An Honest Review of Ours by Phillip B. Williams
Phillip B. Williams is a genius with an otherworldly imagination. How is that for the beginning of an honest review about Williams’ debut novel, Ours? But the truth is, Ours is an epic work of revisionist Black history, Black Surrealism, and revenge fantasy that could only come from the mind of a creative genius, which I am convinced Phillip B. Williams is.
What is Ours All About?
The basic storyline in Ours is this: A conjure woman named Saint, uses her powerful magic to annihilate plantations all over the South, leaving the plantation masters dead in her wake. She then brings the formerly enslaved to a magical town called Ours, where they can be truly free because white people can neither see nor access Ours. It is a deliciously satisfying set-up for a retelling of American history.
However, before one starts getting Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained vibes, this is not that kind of story. While gruesome violence does play a part in the book, it is not gratuitous, nor does it play a starting role in the storyline. Saint uses her powers judiciously, as do the other people - mostly women, by the way - who have to mete out justice when they have been wronged or in the vein of self-defense.
So, the book isn’t about the anhiliation of plantations and the murder of evil white slave masters, it is really about the town of Ours and the people who live in it. It is about how Black people handle freedom when freedom is relegated to the boundaries of a magical town. It is about Saint and how she yearns to protect her people, but also, the price she has to pay to do so. This is truly an epic story that covers hundreds of years as we see Ours develop over time. And we see Saint grapple with the weight of her remarkable gifts. The hardcover clocks in at 573 pages.
Why Ours is So Good
Ours was listed on almost everybody’s most anticipated book lists for 2024, including Oprah Daily. And it was much deserved anticipation. Williams has created a truly remarkable world in this book, where magic and conjure are part of the culture. The world building alone is incredible. And yet, even with all of the magical elements, Ours is still 100 percent grounded in reality. That is masterful writing.
What’s more, Williams has crafted original characters with unique storylines that I guarantee, you haven’t seen before, and yet, these characters are extremely relatable and feel like part of the familiar fabric of Black America.
And then on top of the unique characters and the magical setting, Williams delivers a complex and compelling story written in poetic prose that will force you to read slowly and savor every sentence like a gourmet meal. The fact that Williams is an award-winning poet clearly shows throughout the pages of Ours. Exhibit A. Here is how Williams describes a tree at night. “The tree’s branches, giant bones under moonlight, bobbed in the breeze.”
Who is Not Going to Like Ours
Ours is not an easy read. It is not a book to be consumed in a binge weekend. Even if you tried, you probably couldn’t read this book quickly. It is too complicated, too complex, and too clever to skim through the pages. It took Williams ten years to compile this work of art, so you’re not going to just rush right through it. But be clear, because the story is complex and requires deep thinking as you read along, doesn’t mean it’s hard or confusing. Because it’s not. It’s just that there are stories inside of stories and nods to real events, and time jumps, and mysteries and magic that will force you to pay attention. Personally, I love a book that can call me to the page, but not everyone is ready for that level of literary commitment.
Who Will Love Ours
If you had the energy and stamina to read The Love Songs of W.E.B Dubois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - coincidentally another poet turned debut novelist -and you loved the epic story told there, you will definitely love Ours. If you enjoy magical worlds and witchy things laced with hoodoo vibes, you will love Ours. If you like stories with strong Black female leads, then you will definitely love Saint and her gripping story in Ours. And if you love novels where the prose reads like melted butter on a corner piece of hot cornbread, then you will love Ours as much as I did. The story will haunt you, and the magic will stay with you for days, maybe weeks after reading.
If you would like to hear more about Phillip B. Williams and the story behind the story of Ours, check out his episode on the award-winning, Reed, Write, & Create podcast.
Happy Reading!