A Spear Of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn is honestly probably my least favorite of her books. I guess reading a 2013 release with a 2019 mindset will lead to that sort of feeling sometimes. You might be wondering why I read such a backlist book — it is because I have this summer mission to read and review 30 outstanding Netgalley queue books. So, I borrowed this one from the library with the expectation that I would love it. Afterall, I had yet to meet a Raybourn book that I did not love.

Set in 1923 Colonial Kenya, A Spear Of Summer Grass details the story of Delilah Drummond who is exiled to Africa after scandal involving one of her marriages erupts. Delilah is not prim. She’s not proper. In fact, she really has some loose morals. At heart, she’s a good person though. Anyways, while in Africa with her cousin Dodo, she meets other local white people as well as Africans and there’s some drama including murder. I would say that it was really hard to turn off my 2019 mindset and outlook.

Delilah is a white savior character. And like, it kind of seems like all of the Black characters are simple people and not complex. It’s like they are painted with a paternalistic paint brush. I don’t know if that’s on purpose because the book is from the point of view of a white colonist. It just feels weird and uncomfortable to read in 2019, is all.

The romance and chemistry between Delilah and Ryder are excellent though. I liked that they’re both a little bit wild and unconventional. It’s blatantly obvious that they’re going to hook up. No taming involved though, which is different but a good thing. Also, some vulnerability between the two which was great to read.

It should probably also be noted that there’s lots of hook ups among the white colonists and it is super casual. I did find myself wondering how no one got pregnant. Also at one point is a weird sort of “party” and some use of IV drugs. I was not at all expecting or prepared for that. So yeah, this book really gets scandalous.

Aside from all this, Raybourn really makes Kenya sound absolutely breathtaking. I appreciated her skill in describing setting and scenery. There’s a true sense of place in A Spear Of Summer Grass. However, despite these strengths, there’s just too much re: interactions between the colonists and how they’re paternalistic for me to say THIS IS A MUST READ. It’s hit or miss, I think.

This was a book group choice. My book group was divided but most loved it. Found the setting exotic and intoxicating. We haven't read much set in that time period so it was interesting. A good pick for book groups.