#1666 by Lora Chilton

[lizard-reads-the-world]

The survival story of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia has been remembered within the tribe for generations, but the massacre of Patawomeck men and the enslavement of women and children by land hungry colonists in 1666 has been mostly unknown outside of the tribe until now. Author Lora Chilton, a member of the tribe through the lineage of her father, has created this powerful fictional retelling of the survival of the tribe through the lives of three women.

1666: After the Massacre is the imagined story of the indigenous Patawomeck women who lived through the decimation of their tribe in the summer of 1666. Told in first person point of view, this historical novel is the harrowing account of the Patawomeck women who were sold and transported to Barbados via slave ship. The women are separated and bought by different sugar plantations, and their experiences as slaves diverge as they encounter the decadence and clashing cultures of the Anglican, Quaker, Jewish and African populations living in sugar rich "Little England" in the 1660's. The book explores the Patawomeck customs around food, family and rites of passage that defined daily life before the tribe was condemned to "utter destruction" by vote of the Virginia General Assembly. The desire to return to the land they call home fuels the women as they bravely plot their escape from Barbados.With determination and guile, Ah'SaWei WaTaPaAnTam (Golden Fawn) and NePa'WeXo (Shining Moon) are able to board separate ships and make their way back to Virginia to be reunited with the remnant of the tribe that remained. It is because of these women that the tribe is in existence to this day.This work of historical fiction is based on oral tradition, written colonial records and extensive research by the author, including study of the language. The book uses indigenous names for the characters and some of the Patawomeck language to honor the culture and heritage that was erased when European colonization of the Americans began in the 16th century. The book includes a glossary for readers unfamiliar with the language and names.

[ragnarockz]

3. What were your top five books of the year?

12. Any books that disappointed you?

18. How many books did you buy?

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

And one of my own because I'm curious...

26. What books genres do you read?

Home from work so I can answer these now!

3. I use TheStoryGraph so these were my highest books I rated this year:

We Will Be Jaguars: A Memoir of My People - Nemonte Nenguimo

1666: A Novel - Lora Chilton

Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir - Elizabeth Miki Brina

Tripwire - Lee Child

Stay True - Hua Hsu

12. A Pale View of the Hills - Kazuo Ishiguro - I felt like there were so many loose ends and the ending was very lackluster; it was an easy read and it wasn't like I was trying to pull teeth to finish it but it just didn't do anything for me. It also tried to be creepy and missed the mark too many times.

18. I actually have no idea but it's EASILY over 50. I buy all my books second hand so I get them for cheap!

24. I will read a book all the way through so, nothing is a DNF for me even if I can't stand it 😂

26. This year my top genres were: Literary, Historical, Classics, Thriller and, Crime (honestly, I will read just about anything - I just love reading!)

[lizard-reads-the-world]

Books I Want to Read in 2025

Because I was indirectly tagged by @thereadingchallengechallenge 😅 and everyone else I'm following is doing it.

This is more of a conceptual list than anything because I very much pick up whatever I feel like at the moment if I'm not doing world challenge books. So each row here sort of represents a concept, though these are also books I'd like to read.

Row 1. is world challenge books that I'm queueing to read next. 2. is trans books, a category that I'd like to read more of next year 3. is sequels to world challenge books I read that were interesting enough to want to continue 4. is classic/acclaimed authors that I'd like to expand my reading repertoire with (Hello, teacher in high school who recommended Anna Karenina, I'll get to it someday, really)

The Story of the Forest by Linda Grant The God Who Begat a Jackal: A Novel by Nega Mezlekia 1666: A Novel by Lora Chilton Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars Woodworking by Emily St. James The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud Unravelled by Cheryl S. Ntumy The Gifts That Bind Us by Caroline O'Donoghue When Water Burns by Lani Wendt Young Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Kindred by Octavia E. Butler The Kid by Sapphire

Tagging anyone who hasn't done it yet!