Set in 1800s Puerto Rico, A Woman of Endurance tells the story of an enslaved African woman, Pola, who—along with many others—had been taken from her home in West Africa, sold, stripped of her identity, and forced into a world of slave breeding. After an attempted escape, Pola is brutally beaten and sent to her new life on a sugar cane plantation, Hacienda las Mercedes. In this community, Pola struggles to adjust in the complex, as well as the supportive world. Everything has been taken from her, and she often finds that she wants nothing more than to keep herself closed off from everything and everyone. She fears the possibilities of more abuse or worse. But she also finds love from those who helped her when she had been in need, those who have given her the will to go on, even though she’s come close to giving up on life. Along the way, she learns that she needs to grieve, to heal, and to find herself worthy in order to live again.
The first half of the book was painful to read. I don’t want to even imagine the horrific abuse during those times, but this book is still worth the read, especially for the history enthusiast and historical fiction reader. Feel free to post your comments. Happy reading!
About the author: Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City. She is a product of the Puerto Rican communities on the island and in the South Bronx. She attended the New York City public school system and received her academic degrees from SUNY at Buffalo and CUNY Queens College. As a child she was sent to live with her grandparents in Puerto Rico where she was introduced to the culture of rural Puerto Rico, including the storytelling that came naturally to the women in her family, especially the older women. Much of her work is based on her experiences during this time. For more info, click here.
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