A good book has to have an authentic voice, a narrator or author who is secure in who they are, and allows that security to permeate their work. Starbucks has an uncanny ability to find authentic voices, and distribute them in their book selections. The House at Sugar Beach, by Helene Copper, is one of the most authentic books I have read in years.
The book details the dramatic life of Helene Cooper, now a United States journalist, but also a little girl who grew up in Liberia. Until the age of 14 she lived a privileged, elite life in this African country founded by former slaves from the United States. In a true confession, I’d barely heard of Liberia before this book. I’m probably not alone in that: Americans are notorious at ignoring most of the world past our borders. But an authentic voice can cut past that apathy and make us care about a place that was a 60 second blip on the news of yesterday. I care about the house at Sugar Beach. I care about Helene and her family. And caring about them makes me more likely to care about someone else.
If there is one thing that an authentic voice can teach us, it’s that everyone has a story. Everyone. Most of them are fascinating. And generally speaking, the “odder” the character, the more likely the depth of the story. Reading Helene’s story has made me appreciate the African immigrants who started over in the United States, as Helene and most of her family eventually did. It has made me appreciate my country where a family can start over and create a new life. It has made me appreciate all the unsung people of the world, whose lives are lived out in places that I will never visit and probably rarely think about.
Jeremy, our fave Starbucks barista, is leading a Gardens Mall book club discussion about this book both online and in his store, December 14 at 4 PM. I’m looking forward to hearing about what others think! The video below is an interview with Helene Cooper, the author.
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I’ve been reading this while waiting in line at Starbucks lately – ha. And enjoying it – perhaps I need to bite the bullet and put it on reserve at the library.
I’ve also enjoyed There is No Me Without You and We Are All the Same – also true stories (about the AIDS crisis in Ethiopia and S. Africa). Powerful stories – you might enjoy them also.
I appreciate your strong voice on the subject of community here!
Thank you, Dianne. And I appreciate you frequent comments: honey to any blogger’s soul!
I just spent the last hour browsing YouTube videos about Liberia. So interesting. And a smidge convicting when I consider how clueless I am!