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Net of Jewels
Rhoda Manning is home for the summer in Dunleith, Alabama. In an age of conformity and innocence, the 19-year-old is tired of conventional virtue. Resisting her easy life, she yearns for meaning and beauty, profundity and mystery. Impulsive and adventurous, she attends a midnight meeting of the Klan, and then repelled, hurls herself into the civil rights movement.
Half-cons
...morePaperback, 360 pages
Published
March 1st 1993
by Back Bay Books
(first published 1992)
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Jan 02, 2008
Katherine
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
women, southern lit fans
Shelves:
all-star-favorites
I just finished reading this for the 4th or 5th time. The troubled protagonist, Rhoda, is a character who resonates with me. Her feelings and emotions become more real as you get to know her, and that can be painful at times because she is one fucked-up girl. Luckily I wasn't as spoiled and my family wasn't as insane, and it was the 80's instead of the '50s. Therefore I didn't turn out as wicked as poor Miss Rhoda, but it easily could've happened. And so when I read about her life and her circum...more
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The story was ok. I've certainly read much better about the south in this era. I was not a fan of the writing. Also, I found it odd that being this book was set in AL, nobody had a southern dialect. A few "fixing"s were thrown in (although the correct pronunciation is "fixin"). I was born and raised in TN & AL so there are particulars you look for in a book set in this region and time period. I fully expected someone with a dialect or at least some southern expressions. And there were so man...more
This is an interesting insight on Southern life, particularly of a white young female living in 1960s Alabama. You will probably end up hating the protagonist but you will also have a deeper understanding of the White south before the Civil Rights Movement, which is valuable in itself. Gilchrist is a great story teller, so if nothing else, you will enjoy this book as a quick, uncomplicated read.
I really thought I had read this years ago, but as I started reading it again, I realized I hadn't. I know Rhoda well from Gilchrist's other books, though. And man, I had forgotten how tough she is to take. But it's a tribute to Gilchrist that however ridiculous and flat-out hateful Rhoda is, I still couldn't put the book down.
Kept waiting for the main character to wake up....didn't feel as though this book lived up to the expectations. Great characterization of a troubled girl and family, but wallowing, wallowing, wallowing.
I really wanted to like this book more as I read reviews. It was good, but I had to struggle through it, and I'm still not sure why.
Basing my rating on my feelings and reactions when I first read the book, even though I've outgrown it so many years later.
I decided to read through the Arkansas section of the library and found Ellen Gilchrist. Love the chracters and images.
Since it's a novel all about crazy demanding Rhoda, I love it...even if it's flawed
Rhoda Manning is an emotionally immature, insecure and grandiose southern belle. What's not to love? Gilchrist is one of the greats for her ability to deliver whole characters - and Rhoda is a favorite.
Wait. This was fiction? I know all these people.
Feb 21, 2012
Lisa
added it
Net of Jewels by Ellen Gilchrist (1993)
This book hit me at the right time. Good read!
One of my all-time favorite books.
I just re-read this book by one of my favorite authors. I love the character of Rhoda.
Not as good as her other books
This was my first Ellen Gilchrist book. Excellent read...very dysfunctional and her books often include characters from other books. One big sloppy Southern family.
The first Ellen Gilchrist book I read - i love her- i hear my mom's voice when I read her words
Another great story from Ellen Gilchrist. Perfect for summertime or on a plane trip.
Rhoda is and has always been one of my all time FAVORITE characters
A good book which was a study on character traits.
One of my favorite E. Gilchrist books.
Jun 06, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
Jun 02, 2013
Whiting
marked it as to-read
Jun 01, 2013
Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
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