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    Sister of Mine: A Novel
    Sister of Mine: A Novel
    Sister of Mine: A Novel
    Audiobook17 hours

    Sister of Mine: A Novel

    Written by Sabra Waldfogel

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    When two Union soldiers stumble onto a plantation in northern Georgia on a warm May day in 1864, the last thing they expect is to see the Union flag flying high—or to be greeted by a group of freed slaves and their Jewish mistress. Little do they know that this place has an unusual history.

    Twelve years prior, Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too.

    As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness.

    Now, facing these Union soldiers as General Sherman advances nearer, their bond is put to the ultimate test. Will the plantation be spared? Or will everything they’ve lived for be lost?

    Revised edition: Previously published as Slave and Sister, this edition of Sister of Mine: A Novel includes editorial revisions.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateMay 24, 2016
    ISBN9781522635253
    Sister of Mine: A Novel
    Author

    Sabra Waldfogel

    Sabra Waldfogel grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but has always been fascinated by the drama of slavery and freedom in the South, before and after the Civil War. She studied history at Harvard University and received her PhD in American history from the University of Minnesota. Since then, she has worked as a technical writer and has written about historic architecture for Old House Journal and Arts and Crafts Homes. Waldfogel’s short story “Yemaya” appeared in Sixfold’s Winter 2013 fiction issue. In her free time, she collects and sells antiques with her husband. Sister of Mine is her first novel.

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    Reviews for Sister of Mine

    4.5/5

    138 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down ,amazing history.Truly love the narrator does a great job

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Not a book I would have picked off a shelf, but as I listened I became immersed as the characters developed, the history consisted of why and who won. This provided the depth to the limited knowledge fully enjoyed

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      The first half of the story was believable unlike the second half no slave would so out spoken like Rachel and not been punish like most of these story they sleep with the some person who are their slave masters i can't understand

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Insightful historical fiction. Explores Jewish American immigration and culture during slavery and civil war. Authentic love stories and war stories woven through. Very engaging.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      A new take on old knowledge. I've never heard things explained from the Jewish standpoint. Nor the vivid description of how break breaking cotton picking was. I really enjoyed the story. And this is by far my favorite narrator.
    • 5/5
      I just love the narrators voice! She changes her voice to fit the characters in the story. Love all the ups and downs; and the attention to detail. Awesome audiobook, you should give it a listen.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful portrayal of this era in history. Loved this
    • 1/5
      Like another reviewer stated, believable in the first part but completely outlandish during second. I love historical books but this is more a fantasy/ revisionist book, which is fine, but label as such.
      This seems aimed towards young adults, writing and narrator was childish when characters talk or think to themselves.
      Bizarre book, cannot recommend.
    • 5/5
      The author left me better informed and wanting more. The narrator has me on a google search for more!
    • 5/5
      Wonderful story! I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter. Look forward to reading more from this author.
    • 5/5
      Maybe not easy to believe but very interesting and enjoyable
    • 4/5
      SISTER OF MINE by Sabra WaldfogelAlthough this novel takes place during the years of the Civil War, it is more a novel of two sisters – one white, one black -- and how they learn to not just tolerate, but love each other. Adelaide is the white daughter of the largest plantation owner in their small town. Rachel is her half-sister, born of her father’s liaison with one of his slaves. Rachel serves as her sister’s maid. The novel backtracks to cover the earlier life of the family. In flashbacks, the family dynamics, Adelaide’s family’s Jewishness, Adelaide’s social punishment for a broken engagement, her later marriage and the repercussions of failing to love her husband are explored. The Civil War serves to bring the plot to its conclusion.The novel explores Jews in the South, marriage in wealthy families, the plight of slaves, abolition and slave owners, social conventions in antebellum Southern states, and the dynamics of slaves bearing the master’s children. The characters are well drawn and act and speak in reasonable terms. Good research has been done. The plot is creative and interesting.4 of 5 stars
    • 4/5
      It was a good read. Set back in the civil war days. A beautiful forbidden romance, a two sisters love for one another.
    • 4/5
      Sister of Mine gives an eye-opening portrayal of Southern slavery in the hands of the Jewish people of Georgia.Like Henry, it is hard for me to believe that Jewish people would enslave anyone after their years as slaves in Egypt.Henry puts this aside to put himself into major debt with a Jewish moneylender whose daughter he choosesto take in marriage though they clearly do not love each other. On his small plantation, unable to give his slavestheir freedom by the laws of Georgia, he mostly treats them well and falls in love with his wife's slave, Rachel.He learns that she is the sister of his wife and the plot moves forward easily, if predictably, and ultimately improbably,through the Civil War and The Emancipation Proclamation.
    • 3/5
      Adelaide and Rachel are both daughters of Mordecai, a Jewish plantation owner in Georgia. However, Rachel’s mother was a slave while Adelaide is the daughter of Mordecai’s wife. Rachel is given to Adelaide as a maid, where she is forced to work for her sister. When Adelaide marries and establishes her own household, her husband quickly becomes enamored with Rachel. This book seemed to move very slowly at times. I wish the author had used shorter chapters, or at least used a new chapter every time she switched to a different point of view. Adelaide wasn’t a particularly likeable character, and the author didn’t really show much a transition. One minute she was an angry wife and the next a complacent friend. Despite these criticisms, this was a well written book. The subject matter was interesting, and I would pick up another book by this author.