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Daughters of the Dust
Inspired by her Sundance Festival award-winning film "Daughters of the Dust," Julie Dash has put her cinematic vision on the page, penning a rich, magical new novel which extends her story of a family of complex, independent African-American women.
Set in the 1920s in the Sea Islands off the Carolina coast where the Gullah people have preserved much of their African heritage and language, Daughters Of The Dust chronicles the lives of the Peazants, a large, proud family who trace their origins to the Ibo, who were enslaved and brought to the islands more than one hundred years before. Native New Yorker Amelia Peazant returns to her mother's home to trace her family's history. From her multigenerational clan she gathers colorful stories, learning about "the first man and woman," the slaves who walked across the water back home to Africa, the ways men and women need each other, and the intermingling of African and Native American cultures.
Through her experiences, Amelia comes to treasure her family traditions and her relationship with her fiercely independent cousin Elizabeth. Daughters of the Dust is ultimately a story of homecoming and the reclaiming of family and cultural heritage.
Set in the 1920s in the Sea Islands off the Carolina coast where the Gullah people have preserved much of their African heritage and language, Daughters Of The Dust chronicles the lives of the Peazants, a large, proud family who trace their origins to the Ibo, who were enslaved and brought to the islands more than one hundred years before. Native New Yorker Amelia Peazant returns to her mother's home to trace her family's history. From her multigenerational clan she gathers colorful stories, learning about "the first man and woman," the slaves who walked across the water back home to Africa, the ways men and women need each other, and the intermingling of African and Native American cultures.
Through her experiences, Amelia comes to treasure her family traditions and her relationship with her fiercely independent cousin Elizabeth. Daughters of the Dust is ultimately a story of homecoming and the reclaiming of family and cultural heritage.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 25, 2007
Those soul searching years of trying to figure out what it means to be black - this book has some many stories and characters that i always wished were my family. And the main character's struggle between wanting to research and document her history and wanting to keep it safe and secure from white academia who would tear it apart in order to understand...i've read it three times.
June 12, 2024
4,5 stars is my rating! I highly recommend this one! Excellent!
September 7, 2015
A perfect novel? No. An extremely good novel? Yes. Julie Dash takes us into two relatively unknown worlds: the Sea Islands and Gullah culture of Georgia from the turn of the 20th century through to the 1920s, and urban, intellectual Black New York of the 1920s as a young woman struggles with her mother's heritage for a Masters thesis in anthropology. Dash manages to give us a compelling sense of the complexity of African-American lives, the tensions between opportunity and security, the importance of roots and knowing where you’re from, and the diversity and difference that is often obscured by the practice of ethic labelling – and all in a fine novel with a fluid and engaging narrative. The book works at many different levels: it is a tale of crossed cultures, the challenges of fieldwork, and a really good story. A long term favourite developed from but distinctly different to a long term favourite film.
September 5, 2011
This is the book chosen by Charleston County Library for the 2011 One Book program. Read about it here. I'd not heard of it prior to the selection.
The history of South Carolina fascinates me. I've lived here over half my life (33 years and counting, though not in one stretch) and I continue to love learning about the cultures of Carolina. The Gullah world, in particular is a lesson in survivor-ship and courage. I stand in awe of what these people, torn from their world, created through generations when transplanted so violently to the Carolina coast.
This story provided a portal back into the 1920's, capturing the life of sea island folks and a young woman who has returned to the island of her heritage from Harlem for anthropological study of the culture she came from. The characters are all richly drawn, and I've been told that there is interplay between the film (released 1991) and the book, though the book certainly stands alone quite successfully. I have not yet seen Dash's film, but intend to. (My friend, author Robert Jordan, said after seeing the film years ago that had he moved away from Carolina, seeing this film would have made him homesick and wish to return.) The richness of the characters and story, interwoven with the telling of the lies (stories) which give back-history created a fabulous tapestry. One other element, which completely captured me, was the sprinkling of potions and recipes for charms through the book. (The first one, on page 23, I told my friend Mary about, since she makes soaps and aromatherapy scents. I'm going to try it, too: "Mix 75 drops of peppermint oil with 35 drops of eucalyptus oil, 10 drops of clove, and 1/2 cup of spring water. Shake the mixture around the four corners of the room to bring the nature inside. As the mixture ages, the scent will become stronger."
I usually don't give a synopsis of a story in my reviews, and will carry on that tradition. However, I will say, this is a marvelous "lie" told by Julie Dash.
The history of South Carolina fascinates me. I've lived here over half my life (33 years and counting, though not in one stretch) and I continue to love learning about the cultures of Carolina. The Gullah world, in particular is a lesson in survivor-ship and courage. I stand in awe of what these people, torn from their world, created through generations when transplanted so violently to the Carolina coast.
This story provided a portal back into the 1920's, capturing the life of sea island folks and a young woman who has returned to the island of her heritage from Harlem for anthropological study of the culture she came from. The characters are all richly drawn, and I've been told that there is interplay between the film (released 1991) and the book, though the book certainly stands alone quite successfully. I have not yet seen Dash's film, but intend to. (My friend, author Robert Jordan, said after seeing the film years ago that had he moved away from Carolina, seeing this film would have made him homesick and wish to return.) The richness of the characters and story, interwoven with the telling of the lies (stories) which give back-history created a fabulous tapestry. One other element, which completely captured me, was the sprinkling of potions and recipes for charms through the book. (The first one, on page 23, I told my friend Mary about, since she makes soaps and aromatherapy scents. I'm going to try it, too: "Mix 75 drops of peppermint oil with 35 drops of eucalyptus oil, 10 drops of clove, and 1/2 cup of spring water. Shake the mixture around the four corners of the room to bring the nature inside. As the mixture ages, the scent will become stronger."
I usually don't give a synopsis of a story in my reviews, and will carry on that tradition. However, I will say, this is a marvelous "lie" told by Julie Dash.
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August 4, 2024I loved this!
November 5, 2013
This is a book that I picked up whilst at a book signing in the Haymarket area of Lincoln, NE. Not until I was going to Key West, FL did I chose to read it based upon it being "an island book"..albeit the islands off of South Carolina. It actually was initially difficult for me to get or stay interested in the book. Perhaps it was the distraction of my trip or the very broken English of some of the characters in the book. Perhaps it was because at first it seemed a medley of stories that did not have much connection to each other. However, as the various story lines developed further and became intertwined, I found it quite interesting. It is of people (Gullahs) whose "ancient ones" (their ancestors) were brought over from Africa as slaves. The story takes place in 1924 or so and by then some have stayed and live the simple life on the island while others have ventured elsewhere. Human nature is well displayed here in the various struggles all people go through as a result of choices made; how dreams are made and dreams are dashed not just by environment but by one's (re)actions thereto or in light thereof.
October 2, 2023
Gifted by Becca Daniels for my Babe-orette gift 📚 🎁 💕
June 10, 2017
I absolutely adored this book!
I saw the film several years ago and was overjoyed when I stumbled upon this copy of the book at a sale. To say this story of stories is beautiful does not do it justice. It is as blue as the ocean meeting the Carolina sky, as blindly real as the white sand, as tinkling as the blue bottles in the trees, as sweet as bread pudding, and as mysterious as the Sea Islands. It is a must, must, must read, especially for those interested in one of the major African peoples who kept their culture intact. As a Creole woman, it always fascinated me how the Gullah peoples were similar in keep customs as my culture. I loved the woman-ness of this story and can not wait for my teenage daughter to read this affirming tale of generation, of family, of self, of place, of people, of culture.
I saw the film several years ago and was overjoyed when I stumbled upon this copy of the book at a sale. To say this story of stories is beautiful does not do it justice. It is as blue as the ocean meeting the Carolina sky, as blindly real as the white sand, as tinkling as the blue bottles in the trees, as sweet as bread pudding, and as mysterious as the Sea Islands. It is a must, must, must read, especially for those interested in one of the major African peoples who kept their culture intact. As a Creole woman, it always fascinated me how the Gullah peoples were similar in keep customs as my culture. I loved the woman-ness of this story and can not wait for my teenage daughter to read this affirming tale of generation, of family, of self, of place, of people, of culture.
July 23, 2012
Iloved this read - a book I have wanted to read for years after seeing the movie twice back in 1991. It is a very engaging story of the Geechee people living on one of the sea islands off South Carolina. The book was written after the movie and takes the form of stories told by a range of family members and islanders. The movie left me with mind images of women on beaches in crisp white cotton dresses in the early years of the 20th century.
A powerful way to present the results of slavery from the perspective of those who followed and honour the gifts of the ancestors.
This book is a keeper for me - and one I know I will re-read often.
A powerful way to present the results of slavery from the perspective of those who followed and honour the gifts of the ancestors.
This book is a keeper for me - and one I know I will re-read often.
July 1, 2025
Absolutely stunning. Over the course of 15 hours, I feel as if I've actually met and gotten close to the Peazant family, despite their fictional nature. I have certainly learned much about the Gullah-Geechee community. Dash is a master at writing believable, natural, and entertaining dialogue. The one critique I have that keeps this from a perfect read is that whole the dialogue is vivacious, much of the prose is very matter-of-fact and bland; you can tell the author is a screenwriter who is used to writing great dialogue and plain, clear setting and character descriptions. Still, it's not much of a drawback because most of the story is told through talking: in fact, many of the chapters are "lies" (stories) told by one character to one or more other. This was SUCH a unique way of capturing the oral nature of the Gullah culture in book form! I've never read a book quite like this one.
I also have to say I was so elated to see that the main character, Amelia, is an anthropology student working on her master's thesis (I'm an archaeology student about to do just that!!) who is heading back down to SC to reconnect with her roots. It felt very much like Zora Neale Hurston's early life, and the benefits and drawbacks of studying your own culture featured prominently in the story. Elizabeth was an equally interesting protagonist: a bright elder daughter who attempts to run a school on the island she grew up on, despite difficulties that come with Jim Crow legislation. All the characters felt *so* real, down to every tiny role. I'm gonna remember this one for a long time.
I also have to say I was so elated to see that the main character, Amelia, is an anthropology student working on her master's thesis (I'm an archaeology student about to do just that!!) who is heading back down to SC to reconnect with her roots. It felt very much like Zora Neale Hurston's early life, and the benefits and drawbacks of studying your own culture featured prominently in the story. Elizabeth was an equally interesting protagonist: a bright elder daughter who attempts to run a school on the island she grew up on, despite difficulties that come with Jim Crow legislation. All the characters felt *so* real, down to every tiny role. I'm gonna remember this one for a long time.
September 10, 2021
"Daughters of the Dust" is based on the 1991 movie of the same name, although the book can be read without any knowledge of the film. I saw the movie years ago and loved it. When I found out there was a book I had to read it.
This novel focuses on the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people. The novel focuses on the oral traditions of the Gullah people but als gives a nod to their unique language and religious practices.
Our main character Amelia, an anthropology student, returns to the island her grandmother was born on to learn about the Gullah people and about her own family history. This is a nod to Zora Neale Hurston that I appreciated.
Amelia moves into her cousin Elizabeth's home and begins her research. The story can be divided into two parts; the main plot with Amelia and Elizabeth, and the stories Amelia collects from the island residents.
The islanders stories were my favorite part of the novel. They range from intimate confessions to mythologized history. The persistence and strength of the Gullah people is hard to ignore in the face of these stories. I got a clear sense of the importance of family, community, and faith from these stories.
The novel has many themes the biggest ones being the search for identity and the importance of knowing your roots. Colorism is another big theme that kept popping up in the novel.
This is a beautiful novel full of heartache and joy. I loved every minute I spent with it.
This novel focuses on the unique culture of the Gullah Geechee people. The novel focuses on the oral traditions of the Gullah people but als gives a nod to their unique language and religious practices.
Our main character Amelia, an anthropology student, returns to the island her grandmother was born on to learn about the Gullah people and about her own family history. This is a nod to Zora Neale Hurston that I appreciated.
Amelia moves into her cousin Elizabeth's home and begins her research. The story can be divided into two parts; the main plot with Amelia and Elizabeth, and the stories Amelia collects from the island residents.
The islanders stories were my favorite part of the novel. They range from intimate confessions to mythologized history. The persistence and strength of the Gullah people is hard to ignore in the face of these stories. I got a clear sense of the importance of family, community, and faith from these stories.
The novel has many themes the biggest ones being the search for identity and the importance of knowing your roots. Colorism is another big theme that kept popping up in the novel.
This is a beautiful novel full of heartache and joy. I loved every minute I spent with it.
October 9, 2021
I found this book in a Little Free Library, and it's fairly interesting learning how/why African slaves were able to preserve so much of their culture working plantations on coastal islands which white slaveowners found too hot/buggy to live on. I lived in North Carolina for a long time, and it really is amazing how so much of the cuisine was brought from Africa with the slaves. The book does a good job of illustrating the Jim Crow South and how the Gullah could isolate somewhat, but not totally, from it. I found the Gullah dialogue very tedious to read because of the major grammatical inversions from my own English, and there is quite a lot of dialogue. However, my major problem with the book was that it just dragged. The author is gifted at describing nature and interiors, but it's just way too much detail. The plot lines also moved much more slowly than they needed to, and she often unnecessarily jumped forward a week or so, and then back again to describe that week or two--just annoying. The character Haagar was written about 100x more than she needed to be, whereas the most important detail about Amelia's father was not brought up until the last few pages of the book! There was one story point about an unfaithful wife on the island which was just a waste of space in the novel. Overall, it just dragged with a lot of chaff which should have been culled out of the wheat.
July 29, 2017
While the Gullah dialect may make for difficult reading at first, Daughters of the Dust is a fascinating, and at times emotionally trying, story that centers around two women and their family. Without providing spoilers, the main crux of the novel revolves around one of these women, Amelia, and her return to Dawtuh Island. Amelia is an anthropology student seeking to study her family's roots on the island in order to understand what makes them so unique, while at the same time trying to grasp why her grandmother Haagar and her mother Myown have such distinct differing opinions about the island. The other principal lead female character is Elizabeth, Amelia's cousin, who lives on the island and works as a school-teacher. Together, their narratives blend as this novel blends a collection of folktales, family-drama, recipes, and a critique of academia into this diasporic novel about African American heritage.
May 25, 2021
“Daughters of the Dust” is a moving story about the power of storytelling and how it bonds together past, present, and future generations. The author explores several themes throughout the novel: the struggle of embracing one’s heritage completely; exploring life beyond one’s home and comfort zone; the negative impact that exploitation has one traditional lifestyles; and how embracing new perspectives can transform one’s own path in life. While I did not love the author’s style of writing, I do think she did an excellent job of examining how historical memory influences present day cultural practices. Although "Daughters of the Dust" is a work of fiction, the author created a cast of characters who, through their storytelling, provide valuable insight into the Gullah-Geechee culture.
June 24, 2024
This novel is set in the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina. The main character, Amelia, is an anthropology student who wants to study the islands where her mother was raised. The author paints a picture of the people by the individual stories they tell to Amelia and the experiences Amelia has with them.
The way the novel is written reminded me of others I have read in the past including Mama Day by Gloria Naylor, Sula by Toni Morrison and many of Zora Neale Hurston’s writings. There were parts of the book that made me laugh, others made me a little angry and there were times it also dragged. Overall it was a good book for book club discussion.
3.5 stars
The way the novel is written reminded me of others I have read in the past including Mama Day by Gloria Naylor, Sula by Toni Morrison and many of Zora Neale Hurston’s writings. There were parts of the book that made me laugh, others made me a little angry and there were times it also dragged. Overall it was a good book for book club discussion.
3.5 stars
May 21, 2020
In a sweeping and almost lyrical prose, this book tells the multigenerational story of the Peazant family, who have lived on Dawtuh Island since slavery.
I loved how this book weaved almost lyrical descriptions of the island with African mythology. Event though the book is written in 3rd person, I sometimes had a hard time following who’s perspective any given point was being told from. I still loved the story as a whole, and can’t wait to learn more about the Geechee people that inhabited this real (I think?) island, as well as watch the movie adaptation of this novel.
I loved how this book weaved almost lyrical descriptions of the island with African mythology. Event though the book is written in 3rd person, I sometimes had a hard time following who’s perspective any given point was being told from. I still loved the story as a whole, and can’t wait to learn more about the Geechee people that inhabited this real (I think?) island, as well as watch the movie adaptation of this novel.
February 28, 2025
Read for class.
Wow, great read, so good. Beautifully written, beautiful family dynamics that are so compelling in ways that literally made me tear up. There’s friendship, and loyalty, and drama, and loving the land and respecting tradition and respecting the people who came before who endured abuse to give their kids/grandkids/great grandkids the best life they can possibly have on the island that belongs to these people. Highly recommend.
Wow, great read, so good. Beautifully written, beautiful family dynamics that are so compelling in ways that literally made me tear up. There’s friendship, and loyalty, and drama, and loving the land and respecting tradition and respecting the people who came before who endured abuse to give their kids/grandkids/great grandkids the best life they can possibly have on the island that belongs to these people. Highly recommend.
September 4, 2018
You will not want to put this book done. I throughly enjoyed this book and the movie as well. I liked that the book gave a lot more insight into some of the characters who appear in the movie. As a first generation-American, the themes of family and cultural preservation resonated strongly with me.
July 22, 2019
I LOVEDDD this book!!!!!!! I cant wait to watch the film. The journey of finding ones family history, traditions, and heritage is one that I believe many African Americans want to take. To know where you came from and how it’s still apart of you is so beautiful. Once you understand your past and accept the present you can explore your future.
June 30, 2020
This book. It was beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. I honestly think so many issues our world faces come from a lack of empathy and people not picking up a book to read and learn about different lives, cultures, and histories. It's a lot harder to be hateful when you begin to see people as people. When you find common interests, common ground, or even just stop seeing people as groups and see them as individuals. The women in this story are SO STRONG. I loved all of the characters for so many different reasons and their strength and sense of home inspired me.
June 17, 2021
"A fascinating story about a family's struggle to keep its culture intact and a young woman's personal struggle to understand how her family's past has shaped her life and the lives of her mother and grandmother ... about holding on, letting go, and going home."
Touched my heart and soul in many ways.
Touched my heart and soul in many ways.
December 17, 2022
The culture of the Gullah people on the SC coast comes from Africa, then often combined with “ancient people” or the indigenous tribes already in America. Some cling to and celebrate their stories and way of life; others wish to escape the simple, hard existence and lose their unusual language. It would be hard to know which is right. I loved the stories and herbal lore.
July 27, 2022
Deeply-felt characters and a stunning portrait of a community. It took me awhile to read because I struggle with lots of dialect, but the dialect was used masterfully and is an integral part of this story.
November 9, 2018
Not my style
July 18, 2020
An informative literary companion to the groundbreaking indie film about the Gulah people.
October 5, 2021
This book is phenomenal! It's a great continuation of the film Daughters of the Dust, which I am a huge fan of. I highly recommend this book.
December 19, 2022
Very important book to read, and compelling story!
October 22, 2023
Great, genuine portrayal of black life in the low country in the mid 1900s.
November 28, 2023
I learned a lot about the Gullah culture and its people but it was hard to follow with do many characters.
April 25, 2016
This is a wonderful story. At first I was confused by the character population. I was recommended by friends to see the movie which was actually made before the book. It is beautifully done and gives one a handle of the books story, which is an account of the Gullah settlements on the Carolina Barrier islands. The book has dialect which some may find hard following. To me it was like subtitles in a film. They are a distraction that quickly becomes unnoticed. This is a grand story of a family, torn apart by ambition, and by history. I was so interested in this I got and read a book of actual historical account of that isolated colony and , as in out other native populations, was put upon and eviscerated by modern times and greedy souls ( Think Hilton Head Island development) This book is the delicious appetizer into a part of American history that is all but forgotten. A wonderful book. Just watch the movie first ( that is a lushly photographed , lovingly told story in itself) If you get fascinated and want the full immersion the book of historical accord is Gullah Culture in America Feb 1, 2012
by Wilbur Cross . It is definitive and well worth redaing.
by Wilbur Cross . It is definitive and well worth redaing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews