Review of Echoes of Our Ancestors

[Ikenna John]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Echoes of Our Ancestors" by Brenda Vicars.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

"Echoes of Our Ancestors" by Brenda Vicars, from the name, explores the significance of the actions of our forefathers in our today's lives. Just like the saying the sins of the father's shall be visited on the children, Philip carries the guilt and shame of what has been done to his sister by their grandfather and realizes in order to be free he has to retrace back to history. 

I consider this book a good read mainly because of the ease with which the author was able to streamline history with the present. As I read, I began to appreciate how the author introduces energy to their writing. The story burrows into the importance of friendship and sacrifice, the sweet sour taste of love, which can be seen from the actions of Seth towards Feevah, Lupe's, and Guillermo risking their lives trying to prove Philip's innocence, and Feevah's sacrifice due to her love for Russell. Although I do not quite agree with the position that the decision-making patterns of our ancestors can affect how we act in the future. I believe in accountability; we should be able to take responsibility for our actions and not blame it on another because, as people, we are blessed with the ability to choose. Sabine could have been a better person, Philip could have lived his life less of guilt, and Russell could have also made a different decision on how to be a father. All in all, this book turned out to be quite engaging. I would recommend this book to teenagers and early adults, as well as individuals interested in history.

However, the rate of violence contained in this book might not be suitable for every reader and limit it to certain kinds of people. I think my least favorite thing about this book is that the author made the medieval era appear unlivable and full of atrocious individuals; although it is so to fit the purpose of the story, from a reader perspective, beholding history for the first time, one would assume the era before civilization had been horror. 

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because, as much as I find the book quite interesting, some of the information in it seemed unrealistic. For example, Dinah's grudge against Philip and not her father. I was left with a lot of questions as to why Carmen had chosen to do that to Philip, and especially because I think the Sabine's manuscript might have provided a platform to trace the family's history yet didn't answer the question, "Why did the men in the family behave the way they did?" It is important to mention that I did not find any errors in this book.

******
Echoes of Our Ancestors
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Cynthia Pence]

As a prospective reader, Echoes of Our Ancestors by Brenda Vicars sounds like a deeply reflective and emotionally charged narrative that examines the weight of family legacy, guilt, and sacrifice. The theme of generational impact and how the actions of one's ancestors can influence future generations seems compelling, even if the reviewer brings up some philosophical disagreements with the idea of inherited responsibility. This invites a thought-provoking discussion about the balance between personal accountability and the historical burden we might carry.

[Nneka Bridget]

"Echoes of Our Ancestors" sounds like a thought-provoking exploration of how the past influences the present, particularly through the lens of family dynamics and personal accountability. The blend of history and emotional depth seems engaging, though I understand your concerns about its portrayal of the medieval era. Overall, it seems like a worthwhile read for those interested in the interplay between history and personal choices!