Hillary Jordan

Historical fiction set in the deep south in the 1940’s, this powerful and riveting novel weaves together the stories of six characters, three black and three white. Each character narrates his or her point of view on what is happening. I felt this method was extremely effective in developing the characters such that the reader can understand their motivations and actions, even while disagreeing with some of their choices. I could hear their dialogue, and it seemed very real. In short, the show more author did an excellent job of breathing life into her characters. She also did a great job of describing the Mississippi Delta area. I could almost feel the sludge of the mud forming as it rained.

It is a story of adversity in many forms, such as the difficulties of a tenant farmer trying not to fall back into a life of debt, the hardships in a marriage when changing lifestyles from one of comfort to one of deprivation, and the obstacles faced by soldiers returning from WWII haunted and changed by what they have experienced. Major elements include racism, sexism, marriage, PTSD, and the impact of keeping silent. Although parts of this book are rather bleak, I think it tries to show that some of the seeds of change in race relations were sown in the mid-40’s after WWII when the soldiers returned, as evidenced by the friendship between the two returning soldiers of different races.

Recommended to readers interested in tragedies, difficult subject matter, and the history of racial injustice. Contains graphic violence, racial slurs, bigoted characters, and infidelity. show less

I am "from off"; transplant to the south, who has now lived here for the majority of my life. There is much that I love about this region, especially the lush beauty of the land. The culture and history interests me, but mostly from the days that predate the European invasion. For it is with that invasion that some of the most mystifying and horrifying elements of southern culture set root. The institution of slavery, then the Jim Crow years and the horrible bigotry and racism that festers show more in society make my head and stomach hurt. But this book, which captivated me from the start, is set smack dab in the middle of those years, post WWII, when racism and bigotry reigned.

This story, both delicate and brutal, is told from several different viewpoints. I didn't realize that at first, and found myself confused in the beginning because my preconceived idea was that this was Laura's story. But when does anyone's story exist in isolation? Such is the case here as the threads interweave to tell the tale. Though not easy to read because of the subject matter, Jordan's debut novel is a beautifully written story of heartbreak, hatred and survival show less

There is nothing like a novel that makes you stay up too late and miss dinner because you just can't put it down. This is one of those stories.

This brilliant novel is both the moving story of a woman finding herself and a chilling portrait of a frighteningly possible world in which religious fundamentalism rules. Every facet of this novel captivates and unsettles the reader. Hannah Payne, the protagonist, is an inquisitive spirit born into a world where citizens are supposed to question show more nothing. Raised in a fundamentalist Christian family, she finds her own will constantly at odds with the culture around her. Hannah ultimately takes a path that leads to her being "chromed"; the new form of punishment for those who break the law (there is an apt reference to Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" at the beginning of the novel).

Being on the other side of the law forces Hannah to question, more than ever, the precepts on which she was raised. Jordan deftly portrays Hannah's intricate thought processes as she slowly begins to challenge the status quo. It is fascinating to see her question the logic behind the intolerant beliefs with which she was raised. That this process happens slowly, and that Hannah has in many ways bought into what she's been fed growing up, makes her character more human and believable as she begins to question.

There is a lovely balance here of suspense, romance and dystopian themes that are woven together seamlessly. The writing is smooth and sharp at the same time, pulling the reader into a horrifying new world. This is a thinking person's novel. It raises questions of the meaning of faith and of freedom, and, reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," shows us a terrifying world that is all the more disturbing because of the potential for such a world to come to fruition. show less

Please note: I read and reviewed this in February 2012 from a copy received from the Amazon Vine program, but didn't post the review here. I'm copying it over.

My Synopsis: Hannah Payne committed the unforgivable sin; she aborted her pregnancy. After the Scourge - the STD that turned so many women sterile - Sanctity of Life laws were passed in the majority of the states making abortion not only illegal, but a felony. Then the melachroming laws were passed, and those who had murdered someone - show more including their unborn children - were turned red. Because Hannah refused to name the person who performed her abortion, nor the father of the child, extra time was added to her sentence. To make matters worse, there is a group named The Fist that took it upon themselves to kill women like her, and she has been targeted. Will she be able to escape? Will she be able to be free?

My Thoughts: I was impressed with this book on many levels. Obviously I felt the overall message - about a person's right to choose, and about the dangers of rampant fundamentalism - were worthwhile. But at the same time, the book not only does not bash faith and Christianity, it is actually sympathetic to them. Aidan Dale is a truly Christian man, humble and caring, but also human and fallible. At one point Hannah is succored by an Episcopal priest, an earthy woman who is nonetheless another truly good person. Throughout the book, Hannah faces the fact that her former faith was a weak and wavering thing, one that could not stand against her questioning nature because it was based upon what other people felt was best and right, not upon what she, herself, felt was right in her own heart. When she found her own faith, it is a strong and sturdy thing, because it acknowledges the need for questioning and personal revelation.

The characters in this book are strong and well-developed, unique and interesting. While there are a lot of strings left, the story was enthralling - I've had a difficult weekend finding a good book, spending two days on two different books, neither of which I could finish, before starting this one a scant 8 hours ago and finishing it with only a couple short breaks to fix myself tea. Highly recommended for ANYONE and EVERYONE - you MUST read this book! show less