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278th out of 598 books
—
1,402 voters
Blue Hole Back Home: A Novel
"Sacred's not a word I've ever much liked. But maybe some things, and some places, just are. And maybe the Blue Hole was one of those things."
Shelby (nicknamed Turtle) never had any female friends. But when a mysterious girl from Sri Lanka moved to town in the summer of 1979, Turtle invited her to a secret haven: the Blue Hole. Turtle had no idea how much that simple gestu...more
Shelby (nicknamed Turtle) never had any female friends. But when a mysterious girl from Sri Lanka moved to town in the summer of 1979, Turtle invited her to a secret haven: the Blue Hole. Turtle had no idea how much that simple gestu...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 1st 2008
by David C. Cook
(first published February 29th 2008)
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Picked this up in the new section of the library. Beautifully written - an absolute treat to read because of the fine writing! This author is great with her descriptions using metaphors... "Like the fall of a theater curtain on the last act, dusk dropped onto the blue hole..."and in infusing the sarcasm of a teenager in the voice of the narrator (Momma made certain everyone in her path felf affirmed at all times, even if she had to perjure herself to do it...) It is a story of racial tension in...more
My sister-in-law's book club recommended this one highly and it was gripping. The author is from the Nashville, TN, area. It was a beautifully crafted, lyrical story set in a southern mountain town in 1979. A "new girl" from Sri Lanka stirs up racial prejudices and divides her high school classmates. The voice of the story is amazing and the author's descriptions of people, scenes, and emotions are "right on:"
"...Momma's voice, which was usually sweet and soft as moss, except when she cranked up...more
"...Momma's voice, which was usually sweet and soft as moss, except when she cranked up...more
Having Southern roots and loving stories that are set in the South, I was anxious to read Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake, which is based on a true story.
Though Pisgah Ridge, North Carolina is fictional just like the characters, it was easy to envision such a town while reading this story. It was easy to get lost in this book and feel like I was right there, as the events were happening.
The author shares a haunting, heart wrenching story of a friendship ripped apart by racism, which is ba...more
Loved this book! It was fun revisiting a time when I myself was a teen and hearing of things I'd forgotten like parcheesi and 8 track tapes and stereos the size of a shoebox, not to mention the artist whose tapes we played...the eagles, Simon and Garfunkle, etc.
Then their was the lovely prose, that sounded better if you read it with a southern accent, and the wonderfully southern names that roll off your tongue.
Unlike Shelby I did not grow up in the south and did not face the racism she had to...more
Then their was the lovely prose, that sounded better if you read it with a southern accent, and the wonderfully southern names that roll off your tongue.
Unlike Shelby I did not grow up in the south and did not face the racism she had to...more
The author of this book is genuine talent. She tells a tale that seems in places to be as much poetry as it is novel. Her characters are wonderful and round to the extent that I felt like I was a neighbor to the kids in "the mangy pack" in this tale. I so often felt as I did growing up in a rural neighborhood as I played out the story of "Turtle" in my head. However, it was the end that disappointed me. A horrible event occurs at the end. I wasn't prepared for it and worse still, nothing seemed...more
Although categorized as Christian fiction, published by a Christian publishing house, this really is a fine piece of literary fiction dealing with the harsh realities of prejudice and racism in the post civil-rights era in the south. In no way "preachy," the story takes you back on a journey to the not so distant past, to a summer in a rural Appalachian town where the idea of white superiority still retains a strong hold on the community and the code of separatism reigns. A memorable group of te...more
While I'm enjoyed this 2009 Christy Award (Christian fiction) winner, I can't give it five stars. The subject of the book is race relations and the plot centers on teenagers. Those who claim to be Christians are racist and those who are "unchurched" live more "Christian" lives. Real world stuff, huh? One unusual twist in this book which gives it a fresh perspective is that the object of racism in this community is a family from Sri Lanka. My reservation on this book is that I never felt any desi...more
When a Sri Lankan family moves to all-white Pisgah Ridge in the Appalachian region, Shelby invites the daughter Farsanna to be part of the Pack she hangs out with (consisting of her brother and his friends). Not everyone in town is happy to have this family in town. Racial tensions run high and come to an explosive head. Shelby learns a lot about herself this summer and about the townspeople she thought she knew.
This novel, set in the 1970s, is inspired by true events from the author's childhoo...more
This novel, set in the 1970s, is inspired by true events from the author's childhoo...more
This was a real surprise. I loved the cover, but at first it took me a chapter or two to get into the rhythm of the story. I'm glad I persisted, as it soon hit that special point where you begin to not be able to put the book down! A touching, tragic, very well-written story, such an enjoyable read. The only downside for me was that it left me reeling with a deep sense of sadness and hopelessness right at the end... That the characters, as far as we can tell, were mostly never able to get over t...more
The summer of 1979 and a new girl from Sri Lanka moves into a white, southern town. A tomboy befriends her and they hang out with her gang (mostly boys). Signs of trouble begin to take place then the Klu Klux Klan set fire to the new girl's home which causes the death of her mother and one of the boys in the group. There is no happy ending - no one is charged and the family moves away to Washington. Sad to hear that even as late as the 1970's racial hatred was still prevalent in the south. The w...more
What a good book! The time of my youth up north, I was oblivious to the racial tension still abiding in the south. Not even the deep south as one might think. This is a fictionalized account of the authors experience in Tennesee as a teen. Maybe that's why this type of book is so interesting to me, these are experiences I never had. She tells a good story, and you get wrapped up in the characters. I also loved that while there was true love among the teens, it wasn't a happily ever after boy mee...more
Though I was skeptical when I found this for free download on my Kindle, I literally could not put the book down. I had to know what happened to Turtle, Sanna, Em, Bo, and the rest of their mangy pack. This is what Christian fiction should be like: bold in confronting the difficult, often ugly realities of life, and courageous in understanding that not everybody lives happily ever after, not everybody gets "saved," there aren't always answers to tough questions. (The author's deep love of John D...more
I would love to give this book a 3.5 star, but that isn't an option. Initially I didn't want to read the book due to being a Southerner myself. The time period was set in 1979. My husband and I grew up during that time in separate southern towns. Both of us never knew of anyone in KKK or heard of incidents. However, the area where this book is based on, Single Mountain, TN... Yes, that area is known to this day for white supremacy.
The actual book is well written and easy read, but sad. Racism is...more
The actual book is well written and easy read, but sad. Racism is...more
I actually read this book awhile ago. It was the very first book I read on my kindle. I am not usually interested in books of this genre, but it really was one of the best works ive read. It is so real, and even though I have not lived through what these characters have lived through, I can imagine the the hardship of living in the days when the KKK and that type of terror was all around. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a great read.
Wonderfully written, and very thought provoking book. I especially enjoyed the author's interview at the end of the book. I too am adverse to speaking up at times and later wish I had said this or that. It is I something I strive to change as I get older. Thank you for reminding us all that even though things have changed a lot in the last century, we still should strive every day to love one another and stand up for what is right.
What an incredible story. The author herself has an amazing style of writing, love the characters she created. Jimbo or James Beauregaurd is by far my favorite, for his life of life and good nature. Just love how she created a group of characters and thrown them into such an adverse situation as racism. Great story. It could be hard to read for some people. I would definitely recommend it though. Phenomenal.
If I'm not mistaken, this is required reading for incoming freshman at Baylor university. It took me a 100 pages to become fully involved in the story but it turned out to be very good. It is about racial tension in the south towards a Sri Lankan family. Fav quotes: "You've had a tough crack at life, I'll give you that. But you don't got to let the bad thrown at you become the ugly you think you got to be."
This was a well written book, filled with descriptively beautiful language, that touches the heart and teaches us a little something about racism, faith, friendship, and the cost of keeping silent. I loved this book. It's one of the best I have read in so long, and I am glad that it crossed my path. I thank the author for writing such a beautiful novel with a conscience.
This story had me nearly in tears at the ending. Kind of a coming of age story that deals with racism, foreigners, teens, the South, Klu Klux Klan, love of friends and siblings. Wonderfully written, reminding me of my teens and hanging out with my friends and complex relationships we had with each other but this story deals with a whole lot more than that.
This book was a coming of age story, written from the perspective of a 15 year old southern girl. The writing was reminscent of To Kill A Mockingbird and I hope to read more from this writer. The story takes place over the span of one summer and the lessons they learn about life, the small town they live in, themselves and raceism in the south.
This was a relaxing read for me. The young girl who is the story teller is a Tomboy who is having the most memorable summer of her childhood. It is an honest and endearing tale of the difficulties of racism in the South in the 1960s and a group of adolescents who see beyond the color of the skin.
I hate to call this a modern To Kill a Mockingbird, b/c then the reader will be disappointed. But it's a very good story of racial prejudice in today's south, centering on young people, this time aimed at a south Asian immigrant family in a mountain community. Highly recommended.
This story is told from the view of a young 15 year old girl who grew up in the south, where she reads the works of the Bronte sisters for fun, and becomes friends with a new girl who just moved from Sri Lanka. Problems occur. :) I loved this book. The writing drew me in, and kept me there to the very end. Definitely a pick for book club next year. (the lack of an extra star is due to my inner debate as to whether I liked the way the author ended it or not. . . )
I knew from the start that this book was going to be intense and it was. A mysterious girl from Sri Lanka & her family moves into a rural Southern community and the protagonist, "Turtle" becomes her fast friend. Turtle and her brother and his best friend, Bo, invite the new girl into their circle and then the lines are drawn....with much of the town not accepting the dark-skinned girl or her family. Heart & gut wretching from start to finish!
I really loved this coming of age novel set in the south during the 1950s. The author did a great job of weaving in a theme of prejudice.
I would highly recommend reading this novel--it is a quick read and totally engrossing.
I would highly recommend reading this novel--it is a quick read and totally engrossing.
One of the best books I've read in a while. Warning, it's kind of sad. But I get sick if those books that have a fairy tale endings where everything works out perfectly, so that's the price you pay sometimes to avoid that.
I downloaded this for free from Book Bub. Although it had a slow start, by the end I couldn't put it down and was crying my eyes out. I love books set in the South and the character of Shelby Lenoir spoke to me.
This is a thought provoking book, and one that I was sorry to have end. The author's depiction of this small southern town and the people who lived there was so real that I felt almost like I had been there myself, feeling what they felt. A good read indeed!
Another southern writer whose books read like poetry. The themes are familiar ones, racism in the south, klan activity, teenage rebelliousness--but it is a compelling story that keeps you riveted to the end.
A really great coming of age story set in the rural south. You can read easily knowing the author will guide you through keeping the vernacular real and the characters believable while weaving her story rife with racial tension and a few very graceful moments.
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“You've had a tough crack at life, I'll give you that. But you don't got to let the bad thrown at you become the ugly you think you got to be.”
—
5 people liked it
“Now all white Southern women keep as a weapon against uncouth world a certain smile that can be whipped out of storage and tacked up, in an instant, covering over a multitude of too-candid moments. My mother's face, whose upturned mouth never moved, registered confusion, then fear-then landed where I expected that steely doggedly cheerful resolve of a smile.”
—
1 person liked it
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Jun 19, 2012 06:27am