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    Citizens Creek: A Novel
    Citizens Creek: A Novel
    Citizens Creek: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    Citizens Creek: A Novel

    Written by Lalita Tademy

    Narrated by JD Jackson

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    The New York Times bestselling author of the Oprah Book Club Pick Cane River brings us the evocative story of a once-enslaved man who buys his freedom after serving as a translator during the American Indian Wars, and his granddaughter, who sustains his legacy of courage.

    Cow Tom, born into slavery in Alabama in 1810 and sold to a Creek Indian chief before his tenth birthday, possessed an extraordinary gift: the ability to master languages. As the new country developed westward, and Indians, settlers, and blacks came into constant contact, Cow Tom became a key translator for his Creek master and was hired out to US military generals. His talent earned him money—but would it also grant him freedom? And what would become of him and his family in the aftermath of the Civil War and the Indian Removal westward?

    Cow Tom’s legacy lives on—especially in the courageous spirit of his granddaughter Rose. She rises to leadership of the family as they struggle against political and societal hostility intent on keeping blacks and Indians oppressed. But through it all, her grandfather’s indelible mark of courage inspires her—in mind, in spirit, and in a family legacy that never dies.

    Written in two parts portraying the parallel lives of Cow Tom and Rose, Citizens Creek is a beautifully rendered novel that takes the listener deep into a little known chapter of American history. It is a breathtaking tale of identity, community, family—and above all, the power of an individual’s will to make a difference.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateNov 4, 2014
    ISBN9781480562516
    Author

    Lalita Tademy

    Lalita Tademy is the author of Cane River, a New York Times bestselling novel and the Oprah’s Book Club 2001 Summer Selection, and its critically acclaimed sequel, Red River. She lives in California.

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    Reviews for Citizens Creek

    4/5

    46 ratings4 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I received a copy of this work courtesy of GoodReads Giveaways.

      Tademy's work goes to great efforts to bring you into the lives of displaced Native Americans and their slaves as they struggle through the Trail of Tears. While some of the dialogue can be choppy, this is a work that will make you legitimately care for the characters and their struggles, with a hope that SOMETHING will work out in their favor. This book sugarcoats nothing - and in doing so, offers a unique view into a dark point of American history during an age of expansion.
    • 4/5
      Perfect book for your next book club read. Citizen’s Creek is a fascinating story based on a real black family living as Creek Indians from the 1800s, spanning 3 generations of great change. The story appears to be well researched and is very well told. Never knew that the Indians took black slaves, and so far no one that I’ve spoken with about this book had known either (you will want to speak with people about this book!). It is an amazing story of perseverance, starting with Cow Tom’s rise from slavery to becoming a free man, and ultimately a chief himself. I wasn’t emotionally attached to this story as I was with Cane River (and I hate to be that person who has to compare the two because it is just not fair with a writer as good as Lalita Tademy). I think it was because of the large leaps ahead in the story line. I would have preferred a lengthier work, filling in some of those gaps, but that is just me. I like getting involved in the minutia that a lot of readers would rather skip. The gap between grandfather and granddaughter was to be expected and would have worked out just fine, but gaps within each main character’s stories were what threw me off at times and made me a little detached. But, it is also why I think it makes for a good book club pick; not too daunting, but enough there that would spark really good conversations. Conversations not just about the history itself, but there are some good plot points and character motives to analyze as well.There was also so much more I really wanted to know about the time period and politics that there just wasn’t time to get to in this story, but it was enough to pique my interest to make me want to read further about the actual family the book was based on, but also about the period itself—which, I think is what Historical Fiction is really all about. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I had absolutely no idea that in the 1800's, Creek and Seminole Indians owned black slaves. Many of these slaves would in time become accepted as part of the tribe, being both Indian and black.This is the remarkable story of one such family, starting with Cow Tom, whose mother was kidnapped by the Seminoles and who would himself be sold at the age of ten to a Creek Indian Chief. He would eventually be loaned to the Army to help with the Indian removal of all tribes from Florida. As a translator he would do many things that he was ashamed of, many things he felt he needed to atone for.After his death the story would continue with his grand daughter Rose. Both these characters and many of the second characters are fully fleshed and memorable. This is a story of Indian Wars, the founding of colored towns after the Civil War and the making of a family and the hard work that went into farming their land. This novel covers so much history , but is also a novel about the importance of family, of land and keeping what is yours, forgetting the past and looking towards the future. Eventually it will come down to forgiveness, to learning to let go in order to keep hope alive. Such a remarkable story, told in straightforward prose that is nonetheless brilliant in its execution. I really wanted the story to continue, to find out what happens to this family in the future. The authors note explains that this is a story based on a real family, one in which many of their descendants are still alive today. Just love explanatory author's notes. ARC from NetGalley.
    • 4/5
      This multigenerational tale relates the story of Cow Tom, a black man enslaved to a Creek Indian in Alabama who became a chief in the Creek Nation. The story follows Cow Tom and his desire to purchase his freedom through his marriage to Amy, his service in the Seminole Wars, the birth of his children, his removal to Indian Territory, his loyalty to the Tribe, and then follows his granddaughter Rose. It is based upon a true account. While the story bogged down and moved a bit slower than I would have liked in places, it was a fascinating account. It is a story that deserves to be kept alive, and Tademy has done an excellent service for us all in telling it. This review is based upon an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.