I met Bernice McFadden at a reading and panel discussion a couple years ago. The brief conversation we had inspired my Master’s thesis. I’d already read both Sugar and This Bitter Earth by that time, so I was a little star-struck. But, a friendlier and more open woman you will not meet. So, thank you Ms. McFadden for being a source of inspiration and a reminder of the great things about working in this industry.

This review originally appeared on Goodreads.

Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure I have the words to adequately express the emotions and the tears this book dragged out of me. So vivid and so brutal. I wasn’t just reading Sugar’s loneliness, the despair, the hopelessness – I felt it. I was left feeling as empty as Pearl. At times I didn’t want to put it down, while…