Gina Gleason
The Price of a Child Review
1/31/09

The New York Times tells us that Lorne Carry is, “a powerful storyteller.” Her work in the Price of a Child is, “frankly sensual, mortally funny, and gifted with an ear for the pounce and ragged inconsequentiality of real speech.” I agree with almost none of that. Throughout reading The Price of a Child, Carry managed to get my attention, then loose me completely, bore me, and inspire me to write this review.
Ginnie is a young woman with three children. She is being taken to Philadelphia with her master, Jackson Pryor. We learn that Pryor has been named ambassador of Nicaragua. Why he has been given this title, I am not quite sure. Why would a slave be allowed to Philadelphia? It is a non-slave state with a strong abolitionist movement happening at the time. The catch is, Ginnie is only allowed to bring two of her three children with her. How does she decide whom to bring? Was Bennie, the child left behind, more mature thank the others? I can only make assumptions because Carry does not enlighten me; however, at this point in the book she is gaining my attention. What will Ginnie do? Will she courageously make her way to freedom? Would that even be the courageous thing to do in this situation, seeing as she has left one of her children behind down south? The plot could go in so many directions and I am left waiting to find out where we are headed next.
Unfortunately for me, the anticipative reader, Carry steers us into the beginning of a whirlwind of confusion when we meet Nig-Nag and other members of the Vigilance Committee. With their help and the Pennsylvania Law at her side, Ginnie decides to escape her master and walk into freedom. Carry decided not to give us any insight into Ginnie’s thought process or internal conflicts. This is a great example of “character vs. self” conflict and I think Carry could have done a lot more with the situation. What made up her mind to leave her master? Does she have an elaborate plan to go back for Bennie? She must be torn knowing she may never see one of her children again. What is the cost to ensure the safety of as many children as you can for a slave at this time? Is it another child; is that the price of a child?
As Ginnie is escaping, a carriage driver named Tyree picks her up. Throughout the book we meet members of Tyree’s family and friends, along with other families such as The Quick’s. This is where Carry bores me. We have hit a dead-end and I have completely lost interest. There are far too many characters to keep track of and she tells all of their stories. Instead of answering questions to parts of the book that left me hanging, she is introducing new parts and new characters. Finish what you’ve started, please. I have no idea what Bennie and Pryor are doing and I would like to know.
All of these characters feel like main characters. I feel like someone will have what seems like an important role in the book then just disappear for a while. For example, we meet Nig-Nag early on, and learn a little bit about him. He is corky and interesting and without him Ginnie may not have become free at all. After that it seems like he just disappears until much later in the story.
I may have gone into the story feeling bias. A reading demon of mine is being forced to read things I am not interested in reading. Slavery is a huge issue, however I spent an entire year in a required African American History class. How much more will be imbedded into our minds? Too much on any subject will make a student sick of it. I’m sure Carry is a great writer and I enjoyed parts of her writing. The way I would of liked her to use so many characters would be similar to the way Richard Linklater introduces new characters in his seemingly plot less film Slacker, a day in the life of a twenty-something from Texas. He follows characters met along the way never for more than a few minutes. Like I said before too many people with huge roles seem to make for a car-wreck.