Sometimes we seek out books about certain places or topics (e.g., our Iceland post). Sometimes, the books we happen to be reading and current events collide. This happened earlier this year when the anniversary of the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights act converged with our reading two pieces of fiction dealing with the aftermath of the civil right movement in Mississippi.
Besides the fact we read these two books back to back, what do these two books have in common? Both present the authors’ views of post 1960s Mississippi – in one case the book is set in the present day and in the other in the late 1980s. Both have plots that depend upon evolving race relations. Both invoke the 1960s civil rights movement as they try to solve current dilemmas. Both invoke quintessential town squares we come to expect in books that take place in the American South (think To Kill A Mockingbird). Both were very well received by book critics at The Washington Post and New York Times. And, most importantly for a Book Jam post in June, both picks fit the “summer thriller” category. We hope you enjoy taking them to the beach or to a treehouse or to your mountain cabin or to your favorite chair on very your own front porch.
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles (March 2014) – I am glad this is the first part of a trilogy, as much was left unfinished for the next two books to tackle. After reading John Grisham’s Sycamore Row, I was drawn to this novel of Mississippi and a present day crime rooted in the 1960s civil rights struggle. The details made my stomach turn — mostly because much of what Mr. Iles plotted is based in actual unsolved cases involving disappeared “negroes” and the white people who tried to help. However, I don’t think that summer reading is required to be light and there are plenty of characters to cheer for, so we call this as a great summer read. Honestly, this novel is more of a saga written as a thriller with current social issues intertwined in the plot, but whatever you call it, it is a book I recommend.
Others recommend it as well. The Washington Post’s review stated both that “With ‘Natchez Burning’, Greg Iles is back better than ever“, and that the book brings “… an impressive beginning to what could prove to be an epic exploration of the nation’s secrets and hidden sins, and it marks the return of a gifted novelist who has been out of the public eye for much too long.” ~ Lisa Christie
Sycamore Row by John Grisham (October 2013) – Mr. Grisham is a master at plot and suspense, and has once again created a page-turning story. Since I am a fan of the movie A Time To Kill, spending time with Jake Brigance during Sycamore Row — this time three years after the trial from A Time to Kill — felt like a mini reunion. Again, as with Mr. Iles’s book, other reviewers agree this is a must read. As the New York Times review stated “‘Sycamore Row’ reminds us that the best legal fiction is written by lawyers.” Or as the Washington Post reviewer wrote “‘Sycamore Row’ is easily the best of his books that I’ve read and ranks on my list with Stephen King’s “11/22/63” as one of the two most impressive popular novels in recent years.” Please note: This book ended up on many best of 2013 lists — lists that include authors whose novels tend not to become blockbuster movies — and it was also previously mentioned by The Book Jam in our 2013 last minute holiday gifts post. ~ Lisa Christie
BONUS pick on this Mississippi Theme:
Mudbound by Hilary Jordan (2008) — This novel provides yet another reason to always read Bellewether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction winners. This story set in post WWII Mississippi is a heartbreaking story of racial relations, poor treatment of returning veterans, and the high price of silence as members of two families living in rural Mississippi collide. ~ Lisa Christie and Lisa Cadow
Though not beloved by all, Donna Tartt’s The Little Friend fits right into the Mississippi theme. I thought it was a terrific novel and would make a great “summer read”, whatever that is.
Michael K
Michael – We are fans of “Little Friends” as well, and hope anyone reading your comment and our reply picks it up to read.
As for why it was not in today’s post, well, we had not read it while seeing and hearing all the 1964 Civil Rights Act 50th anniversary media — unlike for the three books featured today. We also tried hard (and failed) to keep the post to two books so it fit our “Two Peas in a Pod” tag. We could justify adding a third book – Mudbound – as we read it recently, but stopped there.
As for defining “summer read” – that is a much longer conversation. I think most people think of “lighter” novels when hearing that phrase. But some think of all the denser books they never get around to except during the longer summer days. As stated in today’s reviews, we don’t think summer books are required to be “light”, and we will work on a Book Jam definition.
THANK YOU for reading our blog and commenting.
Hi Lisa and Lisa,
I just returned from Mississippi yesterday as part of an NEH program for teachers. I’m still processing it and trying to put something in writing. I wanted to comment on your post for two reasons. The first is that I can’t recommend Mudbound enough. My seniors are reading it as part of their summer work. The second piece is that as part of this NEH program, we heard a lecture, the subject of which was comparisons between the Emmett Till case and To Kill a Mockingbird. It was fairly compelling, especially given the fact that later in the week we had the privilege of spending the day with Wheeler Parker, Emmett Till’s cousin, who travelled with him to Mississippi from Chicago and was there with Emmett at the store and later, in his grandfather’s shack when Bryant and Milam came for “the one who did the talk in Money” (Emmett Till). He thought that he, too, was going to die that night.
Anyhow, I just thought that I would pass that along. Keep up the good work.
Joe Deffner
Hi Mr. Deffner ( OK – Joe)
First CONGRATULATIONS on the NEH program selection. We are in awe of the experience it brought to you. To meet Mr. Parker must have been amazing and humbling and hard.
We were moved by Mudbound, and honestly have loved every single Bellewether winner we have read; so if you have not worked your way through those we recommend you do so. We truly believe that any one of them would make a great discussion read for your students.
As for processing the topics contained in books such as To Kill A Mockingbird, Mudbound, Natchez Burning, A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row, one of us grew up in the south and often hesitates launching into discussions because of all the stereotypes many (but obviously not all) people living north of the Mason-Dixon line have about Southerners. So for that Lisa, it is often hard to review books that have plots feeding those stereotypes — even when they are based upon hard facts. But as we read and post, we fall back on our strong belief that sharing books that lead to discussions is a good way to approach “difficult to process” topics and/or allow people to deconstruct their own prejudices. We would love to hear your thoughts once you have had a chance to process the experience.
THANK YOU for reading our blog and for your support! If you can, please pass our site along to your fellow teachers. We would love to be able to help more educators find the right books and the right indie bookstore.
Have a great summer of reading before school begins again — Lisa and Lisa