Balm
Balm is a literary historical, the second by Dolen Perkins-Valdez to explore race and society in 19th-century America. This novel opens in the aftermath of the Civil War as people of all races are trying to move past the torment of the previous five years. There are three protagonists in Balm: Madge, a free woman of color with the skills of a healer; Hemp, a recently freed slave searching for the family that was so cruelly taken from him; and Sadie, a white widow with the ability to commune with the dead. Their stories are bound together on a similar and significant theme: how does one heal when life is torn asunder?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a gifted writer. Her prose is lyrical and descriptive. Her goal is not just to tell a story, but to do it well while commenting on the historical time period. She does not leave out the prejudices or other trials experienced by people of color in that era, for which she is to be commended. Hemp, Sadie, and Madge are unlikely bedfellows at first glance, but as they enter each other’s orbit, the narrative begins to take shape. Even though they represent different parts of society, one thing binds them together: the search for redemption. For Hemp, it is to find his family; for Madge, it is to be taken seriously as a healer; for Sadie, it is to be reconciled with her father while coming to grips with her unusual gift. They are all trapped by society’s expectations, and to be truly free, they must learn to break away. While the book is wonderfully written, it can be a bit slow in parts. But for readers who enjoy a well-written novel at a leisurely pace, Balm will be a delight.
