We first meet Sarah as a child just beginning to understand her captivity at the young age of six. Sarah is the daughter of Cornelius Allen, the slave master, and his house slave, Emmeline. When Master Allen gives his daughter Clarissa’s hand in marriage, he presents her with a wedding gift: Sarah, the young slave she grew up with who also happens to be her sister. When Clarissa’s new husband suspects that their newborn son is illegitimate, Clarissa and Sarah are sent back to her parents in shame, setting in motion a series of events that will destroy this once powerful family.
Told through alternating viewpoints of Sarah and Theodora Allen, Cornelius’ wife, THE WEDDING GIFT is a stunning novel that demonstrates the bonds of slavery do not end with slaves. It is historical fiction at its best and no one is better equipped to share this story than Marlen Suyapa Bodden whose knowledge of modern and historical slavery, human trafficking, and human rights abuses translates to an intimate portrait of America, then and now.
THE WEDDING GIFT will resonate with readers of The Help and The Secret Life of Bees, where complicated bonds and compelling female relationships are explored.
* * *
Dr. Marlen Suyapa Bodden is a lawyer at The Legal Aid Society in New York City, the nation’s oldest and largest 
legal services organization. She has more than two decades’ experience representing poor people and low-wage and immigrant workers, many of whom are severely underpaid, if paid at all.
She drew on her knowledge of modern and historical slavery, human trafficking, and human rights abuses to write The Wedding Gift, her first novel.
On May 20, 2012, the University of Rhode Island conferred on Marlen an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Marlen is a graduate of New York University School of Law and Tufts University.
- Website: http://www.marlenbodden.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlensuyapabodden
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/marlenbodden
Spotlight information provided by Wunderkind PR
Sounds interesting
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WoW!!! cool book.
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Having loved The Help I’ll be certain to keep a look out for this. Great review Mary, thanks for the recommendation.
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I think it sounds good too, Tracy, and hope you can find a copy on your side of the Atlantic!
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Terrific post. I loved this book.
My comment on my review is that EVERY woman should read this book. It was a wonderful book.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog
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Wow, Elizabeth, that’s high praise! I didn’t have time to work it into my review schedule but its on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing!
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When you read the book, you will see why my comment is very appropriate. 🙂
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This one has definitely caught my eye
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the Wedding Gift sounds very good.
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This sounds good.
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Saw another review of this one this morning. Sounds interesting, definitely!
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Hi Mary,
After having seen this book appear on many blogs for review this week, I have been doing a little checking on a few of the major book sites. Over some 300 reviews, the book has received very mixed ratings, which really surprised me, as I thought that the premise was solid. The main concern amongst reviewers seems to be the stilted and stiff writing style, so I shall be interested to see if you decide to post a review and let us know your thoughts. I am seriously longing to get my hands on a copy, just to check it out for myself.
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Yvonne
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I didn’t see a problem with the writing. I was more focused on the story.
I hope you read it, Yvonne.
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[…] Spotlight on: The Wedding Gift […]
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