Club Book Episode 126 Rita Woods

Rita Woods is the author behind Remembrance, one of the most celebrated historical fiction debuts in years. Woods’ opus straddles literary genres and historical epochs. In this book, “Remembrance” is a hallowed refuge for escaped slaves which exists outside the normal bounds of time and space. The most unusual stop on the Underground Railroad, Remembrance owes its existence to generations of women with secret supernatural abilities. Their personal stories span from the Haitian Revolution of 1791, to the last gasps of the New Orleans slave trade in the 1850s, up to the present day. NPR lauds: “Remembrance is well-researched, truly epic historical fantasy… Woods creates memorable characters in all her settings, each with a distinct purpose that helps make the impossible relatable.” It has drawn Woods glowing comparisons to the fiction of literary heavyweights like Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler. In addition to her burgeoning writing career, Woods is a physician and medical director of a wellness center in the Chicago area.

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