Customer Reviews

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. Like other readers, I fell in love with "King Solomon". I had my reservations about him from the cover synopsis, but as I read I became too focused on him and his true love for the women in his life to think about what bothered me from the cover.

Solomon's love for the women in his life was phenomenal. He ached for each of them in different ways. The portrayal of Solomon with Ashia and Miriam was profound. I began to ache for Solomon as the story unfolded. As Solomon yearned in different ways for the loves in his life, I yearned for Solomon's happiness.

It is refreshing and unusual to find a man's story told from a different viewpoint. Had the story been told differently, I can see where I might feel some degree of dislike for a man like Solomon. Yet, the author's sensitivity to Solomon and his plight (to love equally but differently two very different women), placed the main male character in a more favorable light. As in reality, the author appears to realize that a man's choices are not always selfish and/or sexually driven.

Through this book, I feel like I have a better understanding of a custom that previously left me with a bad thought. Before the book, I could not understand for what reasons a man might think he needs more than one wife. I now feel I can understand it better. I still don't agree with it, but I can understand Solomon's position. As I read this book, I also found myself sometimes lying the book down as I reflected on my own life and thinking of better ways to educate children in my life about our heritage. Solomon had a fierce pride in his blackness and an even stronger desire to learn about our wonderful history.

Finally, I read a review that described this book as overly long. I disagree; I found this book to be too short. I want more. I want a sequel. I want to learn what happens to Ashia and the baby and what happens in Miriam's life.

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is overwhelming, it is one of the best book I have read, ever. Set mostly in Ghana and the Caribbean , the scenic descriptions were lush, almost visual. The characters were rich in human spirit and intune with a higher power and were able to show the sacrificies made, when you truly love.

Solomon Wilberforce, the main character was delivered by a 9 year old midwife, to a teenage mother. He spent his early childhood in the Caribbean and then moved to New York City, the home of his absentee, unyielding farther. Solomon, using the pen name Beento Blackbird, writes children's stories about African history using the Blackbird to impart his messages. He returns to the Caribbean, marries his midwife, Miriam, and is seemingly happy, but, during his travels gathering infomrmation for his books, he meets and marries Ashia, a young Ghanian woman. Solomon lives his life in seasons, the winter season in the Caribbean with Miriam, the summer season with Ashia and the remaining season is spent in New York writing. Each wife is aware of the other and have different feelings about the arrangement.

The death of Solomon's farher disrupts his seasons, and thrust his life into a tailspin. When Ashia, with her infant son, travels to the Caribbean and the wives meet for the first time, Solomon has a decision to make. The beauy of this story is that aside from having two wives, Solomon is a decent man. Highly influenced by the teachings of is mother and the lack of teachings from his father, Solomon has lived in emotional turmoil. He wants to belong to one wife, one woman, one love, but he loves both and has never committed fully to either.

Miriam and Ashia share an equal love for Solomon and have themselves bonded. As a reader you find yourself pulling for both wives, because they both deserve the best. Will Solomon continue to live with his wives are will he follow his heart and become ONE with one.

At different stops on Solomon's journey you couldn't wait to see how the story would end. This is a must read.

This book paints the story of a brilliant but realistically flawed protagonist (Solomon), cycling through seasons of living with a Carribean wife, a Ghanaian wife, and a woman in New York City who abstains from commitment for ten years because she is secretly in love with him. Being an American man, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the blind devotion of the three women towards a character who isn't convincingly charming in anything other than description.

The book does take too long developing, with no real plot until about halfway in. However, this book begins to become compelling once Solomon breaks his seasonal pattern and is forced to confront his polygamy, which is only acceptable in the Ghanaian culture but in practice not satisfying to anyone. It's hard to sympathize with Solomon, who, despite his professional significance as a writer bridging multiple cultures, is utterly flaky, selfish, and irresponsible in his treatment of women. But this is a realistic and cross-cultural look at what makes committed relationships work.

Solomon Wilberforce can make it rain! I mean literally and figuratively. He walks in a room and the air shifts, he's a talented writer of books for children, a man of the people,
socially aware, handsome and gracious. Maybe too much for one woman, that's why Solomon has three. No he's not a player anything that trivial and gaudy would be beneath him.

Let's start with Sam, his agent, their relationship is strictly platonic but she knows a rainmaker when she sees one and is hopelessly in love with Solomon. He likes her, enjoys her company, thinks she's a beautiful, talented sister but that's the extent of his interest. He only sees her in the Spring & Fall during his "working" seasons.

Miriam is his winter woman, his first love and wife. Miriam, a beautiful midwife, is an icon herself on their home island of Jamaica, she delivered Solomon when she was only 9 years old. Their souls are connected.

Summer belongs to Aisha, a young beautiful Ghanaian woman, one look in those big, jet black eyes and Solomon was a goner. Aisha is his second wife. Of course this noble warrior asked Miriam's permission to marry Aisha and she consented.

Everything was fine, had been for over 5 years, until Solomon stepped out of season. This is a beautiful story wonderfully told. Busia is a very gifted writer.

This is one of the best stories that I have read in ALL of my years of reading! I had seen the book in the bookstore, but would not pick it up because I was not familiar with the author. The book happened to be on my bookclub reading list, so I bought it without knowing what the story had to offer. I am so grateful for the bookclub for having it on the list and Akosua Busia for writing such a beautiful story. The story has a lot of history that I am clueless about. After reading the book, I felt like I should read more books about the history of Africa.

I did not agree with what Solomon did to Ashia and Miriam, but he was honest and he treated them kind. Although he seemed to be a little confused, he did the best he could with what he knew.

I was really impressed with the way he wanted to educate the children of their history through his books. I was so caught up in his story telling that if it were really a Beento Blackbird, I would buy the books.

I cannot give this book justice through a simple review. You really ought to buy the book and read it for yourself. I will not pass another book by written by Akosua Busia, because I trust that the next will be as good or better than this one.

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird was an incredible story. I can't wait for the movie! If I had a decent budget to work with, I'd create the movie myself featuring Carl Lumbly as Solomon, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Miriam, the author as Ashia, and Sally Richardson as Samantha James. Michael Beach would play the role of Solomon's father beautifully and Angela Bassett would be Solomon's mother (as a young girl and as a ghost years later). That actor from Amistad would have to play Olu! The author did a wonderful job of developing each of the characters. I felt love, hate, anger, and tears of joy during the many "scenes". I felt I was right there (a fly on the wall) watching as these women tried to love their shared man. Solomon Wilberforce tried so hard to "do the right thing". He was pulled in so many different directions. The women in his life, just wanted to be loved, unfortunately the cost was truly too high. This is a wonderful book. Our Book Club reviewed this book, with prepared questions. Four hours later, we were still talked and laughing and having the time of our lives. Everyone absolutely loved the story. Not everyone in Our Bookclub loved Solomon Wilberforce, unfortunately. I understood his situation, not that I would want my husband to marry another woman and divide his time between continents, but I loved his character and everything he stood for, particularly the role with the African American children. I can hardly wait for Ms. Busia's next book. Hats off, lady - ya done good!

I read this book for the first time 6 years ago. I enjoyed it so much that I have been waiting with bated breath for Ms. Busia to write another book. I suggested Beento Blackbird for my book club and recently re-read it. It was even better the second time around. This is on my top 10 list of all time favorite books.

Ms. Busia is a very gifted writer and story teller. The way she linked the Carribean, Africa and the United States through the experiences of one man (Solomon) was masterful. The thing that most impressed me about the book was that she dared to tackle a "taboo" subject, polygamy, and did it in such a manner as to not put off the reader. As an American woman, my instinctual response to Solomon would be to dislike him and write him off as a cad. And, to some extent, I feel that he was a cad. However, I was still able to care about him and empathize with him. I also liked how she presented the subject matter from the point of view of the wives, Miriam and Ashia. I was able to understand their motives and why they made the decisions they made, whether or not I agreed with those decisions.

Another thing I liked is that all three main characters were strong. Even in times of weakness, you could still feel their strength. Neither character sold themselves out. I respected them. By the same token, the author's character development was so complete that even the peripheral characters were significant and I was able to see their importance to the story.

Her prose is very lyrical and descriptive. I felt transported to the Carribean and Ghana. I could feel the breeze from the ocean, I could smell and taste the foods, I could see the people and their activities, I could hear the music, the language... I was completely enthralled. I love when a book takes me to another place and I feel as if I am walking right beside the characters as they are living their stories. This book does that for me. Some members of my book club commented that she was a bit too "wordy" in the beginning (I did not feel this way), but were glad they "stuck it out" as the story unfolded and they enjoyed the rest of the book.

I also like that the ending provides closure. You are fairly certain of the fates of the characters and not left "hanging."
Nevertheless, Ms. Busia, I'm still holding my breath, waiting on another novel from you. How long before I can finally "exhale?" ;-)

Though it has been five years since I read this book, I remember it well. In the summer of 97, I hung to the beautifully written words of Busia's debut novel as she took me on an international vacation that was educational, picturesque and sensuous.

"The Seasons of Beento Blackbird" is an excellent novel that awakens your imagination to the creativity of a writer. Solomon Wilberforce is very passionate about the hero of his children's books, Beento Blackbird. He spends a season in Ghana studying its rich, royal African history. Once he gathers his information and completes his season abroad, he returns to New York where he spends another season in seclusion - writing. When his book is complete, he spends the next season with his lovely wife, Miriam, who awaits her beloved on a Caribbean island.

During one of his seasons in Ghana, things change for Solomon... the seasons, the story, and the actual characters who play a part in his life. The romantic hero is suddenly unable to restore order and runs from it all. In the meantime, the author continues with her creatively woven story. The ending is happy, and so are the readers.

You may become extremely upset with the main character because of his indecisiveness, but that is the beauty of the book. It was well written and seem to flow like poetry for me. I could not put it down and I was sad to see it end. i look forward to Ms. Busia's next book.

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is a wonderfully written debut novel from Akusia Busia( aka Nettie from the Color Purple). Ms. Busia transports us across continents and cultures as she provides us an emotionally charged and thought provoking read about a very sensitive and taboo subject. Polygamy, One Man, Two Wives--A Disaster Waiting to explode.

Seasons is the tale of a very ambitious man and the intriguing web he weaves when he allows himself to fall in love and marry two women on two different continents. Solomon Wilberforce is a smart businessman with admirable, altruistic traits as well as a successful author of children stories about African culture/ history who writes under the pen name Beento Blackbird. Solomon lives his life compartmentalized into seasons. During the winter months, he lives in the Caribbean with his first wife, Miriam, who is 9 years older than him and who has always loved him since the day she delivered him as a midwife. During the spring, Solomon travels to Ghana and spends his time with young, second wife, Ashia. Although Solomon is sharing himself, each wife is aware of the other, and endures the arrangement. However, all partners will soon come to realize that the relationship of sharing will be more complex and emotional than either of them ever imagined. The summer/fall periods are devoted to writing and he spends that time in NYC where his literary agent, Samantha(Sam) only has eyes for Solomon and she tries to convince Solomon that she can do for him what two wives can't. Solomons life runs smoothly until he's forced to return to NYC to deal with the death of his father which immediately sends his world into a tailspin and forces him to make some hard decisions about his future and his wives.

Busia delivers a very complicated love story in a breathtaking and thought provoking manner. Her writing is descriptive and vivid as she "takes you there" you can see the beautiful colors of the island, taste the rich ethnic foods, hear the ocean, smell the rain, and feel the anger, pain, tension, sadness, joy and love of the characters. While Solomon has his faults, for the most part he's a decent man and you share his anguish as he comes to realize that some of the decisions he made were in poor judgment. The two wives are compelling and realistic characters, although at times I wanted to shake some sense into both of them and tell them to forget about Solomon and move on with their lives. In the end, I was happy to see that both ladies made decisions that they could live with. Seasons is an enchanting and skillfully crafted book with thought provoking situations. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a refreshing read and a lively discussion.