The Seasons of Beento Blackbird

by Akosua Busia

Book Overview

From Simon & Schuster, The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is Akosua Busia's novel about love and heritage, perfect for any lover of fiction.

His father's death changes the life of writer Solomon Wilberforce, a best-selling novelist whose search for love and heritage sends him across Africa, America, and the Caribbean and into the arms of three different women.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671014099
• ISBN13: 9780671014094
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Touchstone Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

RAINMAKER

Solomon Wilberforce can make it rain! I mean literally and figuratively. He walks in a room and the air shifts, he's a talented writer of books for children, a man of the people,socially aware, handsome and gracious. Maybe too much for one woman, that's why Solomon has three. No he's not a player anything that trivial and gaudy would be beneath him. Let's start with Sam, his agent, their relationship is strictly platonic but she knows a rainmaker when she sees one and is hopelessly in love with Solomon. He likes her, enjoys her company, thinks she's a beautiful, talented sister but that's the extent of his interest. He only sees her in the Spring & Fall during his "working" seasons.Miriam is his winter woman, his first love and wife. Miriam, a beautiful midwife, is an icon herself on their home island of Jamaica, she delivered Solomon when she was only 9 years old. Their souls are connected.Summer belongs to Aisha, a young beautiful Ghanaian woman, one look in those big, jet black eyes and Solomon was a goner. Aisha is his second wife. Of course this noble warrior asked Miriam's permission to marry Aisha and she consented.Everything was fine, had been for over 5 years, until Solomon stepped out of season. This is a beautiful story wonderfully told. Busia is a very gifted writer.

This is a book for all Seasons 5 +++

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird is overwhelming, it is one of the best book I have read, ever. Set mostly in Ghana and the Caribbean , the scenic descriptions were lush, almost visual. The characters were rich in human spirit and intune with a higher power and were able to show the sacrificies made, when you truly love. Solomon Wilberforce, the main character was delivered by a 9 year old midwife, to a teenage mother. He spent his early childhood in the Caribbean and then moved to New York City, the home of his absentee, unyielding farther. Solomon, using the pen name Beento Blackbird, writes children's stories about African history using the Blackbird to impart his messages. He returns to the Caribbean, marries his midwife, Miriam, and is seemingly happy, but, during his travels gathering infomrmation for his books, he meets and marries Ashia, a young Ghanian woman. Solomon lives his life in seasons, the winter season in the Caribbean with Miriam, the summer season with Ashia and the remaining season is spent in New York writing. Each wife is aware of the other and have different feelings about the arrangement. The death of Solomon's farher disrupts his seasons, and thrust his life into a tailspin. When Ashia, with her infant son, travels to the Caribbean and the wives meet for the first time, Solomon has a decision to make. The beauy of this story is that aside from having two wives, Solomon is a decent man. Highly influenced by the teachings of is mother and the lack of teachings from his father, Solomon has lived in emotional turmoil. He wants to belong to one wife, one woman, one love, but he loves both and has never committed fully to either. Miriam and Ashia share an equal love for Solomon and have themselves bonded. As a reader you find yourself pulling for both wives, because they both deserve the best. Will Solomon continue to live with his wives are will he follow his heart and become ONE with one.At different stops on Solomon's journey you couldn't wait to see how the story would end. This is a must read.

5++ Stars

I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. Like other readers, I fell in love with "King Solomon". I had my reservations about him from the cover synopsis, but as I read I became too focused on him and his true love for the women in his life to think about what bothered me from the cover. Solomon's love for the women in his life was phenomenal. He ached for each of them in different ways. The portrayal of Solomon with Ashia and Miriam was profound. I began to ache for Solomon as the story unfolded. As Solomon yearned in different ways for the loves in his life, I yearned for Solomon's happiness. It is refreshing and unusual to find a man's story told from a different viewpoint. Had the story been told differently, I can see where I might feel some degree of dislike for a man like Solomon. Yet, the author's sensitivity to Solomon and his plight (to love equally but differently two very different women), placed the main male character in a more favorable light. As in reality, the author appears to realize that a man's choices are not always selfish and/or sexually driven.Through this book, I feel like I have a better understanding of a custom that previously left me with a bad thought. Before the book, I could not understand for what reasons a man might think he needs more than one wife. I now feel I can understand it better. I still don't agree with it, but I can understand Solomon's position. As I read this book, I also found myself sometimes lying the book down as I reflected on my own life and thinking of better ways to educate children in my life about our heritage. Solomon had a fierce pride in his blackness and an even stronger desire to learn about our wonderful history. Finally, I read a review that described this book as overly long. I disagree; I found this book to be too short. I want more. I want a sequel. I want to learn what happens to Ashia and the baby and what happens in Miriam's life.

If I Could Give it 10 Stars!!!!

This is one of the best stories that I have read in ALL of my years of reading! I had seen the book in the bookstore, but would not pick it up because I was not familiar with the author. The book happened to be on my bookclub reading list, so I bought it without knowing what the story had to offer. I am so grateful for the bookclub for having it on the list and Akosua Busia for writing such a beautiful story. The story has a lot of history that I am clueless about. After reading the book, I felt like I should read more books about the history of Africa.I did not agree with what Solomon did to Ashia and Miriam, but he was honest and he treated them kind. Although he seemed to be a little confused, he did the best he could with what he knew.I was really impressed with the way he wanted to educate the children of their history through his books. I was so caught up in his story telling that if it were really a Beento Blackbird, I would buy the books.I cannot give this book justice through a simple review. You really ought to buy the book and read it for yourself. I will not pass another book by written by Akosua Busia, because I trust that the next will be as good or better than this one.

My favorite book of all time!!

The Seasons of Beento Blackbird was an incredible story. I can't wait for the movie! If I had a decent budget to work with, I'd create the movie myself featuring Carl Lumbly as Solomon, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Miriam, the author as Ashia, and Sally Richardson as Samantha James. Michael Beach would play the role of Solomon's father beautifully and Angela Bassett would be Solomon's mother (as a young girl and as a ghost years later). That actor from Amistad would have to play Olu! The author did a wonderful job of developing each of the characters. I felt love, hate, anger, and tears of joy during the many "scenes". I felt I was right there (a fly on the wall) watching as these women tried to love their shared man. Solomon Wilberforce tried so hard to "do the right thing". He was pulled in so many different directions. The women in his life, just wanted to be loved, unfortunately the cost was truly too high. This is a wonderful book. Our Book Club reviewed this book, with prepared questions. Four hours later, we were still talked and laughing and having the time of our lives. Everyone absolutely loved the story. Not everyone in Our Bookclub loved Solomon Wilberforce, unfortunately. I understood his situation, not that I would want my husband to marry another woman and divide his time between continents, but I loved his character and everything he stood for, particularly the role with the African American children. I can hardly wait for Ms. Busia's next book. Hats off, lady - ya done good!