One sentence summary:
A young white girl, who is the obsession of her town’s black minister and the mother of a young mixed-race girl, navigates through racial tensions and family secrets in a small Mississippi town in 1956.
Book genre:
Fiction, Southern Gothic
Main topic of the book:
Race relations and family dynamics in a small Mississippi town in the 1950s.
Key ideas:
- The impact of racial tensions and prejudices on individuals and communities
- The complexities of family relationships and secrets
- The power dynamics between men and women, and between races
- The search for identity and belonging
- The power of love to overcome societal barriers
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
Part I – The Women and the Men of Mount Salus
In the small town of Mount Salus, Mississippi, we are introduced to the main characters – Even Grade, a young white girl, and Valuable Korner, a black minister who becomes obsessed with her. We also meet Even’s mother Jackson; her grandfather, Judge McKinnon; Even’s black half-sister, Joody Two Sun; and Valuable’s wife, Iola. The town is full of racial tensions and secrets, and Even is caught in the middle of it all.
Part II – Obediah and Andalusia
We learn more about Even and Joody’s complicated relationship, as well as Valuable and Iola’s turbulent marriage. Even forms a close bond with Obediah, a black man who works for her family, and is introduced to his daughter, Andalusia, who becomes Even’s best friend. Even also discovers the truth about her family’s past and her true identity.
Part III – Trouble Personified
As Even and Andalusia grow up, they continue to navigate through the complexities of race and identity. Even starts to experience romantic feelings towards Andalusia’s brother, James, but their relationship is complicated by the town’s attitudes towards interracial relationships. Meanwhile, Valuable’s obsession with Even intensifies and leads to a tragic event that changes the dynamics in the town forever.
Part IV – The Burial of Joella
Even and Andalusia are forced to confront the truth about their families and their feelings for each other. Valuable’s past actions catch up with him and he must come to terms with the consequences. Andalusia and Even’s bond remains strong even as they face challenges and discrimination in their pursuit of love and acceptance.
Key takeaways:
- Family secrets and past traumas can have a profound impact on individuals and families
- Racial tensions and prejudices can create a toxic and oppressive environment for individuals, especially for those who challenge societal norms
- Love has the power to break through barriers and bring people of different races and backgrounds together
- Small towns are often at the center of societal issues and can perpetuate harmful attitudes and behaviors
Author’s background and qualifications:
Melinda Haynes grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and is familiar with the Southern Gothic genre. She has also worked as a journalist and teacher, and her experiences growing up in a small town in the South have influenced her writing. She has won numerous awards for her debut novel, “Mother of Pearl,” and it was selected as an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
Target audience:
Fans of Southern Gothic literature, readers interested in stories about race relations and family dynamics, and those who enjoy complex and character-driven narratives.
Publisher and first publication date:
Simon & Schuster; February 6, 1999