A review by funsizelibrarian
In the Shadow of Alabama by Judy Reene Singer

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.

"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.