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Page From a Tennessee Journal by Francine Thomas Howard

2/16/2010

 
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Page From a Tennessee Journal is the first novel from former Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Francine Thomas Howard. This is one of the first of previously self-published books being relaunched by the AmazonEncore program. I think it's a very fitting choice. Howard brings us into the lives of the white farm owning couple of Alexander and Eula McNaughton and the Black sharecropping family of John and Annalaura Welles. Set in rural east Tennessee in 1913, the story of these four people as individuals and as couples unfolds.

Alexander and John are both in love with the same woman yet neither knows how to appropriately show their affection without leaving her hurt emotionally and physically. And for one the love is forbidden which is the major source of conflict in this novel. The author's depiction of the lives of sharecroppers would make a good argument of why this practice was as detrimental to Blacks as, if not actually worse than, slavery. The squalid living conditions and unfair arrangements for payments and advances against labor were deplorable. Another social issue tackled is the marginalization of women. The status of the rural Southern woman was very bleak for both Blacks and whites. They both dealt with philandering husbands which was acceptable amongst their social class and being silenced. This was not news to me however, Howard's portrayal was like re-opening a wound and I was angered so much when this matter was brought up. John Welles angered me most with his self-righteous attitude even after he left his wife and children with nothing to seek his fortune. These women had to endure everything thrown at them while keeping up the dutiful, loyal wife routine without so much as an eye roll.  Eula does get her opportunity to use her voice in her journal even if it is only for herself. Annalaura even gets a bit of poetic justice in the end when she gets to make a life changing decision on her terms.

Reading this in two sittings, Howard's writing was well paced and never really hit any lulls. She has written great nuanced characters and the story felt like she was comfortable in the narrative as it's not forced. And I always applaud those who bravely take on whorehouses and Southern dialect without it all coming off as trite. Though it's hard for me to digest tales involving the disparaging treatment of women, it was worth it and deserves every accolade it has coming. Yes, I'm being prophetic. I do hope to see this also become part of the scholarly canon of fiction on women's studies. I highly recommend this entertaining and poignant debut novel.

I received a copy of this book from the author.

susan link
2/15/2010 10:00:20 pm

Terrie,

Love your review. Looking forward to reading this.

Jodie link
2/15/2010 10:22:02 pm

I'm hearing so much good stuff about this book that I'm looking forward to my copy arriving. Sadly it won't get here until around the end of March :(

Eva link
2/15/2010 10:48:56 pm

Ohhh-now you have me wanting to read this because it sounds like such good writing, but I also don't want to read it because of the women's issues stuff. I get SO MAD when I think about issues like this, I end up on the warpath and pissing off the men I know. *sigh*

Reads4Pleasure link
2/15/2010 10:57:38 pm

This sounds really good. I'm adding it to my "to read" list.

BrownGirl
2/15/2010 11:01:03 pm

Thanks Susan!

Jodie, I think the release date was pushed back from February to March. I just noticed that on Amazon yesterday. But it'll be worth the wait.

I hear you Eva. That's funny and so true. I have to check myself on side-eyeing all the guys for a while.

Francine Thomas Howard link
2/16/2010 07:27:21 am

Thanks so much Brown Girl for reviewing Page From a Tennessee Journal. I am very excited about the reception Page is receiving. My novel seems to be getting a lot of reaction from feminists. Sad to say, this WAS the state of affairs in America through the first half of the last century. But it was through the efforts, no matter how small they seem now, of women like Annalaura and Eula who got us to where we are today. No, feminism did not bloom out of a vacuum in the 1960s. Wherever I am today is because I stand on the shoulders of those women who paid such a high prize to give me opportunity. Thank you all for being so enthusiastic about PAGE.

Ari link
2/17/2010 11:58:27 am

You won my AWAM giveaway and an award! http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com/2010/02/winner-blog-awards.html

I'll email you about A wish after midnight.

I don't think people can get too upset at the lack of feminism in the past because we don't fully realize the situations and it sounds like Page from a Tennessee Journal is depressingly realistic and that's good!


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