Book Review: The Scent of Burnt Flowers by
Fleeing persecution in 1960s America, a Black couple seeks asylum in Ghana, but fresh dangers and old secrets threaten their newfound freedom in this hypnotic debut novel.
Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power.
My Review:
The story takes place alternating from 1935-1965 from Mississippi, Philadelphia, Accra, and Baton Rouge Louisiana and reflecting from the past to the present events.
I love the reference to Green Book (also known as the Negro motorist’s bible. It cataloged all Negro-owned and Negro-friendly restaurants, hotels, and gas stations that were safe to patronize), as Melvin and Bernadette drove from Philadelphia to Alabama during the civil rights movement to volunteer at the Alabama State University branch of SNCC, where they helped train nonviolent student protesters.
I have heard repeatedly and recently the fruition of black mermaids from the nearly 12.5 million enslaved Africans, about 1.8 million of whom died on the Middle Passage of the transatlantic slave trade. This human cargo, which usually numbered several hundred people per vessel, many escaped by jumping overboard committed suicide in this way, so did some crew members. Yes, mermaids are mythological creatures, but their African origins are real. People who were lost to the water could become water spirits.
Chapter 6 turned the story into a fantasy, mystical tale, and again in chapter twelve where The SSV, also known as the Shapeshifters Vanguard, was a secret army sworn to protect President Nkrumah. The novel ends with a singular fate that was intertwined from the beginning. I loved how the author infused real life, historical people and facts within the story, and the alternating flashbacks interspersed throughout the novel. This was a great read!
Historical Facts:
I learned about, Agya Ko, a World War II veteran and virtuoso guitarist. He had a brief successful music career.
Francis Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. A gifted student, by 1943 Nkrumah had earned multiple bachelor's and master's degrees in economics, sociology, education, theology, and was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence.
Queen Yaa Asantewaa, led an army of five thousand soldiers, attacking the British garrisons and forts. The siege led to more than a thousand British fatalities, and it lasted for six months. She was arrested and exiled to the Seychelles, where she died.
Mansa of the Mali Empire, which reached its territorial peak during his reign. Musa is known for his wealth and generosity. He has been subject to popular claims that he is the wealthiest person in history. Elmina Castle is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with other castles and forts in Ghana, because of its testimony to the Atlantic slave trade.
Agbadza is a very popular recreational dance. It entertains people at funerals, weddings and any other get-together or party. Even the modern bands in the cities like to incorporate this fun rhythm into their music.
Ahmed Sékou Touré was a Guinean political leader and African statesman who became the first president of Guinea, serving from 1958 until his death in 1984. Touré was among the primary Guinean nationalists involved in gaining independence of the country from France. He would later die in the United States in 1984
Check Out the Spotify Playlist that Inspired Blitz Bazawule’s The Scent of Burnt Flowers!
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