I've always had a love/hate relationship with non African American writers, writing from the perspective of a slave. I yearned for one to embrace the side of the slave owner, a true perspective, that was raw and honest. I found that in Property. I'm really impressed by the way Valerie Martin tells the tale of Manon Gaudet, a woman who was raised by what she considered a fair and just plantation owner, who finds herself married to one who is the complete opposite.

Martin crafted Manon to be a cunning fox in sheep's clothing. I found myself admiring the inner will of this woman, who I as an African American woman, should by all means find no admiration in. Manon was pro-slavery and by all means a racist but yet because of how well the character was developed, I understood her. I understood her anger towards her slave Sarah, I understand her dislike of Sarah's children and as much as I wanted freedom for Sarah. I wanted freedom for Manon. When that fork in the book came and the question, "who escapes?", came...it was like a bubbling cauldron of emotion began going off in me. I wondered with each line, who would get away? who did I want to get away more? who will be the one to be free?

I would recommend this book for it's brutal honest about slavery. Especially slavery from the perspective of the plantation owner's wife. I tried to spare spoilers because in this instance, it would be like knowing the finale to a show before hand and blurting it out as soon as everyone sat around the T.V. to watch. Highly recommend this book.