Book Review by Kevin Morgan
Book Review
How To Knock a Bravebird From Her Perch
Book Review by Kevin Morgan
The novel , How To Knock a Bravebird From Her Perch by D . Bryant Simmons is one interesting book ! I don ’ t think it would be a spoiler to state this book is about domestic abuse . However , one could argue that it is really a coming of age book about a woman who eventually finds her true self . Now that I ’ ve let that cat out of the bag , let me share the plot of this novel . The lead character in this novel is named Belinda who also goes by the nickname Pecan . That name was given to her by her boyfriend who later would become her husband . Belinda led a relatively charmed life until she turned 17 . It was then when she met the handsome and confident Ricky who set his sights on her from the first time he saw her . The second significant event that changed the course of Pecan ’ s ideal life was the unexpected death of her father not too long after Ricky began making his moves on her . For reasons that only make sense to a young girl who seemed to be more of a spectator of life than a participant , Pecan agreed to marry Ricky a short time after her father ’ s funeral .
As a new wife and mother of a toddler girl , Pecan suddenly realized that she really didn ’ t love her husband . Without much thought about details or a plan , she decided to leave with her child while her husband was away at work . Later that afternoon , her husband found her and forced both wife and child to return to their dingy apartment . That was the first time he hit her . If it wasn ’ t for the bruise and blood on her lip , Pecan would not have believed that her husband and father of their child hit her . In her words , “ That ’ s all I could get out before he hit me again . And again . And again . I just couldn ’ t believe it . Not me . Other girls might have that happen to them but not me . My man was not doing that to me .” Unfortunately for Pecan , that pattern of physical abuse would occur repeatedly in between the birth of three more girls . Over the years , an aunt from Ricky ’ s side of the family and a man named Heziah would help open Pecan ’ s eyes to the type of woman she could become .
Based on my thoughts while reading this novel and checking out some of its reviews , it is clear this book forces the reader to confront their own thoughts about spousal abuse . That topic is one that all of us hold strong opinions on . Most of us will offer
10 HimPower October 2016