THE TWO LIVES OF SARA

In the early 1960s, a pregnant Black woman flees Chicago and makes her way to Memphis.

Sara’s life has been difficult, and in Memphis, she finds herself trying to hide from her demons—physical and mental—from back in Chicago. Her best friends, Naomi and Violet, helped her make her way to Memphis, where Naomi’s aunt Mama Sugar welcomes her with open arms. In Mama Sugar’s boardinghouse, Sara settles in; her son, Lebanon, is born; and the days begin to flow by as she helps take care of Mr. Vanellys, Mama Sugar’s husband; Elvin and Buster, two long-term boarders; William, Mama Sugar’s grandson; and all the other boarders who come and go on their way through Memphis. Soon Sara’s circle expands: There is Mr. Coulter, one of Will’s teachers, forever giving Will extra assignments to expand his mind; Cora and Lawrence Morgan, a doctor and his wife from Mama Sugar’s church; and Ms. Mavis, a local bakery owner. But this is not a fairy tale, and happy endings are in short supply: Sara’s circle also includes Amos, Will’s here-now-and-gone-again father, a drinker and gambler; and Lucky, who is willing to do anything to get the money that Amos owes him. The story follows Sara and the others over the course of a few years, as Lebanon grows, good times follow bad times, and joy and tragedy come fast and furious. Author West has written a book that seems made to be filmed: Weighty conversations about living with segregation and trying to survive despite all the difficulties drive the story.

A raw look at life for a Black woman in the segregated South.