Feldman's Faves: February 24, 2025

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

While I can’t say that all is right with the universe these days, I can say with confidence that all is right in HOCKEY universe.  Canada’s win of the Four Nations’ Cup was just epic.

GO CANADA!!

Also, I was reminded this weekend of the classic Goodmans performance of True Colours with Choir, Choir, Choir when I went to Brampton with some friends for their performance of music by Queen.  They do shows every weekend and are a lot of fun to watch and join (even for those of us who are basically tone deaf both musically and socially….).

For this week and in honour of Black History Month I am handing over my review duties to the team that created GoodBooks, Alexa and Joely. So without further adieu here is their review and invitation to join their discussion:

“This week’s review proudly celebrates Black History Month. Our book club, GoodBooks, will dive into the novel Bitter & Sweet by Rhonda McKnight, exploring the themes and powerful messages. If you wish to join the discussion on February 27, please contact Alexa Guerra and Joeley Pulver.

Please see the review of Bitter & Sweet below:

Rhonda McKnight’s Bitter and Sweet is a beautifully woven story that explores family, identity, and resilience through the lens of Gullah culture. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its ability to immerse readers in the rich traditions, food, and language of the Gullah people—something I didn’t know much about before reading. The novel doesn’t just present this culture as a backdrop; it celebrates it, making it a vital and joyous part of the story.

What stood out most to me was the way McKnight tackled the Black experience in the South, both in the present and during the Jim Crow era, without centering white people. The novel explores colorism and intra-community prejudice—topics that are less commonly explored. It also thoughtfully situates the reader in the realities of being poor and Black in the South, particularly through Tabitha and Sabrina’s storylines. Rather than presenting hardship as an inevitability, the novel highlights the resilience, determination, and ingenuity these characters demonstrate in the face of financial struggles. This nuanced perspective deepens the novel’s themes, making it a powerful read.

The novel follows three women, each with a unique struggle, and what I found particularly powerful was how their journeys mirrored one another. Though their circumstances differed, each woman faced wounds from the past and found ways to overcome and heal. Mariah’s journey, in particular, stood out—starting the novel bitter and angry, she gradually finds healing through therapy, repairs her fractured relationship with her sister, and ultimately realizes that she deserves happiness. Her transformation reinforces one of the novel’s most compelling ideas: healing and growth often require us to recognize the ways we hold ourselves back.

Overall, Bitter and Sweet is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that not only tells a moving story but also sheds light on an important and often overlooked cultural heritage. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in family sagas, Southern Black history, or stories that celebrate the strength and beauty of community.”

This should be an interesting and lively discussion.

Jon