Inharmonious

Tammye Huf has written a touching and at times painful novel about the Black experience in America of the 1940s, examining it from every angle. It’s an ambitious goal, one which Huf very nearly carries off.

I only say very nearly because of the quick pace of the chapters. It allowed Huf to cover a great deal of ground, but at times at the cost of not giving readers or characters time to breathe. This was only a passing complaint, though. On the whole, I enjoyed the book.

Huf touches on everything, from racism in the armed forces to the failures of the G.I. bill to redlining. She also does an excellent job showing how different characters react to the constant force of American racism, from those who keep their chin up and force their way through to those who are beaten down and nearly broken by the experience. Though the book is fiction, it is drawn from reality, and it shines a light on parts of history some would rather forget.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a different perspective in historical novels.