Lynne Bryant

I sometimes feel like I've read more than my fair share of stories about slavery, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era but this book offers a unique and interesting take on black/white relations in Mississippi. The story starts in 2003 with Roxanne, a white woman, who finds herself with the task of creating an African American Tour. She calls on Grace, an elderly black resident, to help her identify historical points of interest. Grace and a cast of other characters call up memories from the 1930's to help tell the story of their town. Each person's memories help to complete the complex story and heal some festering wounds.… (mer)

The ending says it all. Ones past cannot be changed. So learn to embrace it. We all have hidden fears. I know I do. Move toward the future.
Avery runs away from home angry with her Mother. She has a daughter with sickle cell anemia. Avery is a nurse so it leaves her with questions about her family she cannot answer.
Her brother, Mark, talks her into coming home for his wedding. She has to face what she left behind. After 10 years she finds it hard coming home.
The book was very enjoyable. It tells you a lot about this time in history from a family viewpoint. The chapters leave you pushing on because you always have a question in your mind. To me a good writing way. You cannot stop so you read it in a few days.
I really enjoyed the book. It is well written.… (mer)

Read this for my book club and it was tough to get through. Having luckily never had the misfortune of knowing someone as ignorant and hateful as the character of Marion made it hard to be sympathize or relate to her. Everytime one of her chapters came up I'd internally groan. I thought the racism was slathered on a bit thick without any explanation as to the why. Why are these people so hateful? How did they become like this? How are we supposed to believe that they will change after years of intollerance?… (mer)