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kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Alternating back and forth between the present and the early '40s, In the Shadow of Alabama by Judy Reene Singer is a heartrending novel of complex and difficult relationships, race relations in the South and the lingering effects of wartime.
Rachel Fleischer's relationships with her family are fraught with tension and the last place she wants to be is her father's bedside as he refuses medical treatment for his failing heart. Marty Fleischer has always been a hypercritical, bitter, angry and deeply dissatisfied man whose hateful words continue to haunt her. At the urging of her farm manager and friend Malachi Charge, Rachel reluctantly goes to see her father one last time before his death. At his funeral, stranger Rowena Jackson presents them with a puzzling package from her father, Willie Jackson. Intrigued and wanting to understand a shocking allegation against her father, Rachel later goes to Boston to meet Willie where he recounts his tangled history with Marty.
Rachel's dysfunctional childhood left an indelible mark on her and even as an adult, she cannot escape the legacy of her father's painful words and lack of love. The owner of a horse farm, she lives with her longtime partner, David, and Malachi. Emotionally closed off and protective of her heart, Rachel is unable to fully commit to David and she soon becomes aware there are deep fractures in their relationship. Reluctant to discuss her fears and concerns with him, she ignores the growing distance between them and instead makes the decision to go to Boston to meet Willie.
Rachel knows absolutely nothing of Marty's experiences in World War II and she is quite shocked to learn that he was in charge of a colored squadron in Alabama. Neither man lived in the South prior to their assignment at Gunter Field so they are ill prepared for the reality of segregation and the animosity directed towards Jews. Although both men are college educated, they are assigned to a squadron that cleans aircraft engines. Marty is a benevolent leader who looks out for the men serving under him although his efforts are not at all appreciated by the white soldiers on the base. Despite Willie's best efforts to remain under the radar, he and Marty form a friendship of sorts that comes to an abrupt end following Marty's well intentioned but misguided efforts to treat his men as equals. The two men eventually go back to their regular lives but neither of them are able to escape the tragedies of their shared history.
Based on the real life experiences of Judy Reene Singer and her father, In the Shadow of Alabama is a deeply affecting and rather poignant novel of reconciliation and healing. After learning of the events that shaped her father into the haunted man who raised her, Rachel has a better understanding of herself, her mother and her sister. With newfound awareness of the negative effects of her behavior, Rachel tries to repair her tattered relationships, but is it too late to salvage the one that means the most to her?
Alternating back and forth between the present and the early '40s, In the Shadow of Alabama by Judy Reene Singer is a heartrending novel of complex and difficult relationships, race relations in the South and the lingering effects of wartime.
Rachel Fleischer's relationships with her family are fraught with tension and the last place she wants to be is her father's bedside as he refuses medical treatment for his failing heart. Marty Fleischer has always been a hypercritical, bitter, angry and deeply dissatisfied man whose hateful words continue to haunt her. At the urging of her farm manager and friend Malachi Charge, Rachel reluctantly goes to see her father one last time before his death. At his funeral, stranger Rowena Jackson presents them with a puzzling package from her father, Willie Jackson. Intrigued and wanting to understand a shocking allegation against her father, Rachel later goes to Boston to meet Willie where he recounts his tangled history with Marty.
Rachel's dysfunctional childhood left an indelible mark on her and even as an adult, she cannot escape the legacy of her father's painful words and lack of love. The owner of a horse farm, she lives with her longtime partner, David, and Malachi. Emotionally closed off and protective of her heart, Rachel is unable to fully commit to David and she soon becomes aware there are deep fractures in their relationship. Reluctant to discuss her fears and concerns with him, she ignores the growing distance between them and instead makes the decision to go to Boston to meet Willie.
Rachel knows absolutely nothing of Marty's experiences in World War II and she is quite shocked to learn that he was in charge of a colored squadron in Alabama. Neither man lived in the South prior to their assignment at Gunter Field so they are ill prepared for the reality of segregation and the animosity directed towards Jews. Although both men are college educated, they are assigned to a squadron that cleans aircraft engines. Marty is a benevolent leader who looks out for the men serving under him although his efforts are not at all appreciated by the white soldiers on the base. Despite Willie's best efforts to remain under the radar, he and Marty form a friendship of sorts that comes to an abrupt end following Marty's well intentioned but misguided efforts to treat his men as equals. The two men eventually go back to their regular lives but neither of them are able to escape the tragedies of their shared history.
Based on the real life experiences of Judy Reene Singer and her father, In the Shadow of Alabama is a deeply affecting and rather poignant novel of reconciliation and healing. After learning of the events that shaped her father into the haunted man who raised her, Rachel has a better understanding of herself, her mother and her sister. With newfound awareness of the negative effects of her behavior, Rachel tries to repair her tattered relationships, but is it too late to salvage the one that means the most to her?
funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
In the Shadow of Alabama is a quietly powerful novel about the prisons we make for ourselves and how they affect our lives. The story is two-fold, one part a daughter's discovery of her father's past and it's ramifications on her present, and the other an old man's reminiscences of a tragic, guilt-ridden past. The author has created characters that are at once realistic and larger than life, and the reader can't help but get emotionally involved in their lives and struggles. The writing style is descriptive and often lyrical and flows easily.
I enjoyed this book far more than I expected, and highly recommend it.
"Alabama sun was really something, Willie though, it was really something. It battered you, enshrouded you, like it had made a pact with hell and humidity to bring you to your knees."
I enjoyed this book far more than I expected, and highly recommend it.
audrarussellwrites's review
5.0
"Cruelty is so simple, really. You just turn your back on your own humanity. It's a blindness of the soul, really. You see symbols instead of the life in front of you."
If I could sum up the theme of this book in one small paragraph, that would be it. I stumbled across this book at the library while searching for another book. The pretty cover caught my eye. This is one case where judging a book by its cover worked out well.
This is a story about a woman named Rachel, who has a very strained relationship with her family. She also has a very strained relationship with her live-in boyfriend, and the reasons for the strain are very complicated.
When Rachel's father dies, a mysterious black woman comes to his funeral and gives Rachel's mother an album and an apology. Rachel is intrigued by this woman's strange gift and searches for the woman. This begins a a journey into her father's past that helps Rachel to see her father and mother in an entirely different light.
Rachel's father was a Jewish man. In 1941, he was in charge of an all black platoon...in Alabama. Do I have your interest yet?
Well, when Rachel tracks down the mysterious woman from the funeral (Rowena), she also meets Willie, Rowena's father, who served with Rachel's father in the war. From Willie she learns about all the horrible things that happened to them while her father was in command of the all-black platoon. She also learns about a horrible misunderstanding that resulted in a tragedy that tore Willie and her father apart-- and deeply scarred her father both physically and mentally.
Rachel comes to understand why her father was such a cynical, closed off man. She also begins to see how her father's actions have made her fearful of committing to her boyfriend. But does she learn that lesson too late? Well you'll have to read the book to find out.
But I'll leave you with this: though the book is a work of fiction, all the events that happened were real. Yes, they happened to the author's father. When I read that after I finished the last page, I sat in shock. The cruelty of racism never ceases to boggle my mind, even after 48 years of living with it.
If I could sum up the theme of this book in one small paragraph, that would be it. I stumbled across this book at the library while searching for another book. The pretty cover caught my eye. This is one case where judging a book by its cover worked out well.
This is a story about a woman named Rachel, who has a very strained relationship with her family. She also has a very strained relationship with her live-in boyfriend, and the reasons for the strain are very complicated.
When Rachel's father dies, a mysterious black woman comes to his funeral and gives Rachel's mother an album and an apology. Rachel is intrigued by this woman's strange gift and searches for the woman. This begins a a journey into her father's past that helps Rachel to see her father and mother in an entirely different light.
Rachel's father was a Jewish man. In 1941, he was in charge of an all black platoon...in Alabama. Do I have your interest yet?
Well, when Rachel tracks down the mysterious woman from the funeral (Rowena), she also meets Willie, Rowena's father, who served with Rachel's father in the war. From Willie she learns about all the horrible things that happened to them while her father was in command of the all-black platoon. She also learns about a horrible misunderstanding that resulted in a tragedy that tore Willie and her father apart-- and deeply scarred her father both physically and mentally.
Rachel comes to understand why her father was such a cynical, closed off man. She also begins to see how her father's actions have made her fearful of committing to her boyfriend. But does she learn that lesson too late? Well you'll have to read the book to find out.
But I'll leave you with this: though the book is a work of fiction, all the events that happened were real. Yes, they happened to the author's father. When I read that after I finished the last page, I sat in shock. The cruelty of racism never ceases to boggle my mind, even after 48 years of living with it.
penny_literaryhoarders's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very enjoyable audiobook to listen to on the commute to and from work each day. The story was a good one, although I might give the narrator a 3.5 stars - her changes in voice, especially for the mother, sister and father became irritating, and she has a deep, raspy voice - similar to someone that heavily smokes - so that was a distraction at times.
I did enjoy this story about redemption, reconciliation and racism - Singer gives a condemning story of the U.S. Army and racism in the U.S. South.
Thank you to Recorded Books for sending the audiobook for review. I recommend!
I did enjoy this story about redemption, reconciliation and racism - Singer gives a condemning story of the U.S. Army and racism in the U.S. South.
Thank you to Recorded Books for sending the audiobook for review. I recommend!
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