Velva Jean Learns to Drive

Velva Jean Learns to Drive is a stunning piece of historical fiction, set in pre WWII Appalachia. With a strong voice, a vivid setting, and a a cast of characters so vivid that I expect to run into them doing errands, it is the kind of book you won't soon forget.

A lot of times, especially when it comes to women in my generation, we forget how far our gender has come in less than 100 years. Velva Jean was expected to listen to her husband no mater what and just settle down, marry, and have babies, She was even told by her sister that her dreams were too big and were a waste of time. Luckily, Velva Jean has others around her who love her and believe in her. paired with an inner strength that pushes her.

>As many who read this blog know, I show more am not a religious person. This book had a very interesting take on religion and what it means to one individual be saved. Watching Velva Jeans' personal faith grow and change was one of the most interesting and thought-provoking aspects of the novel. I think those who enjoy Christian fiction/general crossovers will appreciate her journey and will be left with several things to think about. Others, who are more like me, will be happy that a message isn't being pushed upon us and that it lets readers form their own ideas.

Velva Jean Learns to Drive also made me grateful for the support I have in my life. Velva loses her mother at a very young age, but has a large, loving family that looks out for her. One of her brothers is only two years older than her, but provides some of the most sage advice and insights on her life. He challenges her in a way only a brother can. She also has a caring and supportive grandfather who is willing to stand up for what is right and always believes in her, even if she is only 18 and a woman. The care and respect that he gives to all of the women in his life is a great contrast to many of the other men in the novel and time period.

The final thing I want to touch on in the novel is her husband, Harley. He does not start off as a mean man, Velva is much too smart for that. He is kind and loving. Their relationship may not be complete equality, but it is close. After an accident, he changes, becomes harder, and starts to be what we would call emotionally abusive today. Then, he was just being a husband and holding dominion over his wife. Watching Velva Jean see what he was doing and not being okay with what is expected showed a strength and power that I bet was more common than we would believe. show less

This is a novel that I thought started out pretty well and then got consistently better as it went along. The story takes place during the Depression in Appalachian North Carolina in a mountainous area that is to a great degree isolated from the outside world. Velva Jean is eleven years old, living with a family that is, for the most part, loving but begins to slowly disintegrate as the events of life unfold. The sense of place and time that Niven provides us is excellent. Southern Baptist religion mixes easily with nature healing and local superstition. Velva Jean's voice is a strong one and grows subtlely as she ages (the narrative brings her to 18). The plot line is a good one, and believable, if not entirely compelling at all times. show more It story centers around Velva Jean's growth and dreams, her family's and community's dynamics, and that community's feelings, ranging between dread, fierce resentment and excitement, towards a new highway that is slowly being built toward them and end their isolation. I gave this book 3 1/2 stars. It could just as easily be four. All in all, I recommend the novel fairly strongly. show less

"What was it like, the world out there?"
"It's just like it is here, Velva Jean. For the most part, the people are the same. Everyone wants something to believe in. Everyone wants someone to love."

Velva Jean Learns to Drive depicts such a struggle that the protagonist has, the decision she feels she has to make between the world "out there" and her tiny and comfortable home on an Appalachian mountain during the Depression. Velva Jean is uniquely driven and independent, as she dreams that her musical talent could take her all the way to Nashville for a new and glamorous life. Yet despite her big city dreams, she continues to come back to her family - out of love, necessity, inertia, or comfort. Such complex motivations and emotions show more develop Velva Jean into a very likable and three-dimensional character with whom the reader sympathizes as she builds her own life ahead of her.

I would go even beyond calling the book character-driven into community-driven or setting-driven. It's historical fiction about the community built and shared upon a single small mountain in the Appalachians. It's very "small town fiction" (cousin of Southern fiction), and the setting and relationships are well-developed as we see the community's development and interaction through Velva Jean's eyes. Velva Jean doesn't necessarily have to stake her claim as either "small town" or "big city" necessarily - as we see her claim her autonomy and self-identity, the arc of her coming of age story can be fully recognized with or without big city glamour or fame. show less

A quiet, well written, gentle tale set in the North Carolina mountains near our cabin in Rabun County Georgia. The time is the 1930's, knee deep in the Depression and in the building of the Blue Ridge Scenic Parkway. Characters were well drawn, intimate and complete. No stereotypes or straw-men.

Velva Jean first appears at about age 9 or 10, just as she is being saved by Jesus and just before her beloved mother dies. She loves her mama, her brother and her singing, and dreams of heading to Nashville some day.

Her world is changed forever when her mama dies, and her daddy leaves. Her road to Nashville is diverted by the HArley Bright, the devilish son of the local moonshiner, now turned preacher.

So much color and character in the book, show more which was good, because Velva Jean only contemplates learning to drive on page 266, which was a little slow, even for me. The last part of the book steam engined ahead, like the train barreling towards Terrible Creek did, but with less catastrophic results. (Or maybe not less... we only have Velva Jean's reaction to the ending, not Harley's. ) I may need to think on this a bit more.

Thanks to Elizabeth for the loan of the book. It was beautifully written. show less

A wonderful coming of age story, this novel follows the story of Velva Jean Hart. Velva Jean grows up on a remote mountain in Appalachia in the 1930's. A naturally gifted singer, Velva Jean dreams of one day singing at the Grand Ole Opry. Full of memorable characters, lyrical prose, and period detail, Velva Jean's story is one that will stay with me. Highly recommended!

The Story

In 1933, Velva Jean was a 10 year old girl searching for entry into heaven by being saved in her belief in Jesus Christ. After she is baptized, her life as she knows it begins to crumble around her. Her father leaves the family home and very shortly thereafter her mother dies. She and her brother, Johnny Clay, are soon taken into the Appalachian Mountain home of their older sister, Sweet Fern. Although their father eventually returns, he never takes custody of them and their parenting remains the responsibility of Sweet Fern and her husband.

Velva Jean Hart’s passion is music and she is a beautiful young singer. She dreams of one day singing at the Grand Ole’ Opry. Johnny Clay supports her in this dream and spends his days show more being Velva Jean’s best friend and companion. Their adventurous ways take them on mountain trails where they meet a cast of different characters. A mysterious man, known as “Wood Carver,” becomes Velva Jean’s unlikely friend. He was an outcast to this small society and believed to have murdered a man. However, Wood Carver is a man with a generous and wise spirit who encourages Velva Jean to follow her heart when she visits him.

At the young age of 15, Velva Jean and Johnny Clay visit a traveling church revival in which Velva Jean recognizes the young preacher to be a boy of the mountains and her youth. His handsome appearance and engaging words entrap Velva Jean in a young love. His attraction to Velva Jean was mutual and within a year she marries the irresistible young preacher, Harley Bright. Their honeymoon is cut short when they receive the telegram that Harley’s mother has passed away. The newlyweds move into Harley’s family home with his moonshine distilling father, Levi.

As major roads are being built into the mountains, tragedy strikes the family. Between the ages of 15 & 18, Velva Jean is a on road of self-discovery, love, and finding the true voice within her… will it drive her all the way to The Grand Ole’ Opry?

The Review

This American family’s story exposes to its readers what life in the Appalachian Mountains was like in the 1930’s before major roadways were built through them and thereby connecting them to the outside world. Our heroine, Velva Jean, exudes the purity of heart and the human desire to make one’s dreams come true. This novel is beautifully descriptive in both the setting and its characters. As such, the reader of this heartfelt novel desires to observe Velva Jean’s happiness materialize.

This book was, for me, more than a plain family saga. It had plenty of unexpected twists and turns in the plot line that enriched the overall story. I enjoyed reading of the days of mining, bootlegging, and riding trains to visit nearby communities. What was difficult for me to relate to, yet completely comprehensible to me, was the thought of dying in the same small town that you were born in… where all of your community members know you, your family, and its legacy. At this time and in places such as these, the expectation of a young woman would be to marry within the locality, have babies, and be satisfied with that life. Women didn’t have the same rights as the men and their place was in the home, with the children, and minding her husband. Cognitively, I am educated to know this as the truth within our history. However, placing that life into my imagination sends my thoughts into sadness. Women were so undervalued and under-utilized for their talents and minds. With my sassy mouth and sharp thinking, I certainly wouldn’t have been experiencing a successful marriage in obedience to my husband had I lived in that time! On the flip side, maybe I wouldn’t have known or thought to be any different.

Like Velva Jean, if a shiny yellow truck sat behind my house unused, I would learn to drive despite what the neighbors, or my husband, might think. As my spirit mirrors hers, I would never let go of my dreams and eventually find my way to achieve them… as long as it takes and no matter how difficult it may seem.

The Rating

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I am giving Velva Jean Learns To Drive a rating of 8.5 out of 10. The story was brimming with the whispers of the mountains and the private wishes of the heart. There were a few things that I had wished for Velva Jean that she never got to experience, but I believe that Niven did this character great justice in the ending she wrote for her. show less

Review: Velva Jean Learns To Drive by Jennifer Niven.

It’s a story set in the gold-mining and moon shining mountains of the Appalachia. Back then they where known as the back side hillbilly territory, now well gone. Mountains where people suffer failure, lose, and betrayal as well as the strength and enjoyment of connections and deep love.

It’s a story with a lot of emotions and the slow moving changing of the times which these people weren’t ready for. It was about a girl’s environment, family, the rules they abide by and most of all her dream of becoming a country singer in Nashville. However, home life kept her hidden in the dense forest of the mountains, doing her duties of being a mountain woman.

Yet, she still had that show more strong inspiration to do what she wanted. She just had to find ways of hiding and deceiving people around her to inch her way beyond the valley below the mountain. Velva Jean did fall in love one day to a stern-turned revival preacher who was a horrible dirty hillbilly boy when growing up. As their love story unfolds, Velva Jean struggles to find happiness. So, will she become the demure wife, her husband wants her to be??

I thought the book was beautifully written. It’s an unforgettable story about love, spirit, and finding the courage to follow one’s dreams. Among Velva Jeans story there are creative characters who you’ll fall in love with and some not to tasteful to chum around with. This story captivated me and I recommend it to anyone who has ever longed to follow another person’s culture and beliefs. Read on and live with the hillbilly’s for a few days….and find out if Velva jean get’s to drive…. show less