Golden Poppies

By: Laila Ibrahim

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the best-selling author of Yellow Crocus and Mustard Seed comes the empowering novel of two generations of American women connected by the past and fighting for a brighter future.

It's 1894. Jordan Wallace and Sadie Wagner appear to have little in common. Jordan, a middle-aged black teacher, lives in segregated Chicago. Two thousand miles away, Sadie, the white wife of an ambitious German businessman, lives in more tolerant Oakland, California. But years ago, their families intertwined on a plantation in Virginia. There, Jordan's and Sadie's mothers developed a bond stronger than blood, despite the fact that one was enslaved and the other was the privileged daughter of the plantation’s owner.

With Jordan's mother on her deathbed, Sadie leaves her disapproving husband to make the arduous train journey with her mother to Chicago. But the reunion between two families is soon fraught with personal and political challenges.

As the harsh realities of racial divides and the injustices of the Gilded Age conspire to hold them back, the women find they need each other more than ever. Their courage, their loyalty, and the ties that bind their families will be tested. Amid the tumult of a quickly changing nation, their destiny depends on what they're willing to risk for liberation.

©2020 by Laila Ibrahim. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Loved It

I have read all 3 of these books and was able to turn off the world for a few hours a day, which is so hard to do most days.

I will be re-reading all three with just as much giggles, tears (happy and sad)

I'm about to turn 57 and still can not wrap my mind around the way people then and now are treated.

No one is totally free until the good Lord above has our bedroom ready and he calls us Home.

Wonderful series

I stumbled upon the first book in this series because I’m such a fan of Bahni Turpin. I stayed with it because I fell in love with the characters (plus, Bahni Turpin). I don’t know what Ms. Ibrahim has in mind for these families, but if she writes another book in the series, I’ll be front and center for it. Highly recommend these books!

an excellent read especially today

I am sadly aware of the racial injustice that occurred during the 1800s and continuing in 2020. Despite racism, there are white and black families who have a deep connection and love for one another. this was evident in this story.

allllll the stars, ok

I didn't even know there was a 3rd book in the series til the other day lol same thing happened with Mustard Seed! I need to keep my eye on you, Miss Laila... putting out more Easter eggs to Maddie and Lisbeth's story and it's making my day. Plus, you KNOW Bahni is in my top 5 narrators so that makes the listening experience exciting, she can narrate my life and I'd be happy

Golden Poppies was the perfect way to wrap things up here, but if u wanted to add a lil more to it, I'm not opposed... (:

looking fwd to seeing more from this extremely talented author (yes, I read her standalone Paper Wife and girrl that got all the stars too!!)

I absolutely love this series!

I hope there are more books in the works following these characters and their descendents. Unlike the previous two this one did get a bit confusing as to who everyone was. But I also think that the fact that it had been a while since I read the previous book.

Informative With No Sugar Coating

Thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the narrator’s performance of all the different characters... I actually learned a few new things from back during that period, including “Black Law” as well as many interesting facts about Frederik Douglas and Susan B Anthony... The characters in the story were all multi dimensional, able to show their tough sides and their sensitive sides too...

Excellent

I truly love 💘 the series😊. It is excellent. I have listened to all three books. I have enjoyed all of them. I am a new fan. The book is worth the credit and then some. Enjoy 😀

Great story

A story about strong women. I’ve loved all three books from the series. The same narrator reads all three, but somehow the first one was best. In the second and third books, her southern accent isn’t as good. But she still has differences for each person’s voice, and it was very enjoyable to listen to.

I like the offer but not this novel

I struggled to get through this book it was a little slow and and I don't think I had the empathy or compassion for Sadie's issue not that it wasn't real but for the time in the country Jordans and her family's issue could have been fare darer and and the clueness to Sadie's not knowing that certain things in the country existed because she lived the shelter life was getting on my nerves normally I like the author's book but not this one I am a fan of the narrator

Loved it!

The story was intriguing,the characters were well defined and the narration good., I felt I knew each and everyone in this interesting story

A wonderful trilogy

The trilogy of books opens up a past world of slavery & other injustices, by using wonderful writing & historical events. I encourage anyone to read these books.

Loved the performance. Enjoyed the historical narrative

I love Bahni Turpin as a narrator. Her performance is always great. Golden Poopies is the weakest of the 3 books even though I still enjoy it. The characters aren’t complex they’re one dimensional. What the book makes up for is the historical background. I learn so much from these three novels especially about the USA post the Civil War and pre- the two World Wars. It’s very informative and makes one despair how long and hard the struggle for equality has been for black people in America and people of colour. The book draws some parallel with women’s struggle for equality with that of black people’s. Then show us the powerful currency that whiteness is. That in order for white women to achieve universal suffrage, they had to divorce themselves from black women’s struggles. That’s the power of this book in spite of its flaws. Still enjoyed it.

Beautiful

Another lovely story by Laila Ibrahim. I enjoyed finding out where the characters lives had gone. Another lovely read.