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carolpk's review
5.0
Most of my GR Friends gave Steve Yarbrough's Safe From the Neighbors 4 stars. Why not 5? 4 or 5, 5 or 4. Perhaps this has a bit to do with the text that goes along with the ratings. 4 = I really liked it 5 it was amazing. If I give this book 5 stars does that mean nothing else can touch it? Once again I'm conflicted by the use of stars but for me Mr. Yarbrough (I'm a new fan) deserves my 5.
I heard Steve Yarbrough speak at Booktopia Vermont 2013. At first he reminded more or a rock musician and if you go to his website you'll see him playing the guitar...or perhaps a football player. Never would I have guessed author. I kept hearing his name all weekend and everywhere I went people kept asking if I had read any of his books. I hadn't. After I heard Steve's talk I knew he'd be on my list.
Safe From the Neighbors is a slow building, and excellently crafted story. It is satisfying on so many levels. Luke May, is a history teacher, in present day Loring, Mississippi. When a girl from his past shows up to teach at the same high school as Luke, this spirals him backward in time where he re-examines his growing up years and secrets left buried in the past. What he thought he knew turns out to be something else entirely and changes the landscape of his life. Like a dust storm, clouding the picture, the boy Luke knows little of the struggle that black student James Meredith endures to register at Ole' Miss. Luke's a kid and Civil Rights is not paramount in his mind but it is for the adults around him.
Safe From the Neighbors has questions to be answered, a murder and more. Though James Meredith is important to the story, there is so much more. While it is a story of family, the father/son relationship is explored beautifully in this story. While it is a story about relationships, marriage is put under the microscope. While it is a story of love, love is explored on many levels. It's moody, intimate, and thought provoking.
My friends did not want to reveal too much and neither do I. 4 or 5 stars really don't matter. Just read Safe From the Neighbors.I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I heard Steve Yarbrough speak at Booktopia Vermont 2013. At first he reminded more or a rock musician and if you go to his website you'll see him playing the guitar...or perhaps a football player. Never would I have guessed author. I kept hearing his name all weekend and everywhere I went people kept asking if I had read any of his books. I hadn't. After I heard Steve's talk I knew he'd be on my list.
Safe From the Neighbors is a slow building, and excellently crafted story. It is satisfying on so many levels. Luke May, is a history teacher, in present day Loring, Mississippi. When a girl from his past shows up to teach at the same high school as Luke, this spirals him backward in time where he re-examines his growing up years and secrets left buried in the past. What he thought he knew turns out to be something else entirely and changes the landscape of his life. Like a dust storm, clouding the picture, the boy Luke knows little of the struggle that black student James Meredith endures to register at Ole' Miss. Luke's a kid and Civil Rights is not paramount in his mind but it is for the adults around him.
Safe From the Neighbors has questions to be answered, a murder and more. Though James Meredith is important to the story, there is so much more. While it is a story of family, the father/son relationship is explored beautifully in this story. While it is a story about relationships, marriage is put under the microscope. While it is a story of love, love is explored on many levels. It's moody, intimate, and thought provoking.
My friends did not want to reveal too much and neither do I. 4 or 5 stars really don't matter. Just read Safe From the Neighbors.I don't think you'll be disappointed.
interpreterchangling's review against another edition
4.0
Very well done and interesting story about racial tensions and a man's search for the truth. If you like Greg Iles I think you'd like this
pumpkinchai's review against another edition
5.0
I updated at the halfway mark that I was waiting for the plot to start. In fact, it was rambling along woven into stories and musings about life in 1960s Mississippi and the racism that is an undercurrent of everything that happens. It’s a good listen.
terry_persun's review
5.0
Steve Yarbrough is one of my favorite authors of all time. This is just one more great book that he's written. I highly recommend him to any reader. My favorite book of his is Oxygen Man, his first title from MacMurray and Beck. Good stuff.
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