LP! I hope you get a chance to read it! ♥️
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Wow! Fantastic review, Jennifer💜
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Thanks, Jonetta! This is a NC author and she did an amazing job with her debut. ♥️
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This sounds fabulous, Jen! I know that I’d enjoy it too. Your review is lovely, my friend! I hope you’ve had a wonderful day. xoxo ♥
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Wonderful review Jen! I don’t mind immersing myself in this mother’s story. This one goes on my TBR.
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I hadn’t heard of this book, but goodness me, it sounds interesting!
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It was so engaging, Chrissi! I really enjoyed it.
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Fabulous review!! It is definitely going on my list!
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Thanks, Mackey! I think you’d enjoy this thought-provoking book. ♥️
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Wow. Great review. This also seems timely with all the current hate out there. Heart-breaking but realistic.
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Thanks, Anne! Absolutely true. Completely honest.
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Wow, this sounds like a powerful and timely read. Another excellent review!
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Thanks, Suzanne! Definitely powerful, timely, and important.
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Oh, this sounds so good! I love getting lost in books where immigration and identity are discussed as I can relate to them so much. I’m glad to see you enjoyed this one and I will definitely look into it myself!
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Thanks, Darina! I hope you can find this one. It made me wish for more books like this and for more people to read them!
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Oh my goodness Jenni this looks like such a powerful read! I NEED it. 😳 Fantastic review.
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Thanks, Beth! You do, you do! It’s been a few days, and I’m still finding myself reflecting on it. ♥️
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This sounds like one I want to get from my library really soon!
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I hope you get a chance to read it, Shell!
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This must be quite a story! So sad that stories like this do happen in our country. Wonderful review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Mack! It was so powerful and engaging!
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Oh wow, this sounds intense Jen, such heavy themes too. Definitely something I’d like to read too. Great review.
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Thanks, Diana! It was powerful and emotional and really kept me on my toes- thinking!
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