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6th out of 40 books
—
76 voters
Act of Grace
by
Karen Simpson (Goodreads Author)
Why would Grace Johnson, a bright, African-American high school senior, save the life of a Ku Klux Klansman named Jonathan Gilmore?That question hovers over Grace's hometown of Vigilant, Michigan, and few people, black or white, understand her actions-especially since rumor has it that many years ago, a member of the Gilmore family murdered several African-American residen...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 1st 2011
by Plenary Publishing
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Grace has not had it easy and is looking to get out of her small town and get away from her mother. Her mother appears to hate Grace at times for no reason, her dad passed away long ago. Grace just wants to graduate and leave. Grace turns eighteen and experiences an unusual event. Her paternal side contacts her and tells her that she is special, she is able to access the spirit world. From the spirit world she learns disturbing things about the death of her father and disappearance of town child...more
I was totally "Holden Caufielded" by this book...that's my term for feeling the way Holden feels about Ring Lardner: You want the story to go on. You want to know the characters and be friends with them. You want to meet the author and shake his/her hand.
Karen Simpson's ability to spin a tale that is both cemented in reality and floating in the ethereal is phenomonal. Grace is a grounded young woman who is confronted by a world that she doesn't fully understand, and is not sure she wants to expl...more
Karen Simpson's ability to spin a tale that is both cemented in reality and floating in the ethereal is phenomonal. Grace is a grounded young woman who is confronted by a world that she doesn't fully understand, and is not sure she wants to expl...more
Karen Simpson’s debut novel, Act of Grace, is a magical story of an African American teen’s struggle with her hometown’s history of racial violence, a metaphor in which racism is overcome, not by force, reason, or law but by an act of grace. Challenged by the Ancestors--her great grandmother for whom she was named and a mysterious homeless man--Grace Johnson must discover the truth behind a series of murderers years ago in Vigilant, Michigan, and confront the racist grandson of their perpetrator...more
This is a book steeped in mysticism, hatred and the power of redemption. Grace grows up without her father in a home where her mother treats her quite abusively. She does not know the history of her family, she does not know about her grandmother, she does not know how her father died. She does not know that her mother is crazy.
After reading the synopsis I was expecting a book about racial attitudes and how they played out in a small town. This is not what I got per se. Racism was an underlying...more
After reading the synopsis I was expecting a book about racial attitudes and how they played out in a small town. This is not what I got per se. Racism was an underlying...more
Y'know, as I started reading this book I was thinking I would give it 3 stars... pretty much entirely because it has got a paranormal premise (Grace talks to and acts on behalf of "the ancestors"), and that is so COMPLETELY not "my thing." But I kept reading because Simpson is a local Michigan author, and because my favorite local indie bookstore recommended it, and because the writing was good.
And the author won me over. Paranormal still isn't my thing, but this book used that idea as a tool to...more
And the author won me over. Paranormal still isn't my thing, but this book used that idea as a tool to...more
Act of Grace deals with racism in a very different way, a town in Michigan with huge secrets about it and how a 18 year old girl with a "gift" made it all come out. The story is written in such a way that you could feel the confusion of how she was dealing with it all including the "gift" which related to African ancestors which her mother tried to beat out of her when she was very young and seeing people. It was very good and interesting reading and the author had some very interesting descript...more
What a great novel. Reminds you that mercy is not the same as leniency, true love is not an emotion, and forgiveness never ever comes cheap-- yet all these things are more than suggestions for those who claim to follow God and each of them is available to any of us who choose to die to our own desires and live for Him. The main character's vulnerable honesty about personal pain and racial injustice brought back memories of books I've read by Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, but this...more
I am proud to be a friend of Karen Simpson's! Karen describes the pain of Grace, a young teenager whose father supposedly commit suicide, and a mother who physically and emotionally has bruised her for years. Grace's daily suffering enables her to be ready to receive the "messages" from her ancestors. Grace comes of age as she discovers that her father was murdered by a white man who had also murdered countless white children, all hate crimes. Connecting with her ancestors from the other world i...more
This book surprised me. I bought this book after hearing this author speak at a conference and having a conversation with her . . . . and I was still surprised by this book. This novel is like nothing I have read before. It includes mysticism and the paranormal, but it is not fantasy. It is centered around themes of forgiveness, love, and self-sacrifice, but it is not simply Christian fiction. Grace is an average 18 year old ready to leave childhood behind and strike out on a path that leads to...more
Act of Grace by Karen Simpson is an eloquently written, intriguing mystical novel. Raised by an abusive, unloving mother, Grace is looking forward to graduation. Little does she know that her old life will soon be just a memory, as she is called by the Ancestors to bear witness to Vigilant's violent, racially charged past.
I can honestly say, I've never read a book like Act of Grace before. It captivated me quickly, and Simpson's eloquent prose unfolded the story slowly, like the blooming of a f...more
I can honestly say, I've never read a book like Act of Grace before. It captivated me quickly, and Simpson's eloquent prose unfolded the story slowly, like the blooming of a f...more
Act of Grace is a very different book than I have read before. It’s all about the African-American culture in the town of Vigilant, Michigan. I will admit I originally picked this book because it was about a girl growing up in Michigan and since I am from Michigan we are going to have so much in common! Wrong.
Grace Johnson is a senior in high school who is funny, smart, and has so many witty thoughts that will leave you howling as you read. This story is not a comedy though and early on we lear...more
I loved this book and not just because I know the author. It has action, romance, mystery, tradition, history, and a main character that makes you wish she really existed. I was a little sad when I came to the end of this book and really hope that there will be a sequel. I bought two books because of references either in this book or about this book. One was Redeeming Time: T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets by Kenneth Paul Kramer and the other was Red Summer: the Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Bla...more
Act of Grace is beautifly written with discriptives that left me in wonder. The horrible history of my ancestors will sit with me for a long time. Not that I was not aware of them, Act of Grace brought them to realistic light. I am not only ashamed but outraged and sick that we as humans could act in such horrific ways. What I loved most about Act of Grace, was the love and forgiveness that Grace showed. Forgiveness is the only way our world will ever change. We have advanced in technology and s...more
The story was "eh" and the characters were just ok, what made this story was the language. Simpson is a gifted crafter of word choice and usage and the way she weaved the words together in this story was amazing! Especially her food descriptions! The way she described one of the character's bread pudding made me want to go out and search for anything remotely similar and I don't like wet bread. If nothing else, she definitely has a career as a restaurant food editor. I'd hire her to give descrip...more
This book was so well written. It had a rhythm that kept you reading long into the night. Loved the recurring theme of forgiveness and love. Not sure I'm convinced that the gift Grace was given is real but aside from that I will recommend this book to all my friends.
This is Simpson's first novel. It is a must read. Her poetic style of writing soothes you into the harsh realities of racism, violence, and absolute hate based horror. The hero, Grace, puts an end to historical and current race based violence by her own sacrifice--after learning much from her ancestors. Simpson reveals the truth of the crossroads metaphor, saving Robert Johnson, by allusion, from misrepresentation. Music and food are the backdrops of Simpson's work: "better than sex" chocolate c...more
I loved this book. And our bookclub got to discuss it with the author via Skype! She's an awesome lady! This book will be a best seller!
Mar 23, 2011
Pat Martin
added it
This is a beautifully written book authored by Karen Simpson. This is her first novel, which promises great things to come. Go Blue!
I loved the prose in this book. Simpson gave Grace an amazing voice to a wonderful character, and the descriptive phrases were delightful. I was particularly fond of how she described food, which at times was a problem because many of the meals she mentioned I don't have access to ;_;
Grace is a wonderful character and I loved watching her grow from a girl with very little self esteem to a woman who has more courage and love than anyone I've had the pleasure of meeting. The people around her are...more
Grace is a wonderful character and I loved watching her grow from a girl with very little self esteem to a woman who has more courage and love than anyone I've had the pleasure of meeting. The people around her are...more
Awesome book, very poetic writing, and great characters!!! Loved the mystical mysteriousness of it all!
I loved this book. Though it wasn't part of the bees "spooky reads" selections, maybe it should have been! Normally getting in touch with ghosts is not my thing, but this lyrical, well-paced read was refreshing. I also thought the dialogue was pitch-perfect. This is why I like Ann Arbor--such talent!
Wonderful book on so many levels.
Jun 02, 2013
Lilian Keijbets
marked it as to-read
May 30, 2013
Talisha Shelley
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Kanita Carington-McDonald
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Jun 11, 2013
Sara Pupa
marked it as to-read
Jun 07, 2013
Jessica Lavander-Biggs
marked it as to-read
Apr 13, 2013
Writing
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Goodreads Librari...: Removing 3 book that are not mine from author profile | 2 | 31 | Dec 14, 2012 05:19am |
My name is Karen L. Simpson. I am the author of Act of Grace (Plenary Publication)
I am passionate about the craft of writing fiction, the art of quilting, and the discipline of historical research. For me all three of these disciplines are deeply intertwined.
AWARDS FOR ACT OF GRACE
2012 Best New Author Go On Girl! Book Book Club
2012 Independent Publisher Silver Medal Award winner for Visionary Fi...more
More about Karen Simpson...
I am passionate about the craft of writing fiction, the art of quilting, and the discipline of historical research. For me all three of these disciplines are deeply intertwined.
AWARDS FOR ACT OF GRACE
2012 Best New Author Go On Girl! Book Book Club
2012 Independent Publisher Silver Medal Award winner for Visionary Fi...more
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