An indepth look at the cycle of trauma. Once I grasped the authors writing style, I was captivated. Highly recommend!

This book has a LOT of characters.

I was really engaged with the story, and I’ve never read a biomythography before and it was cool how the author wove her family history into a fictional/nonfiction novel.

The one thing that was tough with this novel was that the point of view switches to different characters, which isn’t the issue, it’s that it would bounce from second person to third person and back to second person, so when it was like “you did this and you did this” I was like you who?? And had to try and figure out whose story we were on and when.

I’d recommend reading a physical/ebook of this to make it easier to track, because on audio it was complicated.

Overall, I thought this was good, hard to read in some areas as there’s a lot of abuse, but very well written aside from the POV bouncing around. I’m not sure why the author chose to switch that around.

Another one to pick up if you like historical novels, and if you want to give a biomythography a try.

Biomythography is a new genre to me. I really enjoyed the historical aspects along with pictures. The same story told by different perspectives provided new insights. I would have liked to have a family tree included.

eman Hill is a biomythography (a new-to-me word) about two families with complicated relationships, that migrate from the South to New Jersey in 1916. Upon arrival, they learn the North isn’t necessarily “the promised land” and work to establish their new lives there. The story spans several decades and generations, and the family members experience both hardship and hurt.

I listened to most of Coleman Hill on audio, as it’s hard to pass on Bahni Turpin and Dion Graham narrating! I appreciated the family tree in the physical book, which not only has a great cover but also high quality pages and photos throughout. I also appreciated reading Kim Coleman Foote’s author note regarding how this story came to be, blending facts and fiction together.

I would like to thank NetGalley and SJP Lit for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Showing the speech, tone and flavor of her family's language, Kim Coleman Foote has provided a legacy album and storybook of her own particular family tree. As a family historian, it inspired me and impressed me with her meticulous rendering of complex dialog wrapped around often troubling situations. Although this was not the usual read for me, there wasn't a moment I questioned authenticity or genuine portrayals. I descend from the South, too, and many of these speech patterns shape my thoughts at times. That said, there is explicitness that might set some readers back, and there are trigger topics present.

Not an easy read, but a mighty one, well-researched and presented. Bravely done, too, as sometimes when writing about family, the ones who might take most umbrage may be the very ones you face across the table every holiday. Secrets spilled for strangers who feel no sting at their revelation probe heart-deep when close relatives have never heard them.

Characters are many, all on courses of collision and consequence. This isn't a book that urges a reader to "like" or categorize them as good and bad. Rather, on one hand it pleads for consideration of each character's motivations, intentions and history, and on the other hand seems unconcerned should the reader not get the message. Those back stories and flashes back, given in parts, pieces and differing POVs create the book as a whole. By the time a reader gets to the end, the author provides an epilogue with her own path and process to the creation of this book, a powerful conclusion on its own.

*A sincere thank you to Kim Coleman Foote, Zando Projects, SJP Lit, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review. #ColemanHill #NetGalley

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.

Really couldn’t get into this one - jumps in perspective prevented me getting into the narrative flow, couldn’t see it coming together after a decent ways in either.

I struggled with this book. I wanted desperately to like the story. Its pace seemed rather slow. It is clearly a story to showcase the characters and their day-to-day life over generations in early 20th century. A time where not much has been written about black families. I empathized with the racial struggles that were presented in gaining autonomy and employment, but I also felt that characters played into negative stereotypes (which may be truth in their actions since the authors notes state, she did use her own family with fictional embellishment) but made me uncomfortable to see portrayed. If that was the intent of the author, then kudos. If not, the story to me becomes more fuel for biased people today to continue beliefs that black families are lacking civility, easy to enrage, condone slurs and violence. I am certainly not suggesting glossing over fact for fear of readers and not all books should have a perfect happy ending; however, I was not left with a since of hope or inspiration for this family. Again, if that was the author's intention then they were a success.

Thanks to NetGalley & SJP Lit publisher for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I was offered the opportunity to read this novel because I had enjoyed "Black Cake." Let me warn you not to make the same mistake I did – this is not anything like Black Cake. And even though it does give insight as to what Black people have endured in America (racism, sexism, violence, poverty, abuse), you would also learn these facts by reading "The Violin Conspiracy," "The Invention of Wings," "The Help," "The Vanishing Half" as well as "Black Cake" - and I rated all of these 5 stars.

Coleman Hill is a depressing, unrelenting, violent story inspired by the author’s own family legend, historical record, and avid imagination. The book is labeled a “biomythography” – a word coined by the late writer Audre Lorde. Combining family stories, records, and memories, the story is told in the voices of two friends, going back and forth in time, beginning in 1916. There were many characters to keep track of and whether young or old, male or female, mother, father, or child, they all seemed to be stuck in the life of physical, mental and sexual abuse, violence, hunger, alcoholism, and selfish hatred.

I gave myself permission to stop at 50%, as it was just perpetually violent, miserable, wretched and without hope.

A brilliant book! Coleman Hill is a heart wrenching, honest and unforgettable story about two families that become intertwined and tangled in the most dysfunctional way. It’s a saga based in fact, the story of two American families who settled in New Jersey following the Great Migration, as they struggle to leave the segregated South for jobs and opportunities in the North. The author tells the story through the eyes of various relatives so the reader is presented with multiple viewpoints of the family dysfunction. This is a deeply moving, unforgettable book. I highly recommend it. I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley as an advance reader copy in exchange for an objective review.

The structure of book, and the reference to Audre Lorde’s genre “biomythography” drove my interest in this book. It’s a beautifully written story of the great migration, zooming in on memorable family characters over a few generations. I found the first third of the book really enthralling and then the pacing slowed down a lot. Still an enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this one! It vividly mapped how trauma permeates a family tree & no matter how hard some people fight against it, they just can’t escape it.

The Civil War has ended and 2 Black families join many others in heading North to a better life. The beginning of how their actions, period in history, and racism will have effects for generations to come. A story of being Black in America.

Thank you Zando Projects, SJP Lit for accepting my request to read and review Coleman Hill on NetGalley.

Stars: 2.5

A miss. This is a stereotypical cliche. I was reminded of an old television series - Dragnet: the names have been changed.

The family drama went on for years, passed to each generation. The story begins around 1916 in the South and moves to the North. What has changed? Very little. Familial cliches.

I found the story and language difficult to read.

Based on generations of the author’s family, this book tells the story of two families who migrated to New Jersey from the racism of the south. Once friends, the unsuccessful blending of their families impacts them for generations. Includes alcoholism, drug addiction, abuse, and family strife.

Coleman Hill is part history, part biography, and part myth of author Kim Coleman Foote's actual ancestors. I really thought I would love it more!
What I loved:
1. A debut author that has done a beautiful job of sharing history in this unique way.
2. The way that the author takes real life photographs and stories and weaves them into a new story.

What I wanted to be different;
1. Maybe a family tree at the beginning of the book to help us connect all the characters.
2. There was so many POV in the chapters with the many characters - that I had a hard time keeping track of them. Each of the characters could have had their own book!
 
Thanks to the Zando Projects and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

If you liked The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois, Pachinko, or any other multigenerational family saga, Coleman Hill is a MUST READ.

This is a story about 2 different families that moved from Alabama to New Jersey in 1916. The two mothers of these families begin as friends but after their children engage in some unseemly acts together their friendship abruptly ends. We follow these 2 women, their children, their grand children, and their great grand children through the years.

Coleman Hill reminds me of the above books I also adore, but it is also so unique. I did not realize until the end that this is not fully fiction, it is actually what the author calls a biomythography - and it originated as the author was doing research on her own family history. The author attempted to remain true to history by talking with family members, but had to fill in some blanks and take creative liberties to see the story realized in this way.

I could feel this connection the author had with the story and the text. Even before I knew it was a biomythography I kept thinking how intimate it felt. The author wrote these characters with such dearness and love - but not in a way that felt like rose colored glasses. I could tell the author had respect for these women and men; flaws, mistakes, and struggles included, and it shined through in the writing. These characters were all so real and fleshed out and as a reader I felt love and understanding for them even when they were far from perfect. Part of that I think comes from the authors connection, but I also find myself feeling this way when I read multigenerational stories because we have soooo much context by the end.

This story is a great illustration of two Black American families, intergenerational trauma, and struggles with poverty, domestic violence, friendships, parenthood, alcoholism, and more.

I listened to this on audio and the narration was EXCELLENT. My girl Bahni Turpin is the narrator and she is so talented!!

*Thank you to Zando and Netgalley for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely LOVED this book! It felt like I was right there with the members of the family in the book. It really made me remember why I love reading so much all.

A stunning debut. I loved that the story was inspired by the author’s family history.
Many thanks to Zando Projects and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.