Cover Image: Pomegranate

Pomegranate

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Was this review helpful?

Beautiful and necessary story about recovery and connection after incarceration. As the story unfolds we learn more about how Ranita and how she got to this place in her life.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! I’m 8 months pregnant and struggling with insomnia so I’ve been reading from my kindle at night as to not wake my partner, and managed to gobble this book up in a matter of days. The themes were serious, I cried a couple of times, and the author’s prose kept me on every word. I will look forward to more titles by this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book was absolutely beautifully done. So nuanced. Loved the layers to it. Such fantastic character growth. I would read anything from this author.

Was this review helpful?

I was instantly drawn this book from the cover alone. After reading the small synopsis I knew I had to read it. Ranita begins the story finishing up her four-year sentence in prison while also working on her addiction recovery. The book showcases Ranita's journey toward personal growth, working to have her children and other family members back, and the past that brought Ranita to her current life situation. The writing was absolutely beautiful, and I always have a soft spot for stories that take place in the Massachusetts area where I live. Lee explored what it looks like to be a queer, black woman recovering and working to become the person she wants to be. Every time I had to put down the book, I just wanted to keep reading to see where Ranita would go next. I love this story.

Was this review helpful?

This is one of my favorite books I've read so far this year. This book has the feeling of a memoir, but is a fictional story full of real life struggles, feelings, memories, relatable characters, and situations. It is not action packed (but not slow either), but rather it is emotional and hopeful and wonderful.

Was this review helpful?

Getting to know Ranita felt like catching up with an old friend. She is making her way back into society post incarceration, trying to stay clean, fighting for her kids back, and navigating her sexuality in a world that has gone on without her for years. Ranita’s story could be anyone you pass on the street, in the grocery store, or in your neighborhood. 4/5

Was this review helpful?

DNF. Thought I’d be super into this book but the audiobook was pretty dry and I couldn’t get in. Maybe will try again as a physical book later.

Was this review helpful?

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Contemporary literary novel on the struggle of a black woman returning to society after being released from prison. While this is a work of fiction, the emotions and struggles Ranita faced are realistic. I felt that it was well written and thought provoking.

Was this review helpful?

I received this as a hardcopy through a book tour but I could not get into this one - I just don’t think the genre was what I truly enjoy. I think others who like literary fiction would probably like this.

Was this review helpful?

While the novel offers a complex and intimate exploration of queer Black womanhood and the devastating impact of addiction and incarceration, its slow-paced narrative and prose may not be to every reader's taste.

The strength of "Pomegranate" lies in its authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by a Black woman attempting to rebuild her life in the face of marginalization and societal barriers.

Helen Elaine Lee's prose, though precise and descriptive, may not be engaging enough for readers who prefer a faster pace. The slow-burn nature of the story may make it challenging to stay fully invested in the narrative, and some readers might find themselves yearning for more urgency and momentum.

Despite this, the novel's exploration of themes such as family, memory, faith, and love adds depth to Ranita's journey, making it a thought-provoking reading experience. The complexities of queer Black womanhood are thoughtfully depicted, allowing readers to gain insight into the intersectionality of identity and the unique struggles faced by marginalized communities.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Ranita is a recovering addict who is just being released from jail. The novel goes back and forth between her early life and how she got to where she is, her time in jail, and her life after, when she tries to stay sober and earn the right to get her children back. A lot of this is tough to read, and it really shows you how hard it is for someone coming out of prison to stay on the straight and narrow. There is hope, and there are some strong relationships from all parts of her life. #netgalley #simonandschuster #incarceration #advancedreaderscopy #arc #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday

Was this review helpful?

I don't know what I was expecting from this book. Another post-prison story that depresses and opens the. mind, perhaps. But what we have here is a beautifully written, thoughtful, creative story of a woman finding herself, dealing with social injustice, and forging a new path in this world. It's just stunning.

Was this review helpful?

Ranita Atwater is finishing a four-year sentence for opiate possession at Oak Hills Correctional Center. With three years of sobriety, she is determined to stay clean and regain custody of her two children. But she begins to uncover her past during mandated therapy and realizes that she's more complex than she realized. In fact, she's like a pomegranate with multiple parts. As her dad said, "There’s no making up for what’s past, but this here (pomegranate) has got some surprising and wonderful news buried just inside."
This book hit close to home. It's relatable for anyone in recovery or who loves someone in recovery. The author includes multiple tips that support sobriety, including naming gratitudes, crafts, breathing, music, and friendship, which I found helpful.
There's quite a bit of profanity, though. Also, I didn't notice a lyrical tone like the ad copy suggests. And the flashbacks are annoying.
Like Ranita, we are all complex. That reminder can help us continue our unique journey to recovery.

Was this review helpful?

I couldn’t get into the writing style and characterization didn't really work for me. I wanted to enjoy this story but it juts ended up flat for me as much I tried with this one.

Was this review helpful?

I think this novel is going to stay with me for a long, long time. A stunning novel and I can see why it's already being called one of the best of 2023.

Was this review helpful?

Pomegranate was a slow read. It had too many details and wasn't moving fast enough for me. I rarely don't finish a book, but I got about half way through and just couldn't continue. I won't do a public review of the book, because it wouldn't be fair since I didn't finish it.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book so much. Let me just say that first. It’s told in flashbacks where you alternate between Ranita’s present life where’s getting out of prison and figuring out where she’s going to live and how to get custody of her kids back. And then you also see her as a child, as a teen, as someone in the midst of their addiction, etc. You get to see her relationship with her parents, the romantic relationships that have hurt and healed her, the relationship with her kids who are wary of trusting her again. There’s such emotion and ups and downs in this book that really touched my heart. They say that people only remember you for your last mistake, but can people truly forgive and give you a second chance? And I think this book answers that question really well about how to atone for your sins and mistakes, especially when it comes to your children. I like seeing Ranita work through her past, her trauma, her addiction, her questions about her sexuality, it felt so raw and real and like I was reading a memoir of a real person.

I have to share a quote that really encapsulates this book: “Nobody just chooses once, and then the work is done. All day, every day, we’ve got to keep on choosing, over and over again, who we’re going to be.”

Please read this book. I gave it 5 big shiny sparkly stars.

Was this review helpful?

Pomegranate is a gorgeous and moving novel about those that society ignores. This novel shows the true nature of people living through their mistakes with compassion and honesty. Ranita’s journey out of prison, unpacking her trauma, and her daily struggle of figuring out her life. Helen Elaine Lee is an incredible author who gives her characters vulnerability and shows the many ways grief manifests to different people. This novel is stunning. I absolutely recommend it!!

Was this review helpful?

“Here I am, alive and awake. Still going forward and backward. And brave enough to tell about it.”

Pomegranate is a captivating story of Ranita, a queer Black woman trying to adjust to her new life after a 4 year prison sentence for opioid possession. It follows her new life as she struggles to win back her two children while maintaining her sobriety, as well as dealing with past temptations around every corner. The failings of the prison system are a huge highlight of this story, + how difficult our country makes it for those released to get back on their feet. There were also flashbacks of Ranita’s childhood, showing how both trauma and family support affected her growth. There are so many important themes in this book, including redemption, addiction, trauma, abuse, but most of all love. Of family, of partners, and of yourself. This should be on everyone’s must-read list!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this arc.

Was this review helpful?