While this book is fiction, i am sure many similar stories that were not fiction actually happened. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with. The dry grass of august book the seattle public library. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the quotes submission guide. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the synopsis submission guide. Dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew in this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthoodand for the woman who means the world to her. It takes place in 1954 when jubies family leaves charlotte, north carolina to go on a vacation to see her uncle in florida taking along the black maid, mary. It was a good read in terms of understanding a bit more about racism in the 50s, but i found myself wanting some of the characters to be better developed.
Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of august, won the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance. Their larvae feed on grass roots causing dry patches. I was enjoying a visit to my home state of north carolina, and my sister and i were browsing in purple crow books, an independent book store in. The dry grass of august book king county library system. Crane flies look like oversized mosquitoes, but they do not bite. The morning sky was overcast as they went across the peninsula to the huts and sheds where some of the residents lived. Whether youre looking for a celebrity chefs tellall or a highly readable classic, these seven books will add drama, romance, and adventure to any sleepy summer afternoon. Read about the best flowering ground covers for your unique property, here on gardeners. Junes family maid was a loving, caring woman and very proper. In the dry grass of august, mayhew explores the love and conflicting loyalties in one such extended family, adult and child, black and white. Young jubie watts is the perfect heroine and narrator of this tale with her cleareyed look at the inconsistencies of the adults around her, and for her courage to ask why. Iron gate winery event features anna jean mayhew entertainment.
Buy a cheap copy of the dry grass of august book by anna jean mayhew. They are journeying south through the land of jim crow to pensacola, florida to visit her uncle. Ground cover plants offer a lowmaintenance alternative to the carpets of lawn to which we have become accustomed. Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that.
Dry grass is wellwritten, though not as lyrical as secret life. Wilkes reads together 2015 culminates with a visit by the author on thursday, october 8, 2015, for two appearances. She will speak and sign books at wilkes community college in the. The dry grass of august book club kit chapel hill public. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry grass of. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segreg. Aug 08, 2012 today i finished the book, the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew. The dry grass of august in this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthoodand for the woman who means the world to her. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book a. Mar 01, 2020 the last book in the running for my book club selection next month is the dry grass of autumn by anna jean mayhew. Birds, including starlings and robins, eat adult and larval crane flies.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew the watts family of charlotte, north carolina, is embarking on their first family trip without their father as they head south to visit mrs. Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that run beneath the polite surface of her familys life. It follows her acclaimed debut novel, the dry grass of august. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew our state magazine. However, both books provide a frontrow viewing of how white people treated black people in the late 50searly 60s. But locals like pastor ebenezer polk, whos facing the demolition of his church. Im growing tired of wonderful black maids in the 1950s south with mostly ignorant white people to serve except for that one young girl who sees the person working in their home as a person. In august of 1954, we took our first trip without daddy, and stell got to use the drivers license shed had such a fit about. I liked it more than i wanted to due to its subject matter. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation and what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthood and for the woman who means the world to her. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew l summary.
The dry grass of august ebook daniel boone regional. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. The dry grass of august, published in 2011, and tomorrows bread, available. The dry grass of august is a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. Dry grass of august, her first book, was a great read that took her 16 years to write. Its appropriate that i found anna jean mayhews debut novel, the dry grass of august, while i was on a trip. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthoodand for the woman who means the world to her. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew book cover, description, publication history. It was just a little card saying she was estelle annette watts, that she was white, with hazel eyes and brown hair. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, paperback.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew josephines. While this book is fiction, i am sure many similar. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew, 2011 kensington publishing 352 pp. I just visited nana two weeks ago and she said that the books on. There is something very personal about this book which has been lacking in other similar books i have previously read. Exactly 400 years ago, the first africans were brought over to the american colonies. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew fantastic fiction. I really felt like i was living these days with jubie. Goodreads members who liked the dry grass of august also liked. She has been writerinresidence at moulin a nef studio center in auvillar, france, and was a member of the first board of trustees of the north carolina writers network. A few months earlier, the supreme court of the united states had ruled on the case, brown v. Written with unusual charm, wonderful dialogue, and a deeply felt sense of time and place, the dry grass of august is a book for adults and young people both a beautifully written literary novel that is a real pageturner, i have to add. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina.
And, if the reissued huckleberry finn sets a precedent, then that sin will be perpetuated in books like to kill a mockingbird, in the works of oconnor and faulkner, in the novels of lewis nordan, and certainly in the dry grass of august. On august 30, 1873, peter joined napela as he assessed the needs of the people in the colony. Having lived in the midwest all my life, when i read a books like the help, and this one the dry grass of august, it breaks my heart and it amazes me that people have been so cruel based on skin color. Whether youre looking for a celebrity chefs tellall or a highly readable classic, these seven books will add drama, romance, and adventure to. The dry grass of august is anna jean mayhews first book and it reminded me a lot of the book, the secret life of bees. An endorsement said for fans of the help, which is a fair endorsement, though i didnt love this like i did the help. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew posted on december 15, 2011 by josephines readers advisory at last, the answer for people who want to read about race relations in the 50s in the u. The dry grass of august does make use of the n word.
The dry grass of august book charlotte mecklenburg. Sometimes it does take me the full 7 days after auction ends to ship items. My husband and i went to unccharlotte and found other articles, books and maps. Aj is dedicated to the truth in her work, she takes the time to personally study the environment of the setting, the colors and the kitchen smells in such a way you can get hungry for a piece of the cornbread thats cooking. Particularly impressive is the fact that this is mayhews debut novel at the age of seventyone. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book.
The dry grass of august is a haunting debut about family bonds that stretch without breaking, and a panoramic glimpse into an older america and the dying of an age. It looks like we dont have any quotes for this title yet. Hummingbirds eat smaller midges and gnats that hide in the lawn and form cloud. In 1954, yearold jubie, traveling with her family and her familys black maid mary lutherwho has always been there for her, making up for her fathers rages and her mothers neglectencounters racial tension and tragedy. The dry grass of august was an eyeopener in more ways than one. Apr 01, 2011 the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew on a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. This is the audiobook cassette library edition in vinyl case.
Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to the dry grass of august. I just visited nana two weeks ago and she said that the books on that shelf were all read by my grandfather, not her. Warmer temperatures and long, sunny days call for choosing a new lineup of books to peruse on the beach or by the pool. Jan 29, 2019 the dry grass of august was an eyeopener in more ways than one. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew booksamillion. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew is set in the summer of 1954 and thirteen year old june jubie watts is leaving charlotte, north caroline on a road trip with her mother, her two sisters, her baby brother and the colored maid, mary. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry grass. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has become the law. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry. The dry grass of august, a novel by north carolina author anna jean mayhew, has been chosen as this years community read for wilkes county. It is told by june a young teen who is becoming aware of the world around her. Based on the book, the dry grass of august synopsis.
I read this book as an effort to read more books from my shelves, as i own hundreds of unread books. It is 1954 and junebug, or jubie, as she is sometimes called, is a thirteen yearold girl going on a trip with her mother, sister and their african american. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew librarything. Read the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew available from rakuten kobo. Mayhew s first novel, the dry grass of august, won the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance. The book has been a kindle daily deal, and is featured in a promotion with southwest air and kobo ebooks. Find books like the dry grass of august from the worlds largest community of readers. Today i finished the book, the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew. The novel, the dry grass of august, opens in the summer of 1954. Books similar to the dry grass of august bookbrowse.