Memphis

Tara M Stringfellow Press Reviews

If ever there was a novel that reflects how the past can shape us, and how we can change our own story, it is this stunning debut . . . this beautifully written, inspiring story is full of hope and memorable characters -- Books of the Year - Woman and Home

I fell in love with this book and its characters . . . I can't wait to read more from this author -- Books of the Year - Prima

Written with the grace of a poet, Memphis is as hopeful as it is heartbreaking. I fell in love with this family, from Joan's fierce heart to her grandmother Hazel's determined resilience. Tara Stringfellow will be an author to watch for years to come . . . A stellar debut - Jacqueline Woodson, bestselling author of Red at the Bone

In luminous, lyrical prose, Tara Stringfellow sings the song of the North women - and the North men - with wisdom, humor, and deep humanity. Memphis is an American epic, a tribute to life in all of its sorrow and joyful resilience - Chloe Benjamin, bestselling author of The Immortalists

An evocative, compelling tale . . . Tara M Stringfellow assembles an endearing and unforgettable cast of characters who find strength in vulnerability, safety in art, and liberation in telling the truth. This is a shining, splendid testimony in the vein of Gloria Naylor, Delores Phillips, Ayana Mathis, and Honoree Jeffers - Robert Jones, Jr., New York Times bestselling author of The Prophets

Memphis is at once a sprawling generational epic and an intimate character study . . . There is sorrow in these pages, but there is also joy and wit and warmth . . . incredibly satisfying [and] deeply affecting - Roxane Gay

A stunning debut, a deeply affecting portrait of familial bonds. Rich with indelible black women and Southern charm - Irenosen Okojie

Black American literature at its finest . . . a symphony of stories - Irish Independent

A rhapsodic hymn to Black women - The New York Times Book Review

Ferocious and compassionate . . . Stringfellow deftly weaves the voices of four vivid, formidable and funny women over three generations . . . Memphis reaches back to literary mothers and towards potential daughters, honouring the strength, creativity and resilience of Black women - Irish Times

I fell in love with this book by the end of the second paragraph. This story truly touched my soul. A talented new author who is definitely one to watch - Prima, Book of the Month

Charting the story of three generations of women from a family in Memphis, this debut delivers an epic yet intimate history of black womanhood - ideal for fans of The Vanishing Half and An American Marriage - Cosmo

If ever there was a novel that reflects how the past can shape us, and how we can change our story, it's this stunning debut . . . this beautifully told and inspiring story is full of hope - Woman and Home

An accomplished debut - Good Housekeeping

This vivid debut novel examines the tragedies, joys, and deep connections of one extraordinary Memphis family . . . A powerful family saga from a promising writer - Booklist

This poetic, multigenerational story is set in the ancestral Memphis home a mother and her daughters flee to to escape the father's violence. Spanning 70 years, and told through a variety of voices, this powerful debut novel encompasses race, class, and the legacy of trauma - Oprah Daily Most Anticipated

This beautifully written debut will transport, challenge and transfix you . . . The novel is an ode to the city and the Black women living there. There's a great sense of the women's enigma and enchantment, humour and fortitude - Adele Parks, Platinum Magazine

An incredible read - Bella

Stunning . . . a spectacular debut rich with Southern charm . . . a celebration of sisterhood and life - Voice Magazine

I love this book. I couldn't put it down. You will fall in love with these women who gather strength from one another's care amidst a world of heartbreak, racism, and violence. Filled with Fifties music, this book went straight to my heart -- Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor, Amazon Best Books of April 2002

This book was stunning. The characters were vivid and alive, and the weaving between tales was thematic and effortless -- Avalon, Aberystwyth Waterstones bookseller A real celebration of Black women living in Memphis - deals with complex issues of race, class, love and loss in a beautiful way -- Helen, Waterstones Events

I loved these larger than life, exuberant female characters -- Clare, Farnham Waterstones bookseller

This book had me gripped from the start - incredibly moving! -- Emily, Newport Waterstones bookseller

A superb book by an author who knows how to write brilliant characters -- Ben, Chichester Waterstones bookseller -