It's been several years since I’ve read a fictional book, and I was quite surprised when Sikivu Hutchinson released this novel, which I'm glad I read.
I had just graduated from high school when the Jonestown massacre occurred, and living in the Midwest I'd never got all the details of what happened. Revisiting this tragic experience for the first time in decades, I learned a lot from reading this novel.
First off, I had never realized that the majority of the people who were members of the People's Temple, and who traveled to Guyana, were of African descent, and mostly Black women. I also didn't realize the level of influence that Jim Jones had in the political arena at the time. I simply saw what happened in Jonestown as some sort of religious cult gone terribly wrong.
Well yes, the People Temple was a cult for many of its members, but Ms. Hutchinson's novel describes the important complexities and nuances of that cult, the time period, and the members and followers who made up the Peoples Temple.
White Knights, Black Paradise is very much about race, delusional religious beliefs, and even the existential longing and desire of people to escape racism, poverty, sexism, and the social alienation they experience(d) in this country.
I would imagine that most readers of this novel already know how the novel is going to end, but how it all began —the roots and formation of the Peoples Temple — is what many readers may not know, and we should.
Ms. Hutchinson's talent and skills as a writer makes this novel highly intriguing, especially for someone like myself who stopped reading fiction several years ago. White Knights, Black Paradise is indeed a page turner. I felt for many of the characters, especially the journalist, the two sisters, and the those who tried to expose the lies and hypocrisy of Jim Jones. I was also deeply saddened to read the so real struggles that people were facing back then, and how much those issues are still with us today, though today it would probably be almost impossible for such a massacre to occur. Or would it?
As tragic as the story is, this novel needs to be read and discussed especially in these times when religious dogma and so-called dominate social morality are causing people to not think critically about long-held religious beliefs and the political and religious pandering of preachers and politicians who have such a deep influence over the lives of ordinary people.
It's because of White Nights, Black Paradise that I plan to read more fiction this year, and also will read more about what happened in the Peoples Temple.
OR
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Customers who read this book also read
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
georgine
Really hard to get into as the story goes back ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2016