Special thanks to the author & @henryholtbooks for the gifted copy & @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2025 for my gifted ALC‼️

Blending personal experience with history, research, and reportage Alabama’s very own Alexis Okeowo delivers facts and hidden truths about the state of Alabama.

Exploring the impact of stolen land from the Indians, the Creek War, impoverished lifestyles of many Alabamians, the immigrant experience in America, Black voters and their rights, motherhood, sexual assault, politics, and Alabama’s horrific prison system. Okeowo’s writing style is very detailed and well researched.

Throughout her memoir she gives a voice to those who were once silenced by their oppressors and allowed them the opportunity to speak their truth. Okeowo does a great job of blending her own personal life and experiences in the mix. But my biggest downside is that it wasn’t really enough for readers to know who the author really is and how living in Alabama impacted her life whether good or bad.

Overall, it was an okay memoir/history lesson. The author shows readers why it’s important for minorities to preserve their history and culture. Capturing some of Alabama’s darkest history readers are introduced to raw personal stories from real Alabamians who have witnessed first hand that loving a place that doesn’t love you back can have lasting effects on your identity, faith, and community. If you’re interested in learning some true history about the state of Alabama you should read this book!

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

3.75 stars rounded up.
I'm a huge fan of books that blend memoir and history and Alexis did a great job of blending her own personal and family experience with the story of Black folks in Alabama. The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me is because I. WANTED. MORE.

Okeowo did an excellent job of describing two unique experiences in which humans are trapped between two worlds - the Indigenous Muscogee/Creek experience and Black African immigrants. I loved learning about the various struggles they each encountered living in Alabama. I often found myself exiting out of my kindle app to run to Google to read more about the Muscogee experience, especially when it became intertwined with the Black American experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Pick this one up if you're looking to supplement your lackluster American education with a biographical memoir that exposes the experiences of those that are often overlooked and forgotten.

I found this to be a truly enjoyable and thought-provoking read. As I moved through the stories, I could feel my emotions stirring, and the writing made it easy to vividly picture each scene unfolding.

What stood out most to me was the way Alexis Okeowo defied the stereotypes placed upon her—stereotypes rooted in appearances rather than her character or who she truly is. Watching her rise above those assumptions and carve out her own path was both inspiring and refreshing.

I also loved the depth of research and thought woven into this book. It added so much richness to her personal journey and gave the narrative an even stronger foundation. I enjoyed so much of her story, and it deeply resonated with me personally. Being raised in Alabama myself—just a little over an hour from where Alexis grew up in Montgomery—I felt an immediate connection to her words and experiences. Many of the challenges she described echoed the same realities I faced growing up in the state, which made the book all the more impactful for me.

I appreciated her honesty in acknowledging the painful history of where she grew up, and how those experiences shaped her into the person she is today. That vulnerability gave the book so much weight and authenticity.

First and foremost, thank you to the author for bravely sharing her reality and experiences. And thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company Publishing for my eARC copy.

Blessings and Disasters is an extraordinary read! The book masterfully navigates challenging realities with compassion and nuance, while also highlighting the strength of the human spirit, the bonds of community, and the allure of beauty in unforeseen circumstances. I was captivated by the lives and landscapes within each chapter, resulting in a reading experience that was both informative and deeply moving. I have lived one state over from Alabama my entire life and Blessings and Disasters taught me many new things. I highly recommend it, I feel lucky to have read this powerful book!

This was an informative read about the history of Alabama and the people who live there. Hearing from different perspectives (including the author and her family) gave me an increased appreciation for the different aspects that contribute to Alabamian culture. I also learned a lot about the Alabama environment and septic system-related public health crisis.

A beautiful mix of history, personal essay, and musings about a state most probably overlook. I love this type of focused writing. As someone who also lives in a state that most don't pay much attention to (Kentucky) this really hit home for me.

Title: Blessings and Disasters
Author: Alexis Okeowo
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Blessings and Disasters" by Alexis Okeowo

My Insight:

'Blessing and Disaster' was well delivered by this author, especially if you are interested in the' history of understanding the intricate layers of the resilience of its people' in Alabama. Now, if you did not live in the South, I know this will be an eye-opener for you, reading how this author gives us a clear picture of this painful history of how one grew up and was shaped into who they are now. This story may be a little hard to read, given its history of the slave trade, civil war, and racism, but if you can get through it, it will be a compelling and unforgettable read. All that's left to say is that it's history, whether we like it or not, of what happened as Alexis Okeowo, who lived through it, growing up there.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Henry Holt and Co. for my ARC copy.

I'll have to admit: before going into this book, as someone who is culturally northeastern American, I knew very little about Alabama. I was interested in what Okeowo had to say and the research they did, and I was blown away by what I was reading throughout this brief book. So much research combined with personal histories, as well as little biographies of ordinary people from local Black and Creek communities were scattered throughout these pages--I felt like I learned a lot from them and their ancestors, what they went through. From religion to the Alabama Constitution, this is a special little book that resonates and dispels some stereotypes about Alabama for sure while contextualizing in the grand scheme of American history and experimentation.

Alexis Okeowo is a journalist, children of Nigerian immigrants, and Alabamian. From the publisher's description, I expected this to be a defense of a misunderstood state, but it reads a lot more like "sure, Alabama has a violent, racist past, has and continues to treat women, tribal people and minorities poorly, but for some reason I like it."

The book is a combination of history about Alabama's past and a personal memoir of the author's relationship to her home state. I found the history well researched and fascinating, even though I was at least somewhat familiar with much of the history of the slave trade, civil war, and subsequent institutional racism. But a lot of the book falls between history and memoir when Okeowo interviews black women about their own histories. These I found mostly overlong and unnecessary to the main themes of the book. For example, there is an extended period around the halfway point of the book where Okeowe describes, in detail, the dating and marriage stories of two women she is interviewing. This would have been more compelling had the stories connected more fully with Alabama's treatment of black women. I didn't feel that much of this was unique to Alabama.

Even though I found this book flawed, I appreciate the need for all of us to hear from minority voices about their American experience. Many thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know if I would have picked this up if not for hearing about it from Annie B. Jones at The Bookshelf. Okeowo is a journalist and this book is a mixture of historical investigation and memoir. As an Alabamian, Okeowo has a unique perspective sharing about what Alabama is (and why) and how perceptions and stereotypes are truthful, helpful, and hurtful -- and how her personal experiences reflect these ideas. Overall, the book might have benefited from some tight editing but overall, it was interesting and brought up many feelings about Alabama and our country as a whole. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy and opportunity to share my thoughts.

A dynamic showcase of talent and exploration of identity. This author transports you into the raw realness that captivates and connects.

Alexis Okeowo's "Blessings and Disasters" is a remarkable blend of memoir, history, and reportage that offers a fresh perspective on one of America's most misunderstood states. Growing up as the daughter of Nigerian immigrants in Montgomery, Alabama, Okeowo masterfully weaves her family's story with the broader narrative of Alabama's tumultuous past and present.

Okeowo's exploration of Alabama's history, from the forced removal of the Creek Nation to the present-day legislative battles, is both enlightening and deeply moving. She deftly navigates the complexities of a state that exists at the border of blessing and disaster, showing how people can love their home while still acknowledging its sins.

What sets this book apart is Okeowo's ability to defy stereotypes and present a nuanced view of Alabama. Her intimate memoir and journalistic triumph shed light on lesser-known histories and examine why Alabama has been the stage for some of the most extreme results of the American experiment1.

"Blessings and Disasters" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the intricate layers of American history and the resilience of its people. Okeowo's powerful storytelling and insightful analysis make this book a true gem.

I could have read an entire book just on the people Alexis Okeowo profiled. The beginning was difficult for me to get into because there is a bevy of history. The book is less of a memoir and more of an undertaking about Alabama, much discussed for its racism and not the humanity that Okeowo writes about.

I did not expect to find myself so moved, so deeply, by this highly personal travelogue. As a southerner myself who has been up north for half his life now, this was DEEPLY moving.

I found this to be an enjoyable read. As I read the stories, I could feel my emotions begin to churn, and began to envision the scene that was being described. It was a breath of fresh air to see that someone who was able to defy stereotypes that were thrust upon her, and and overcome them. Stereotypes that were based on what they saw, and not her character/ who she was as a person. Alexis Okeowo honestly acknowledged the painful history of where she grew up and helped shape her into who is he is today.
First and foremost, thank you to the author for sharing her reality and experiences with me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC copy.

This book was okay, I actually found it hard to believe. Alabama has a reputation, and it was hard to believe these stories. I think it was interesting to learn about other cultures nonetheless!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!