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The House at Sugar Beach
354 pages, 2009
biographies & memoirs
997 booksIn this intensely intimate memoir, nominee for the 2008 National Book Critics Circle Award, journalist Helene Cooper investigates the violent past of her native nation Liberia and the ramifications of the 1980 military takeover. Helene Cooper is Congo, a descendant of two Liberian dynasties that may be traced back to the first ship of freemen to sail from New York to Monrovia in 1820. Helene was raised at Sugar Beach, a twenty-two-room seaside home. She grew up with maids, fancy automobiles, a property in Spain, and a farmhouse in the countryside. It was also an African childhood, with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee, among other things. The Coopers took in a foster kid when Helene was eight years old, which was a regular practice among the Liberian elite. Eunice, a Bassa girl, became known as Mrs. Coopers daughter all of a sudden. For years, the Cooper sisters—Helene, Marlene, and Eunice—were oblivious to the trappings of money and privilege. Liberia, on the other hand, was like an unattended pot of boiling water on the stove. A squad of soldiers conducted a coup détat on April 12, 1980, assassinating President William Tolbert and killing his government.
In The House at Sugar Beach, Helene Cooper explores her privileged upbringing in Liberia. She was born into a wealthy family, which shielded her from the harsh realities of life for many Liberians. This book encourages readers to check their own privilege and consider how it impacts their perspective.
Cooper's book emphasizes the importance of family. Despite the turmoil and upheaval she faced, her family remained a constant source of support and love. This book encourages readers to appreciate their own families and the role they play in their lives.
The House at Sugar Beach doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of war. Cooper's firsthand account of the Liberian civil war is a stark reminder of the horrors of conflict. This book encourages readers to research more about global conflicts and their impact on ordinary people.
Cooper's journey from a privileged child in Liberia to a successful journalist in the United States is a testament to her resilience. Despite the challenges she faced, she never gave up. This book encourages readers to find their own inner strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
In The House at Sugar Beach, Cooper grapples with her cultural identity, torn between her Liberian roots and her American life. This book encourages readers to explore their own cultural identities and appreciate the richness and complexity of their heritage.
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