Like Trees, Walking: A Novel

by Ravi Howard
Like Trees, Walking: A Novel  
published 2007 by Amistad
binding Hardcover
isbn 0060529598   (isbn13: 9780060529598)
pages 272
description

LIKE TREES, WALKING examines an old tale in the New South. Based on the true story of the 1981 lynching of Michael Donald in Mobile, Alabama, the novel follows the lives of Paul and Roy Deacon, teenagers and childhood friends of Michael Donald, as they cope with the aftermath of his hanging. It is Paul Deacon who discovers the body, and the experience leaves him forever changed.

The Deacons have operated a funeral home in the city for over 100 years. When the family is asked to conduct the services for Michael, Roy Deacon must examine whether a life in the family tradition is where he belongs.

The story explores the vivid history and landscape of the Gulf Coast community and takes readers down the wooden–bricked streets of turn of the century Mobile with its Spanish architecture and its tree–lined avenues that host the annual Mardi Gras parades.

Readers experience the complexities of the American South–the beauty of the landscape mixed with the ugliness of its racial history–as the characters cope with a tragic chapter in the unfolding story of the New South.

&...more

date added
03-30-07



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lynne
lynne rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/24/07

bookshelves: 2007
Read in April, 2007
recommends it for: everyone
This was an amazing book.

It takes a real-life event -- the 1981 lynching of young Michael Donald in Mobile, Alabama -- and explores the fictional aftermath of this shocking incident within the black community, as told from the perspective of Roy Deacon, the heir-apparent of one of the local funeral homes.

The outrage, the disbelief, and later the resignation of the community is so well captured; then add to that the twist that it was Roy's older brother Paul who'd found the battered bod...more
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Oi Yin
Oi Yin rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/02/07

bookshelves: fiction
Read in March, 2007
A fictional work based loosely on the modern day (1981) lynching of a man. Howard did a great job of conveying the frustration of the community at the inaction of the goverment officials to rectify a blatant hate crime. Although in the backs of all minority minds, we understand that all races will never be viewed as equals, we live in denial that such events continue to occur in the present day.
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Carolyn Jourdan
Carolyn rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/31/08

This book is just beautiful. If I had read it with a red pen in my hand, I couldn't have made a mark anywhere. It's just perfect. A wonderful book, despite the somber subject matter (the modern-day lynching in Alabama told through the eyes of a young man who works in his family's funeral home business). Ravi Howard's writing is just stunning.
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Amy
Amy rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/22/08

Read in February, 2008
Ravi Howard took on a challenging project with this book--a tough story to tell, and a tough point of view to tell it from--and succeeded admirably. A bit slow in places, but overall very well written.
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Heather
Heather rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/19/08

Read in April, 2008
Very good book, but tragic. Definitely not a fun book. Still, it deals with a topic (civil rights, racism, lynching) that I think is important to deal with and think about.
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Debi
Debi rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/18/08

Read in January, 2008
This book was an awesome look at race in the south. Opened my eyes to a few things!
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Abby
Abby added it
04/16/08

Read in March, 2008
I taught this on a job interview. The students really loved the book.
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Andrew
Andrew rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/20/08

Anyone who lives in Mobile should read this novel.
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Alanna
Alanna marked it as to-read
08/20/08

bookshelves: not-owned, novels, to-read
 

Annabel
Annabel rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/07/08

 

Willette
Willette rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/02/08

 

Sara
Sara rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/20/08

bookshelves: 2008, bookclub
Read in August, 2008
 

Leah
Leah added it
07/24/08

bookshelves: fiction
 

Liz
Liz added it
06/27/08

 

Donna
Donna marked it as to-read
06/22/08

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Christymhogan
Christymhogan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/13/08

 

Angela
Angela marked it as to-read
06/04/08

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Carol
Carol marked it as to-read
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04/10/08

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Robyn
Robyn marked it as to-read
03/11/08

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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.15 (27 ratings)
number of reviews: 8






other editions