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White Trash
With a hilarious cast and shocking storyline based on real people and true events in a small rural town in Texas, White Trash will have you think twice about your neighbors. When Thia Franks returns to her home of Granby, Texas, the very place to which she'd vowed never to return, Granby's worst and best elements force the new single mother to face both her past and her destiny. At first, it seems that nothing has Chester Kennedy's goats continue to run rampant through the town, Officer Tina Wolfe stands accused of racial profiling the growing Hispanic community, Thia's gun-wielding neighbor believes a squirrel has it in for her, and the town's local newspaper owner prints only what she believes the citizens should know. But when a young black man--an upstanding and popular citizen of the small, east-central Texas town--is brutally murdered, everything changes. Everyone is being watched. Everyone is being judged.
White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works the biggest who-dun-it in Granby history, a startling underworld of domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total package is endearing. You'll want to read White Trash more than once in order to capture all of the tale's insights as it neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with neighbors you can't get away from, you can't stop talking about, and you may not want to leave.
White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works the biggest who-dun-it in Granby history, a startling underworld of domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total package is endearing. You'll want to read White Trash more than once in order to capture all of the tale's insights as it neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with neighbors you can't get away from, you can't stop talking about, and you may not want to leave.
354 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
145 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Allred
17 books24 followersAlexandra Allred was born in Frankfurt, Germany and traveled the world as the daughter of a
US Diplomat and DIA attaché. She made sports (and medical) history through sport. When
she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would
ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to
the first women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete
of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the
team!
At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics.
While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study,
Allred was, at five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while
running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for
competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex’s
training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she serves as a fitness/nutrition expert
for www.pregnancy.org.
Sports Illustrated also took interest, asking her to try out for a women’s professional football
team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of
Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Allred went on to write for a series of publications and
appear on numerous television and print outlets, and was also the subject of a series of
documentaries.
Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex
wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women
included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC
and IOC) in regards to physical training while pregnant; testified before the IOC at the London
Games; served as an Air Ambassador and lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White
House Champion of Change for Public Health and was invited to speak before the International
Thoracic Society on public health. She created an asthma commercial (aired before the US
Senate) with the League of Women Voters and when she saw a need for those within the special
needs populations, she returned to school so she could be an advocate for their cause. She is an
award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and
internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and
education. She has penned more than 20 books and continues to guest freelance for multiple
national publications.
She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching
kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. Using her
students and faculty, including the Occupational Therapy Department, Allred created an exercise
and empowerment program for special needs that include those with a diagnosis of Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, stroke, as we all other intellectual
and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need
greater self-esteem and confidence building. 13 Able was created to spur on fitness, happiness
and empowerment.
This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer
free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special
Needs world.
Today, as she fights for her parents against Alzheimer's and dementia, Operation
Caregivers: #LifewithDementia is yet another battle to restore dignity for those who suffer
from the disease and empowerment for their caregivers. Today, she also offers free fitness
classes for those living with special needs as she believes EVERYONE deserves to be
empowered!
US Diplomat and DIA attaché. She made sports (and medical) history through sport. When
she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would
ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to
the first women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete
of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the
team!
At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics.
While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study,
Allred was, at five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while
running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for
competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex’s
training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she serves as a fitness/nutrition expert
for www.pregnancy.org.
Sports Illustrated also took interest, asking her to try out for a women’s professional football
team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of
Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Allred went on to write for a series of publications and
appear on numerous television and print outlets, and was also the subject of a series of
documentaries.
Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex
wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women
included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC
and IOC) in regards to physical training while pregnant; testified before the IOC at the London
Games; served as an Air Ambassador and lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White
House Champion of Change for Public Health and was invited to speak before the International
Thoracic Society on public health. She created an asthma commercial (aired before the US
Senate) with the League of Women Voters and when she saw a need for those within the special
needs populations, she returned to school so she could be an advocate for their cause. She is an
award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and
internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and
education. She has penned more than 20 books and continues to guest freelance for multiple
national publications.
She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching
kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. Using her
students and faculty, including the Occupational Therapy Department, Allred created an exercise
and empowerment program for special needs that include those with a diagnosis of Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, stroke, as we all other intellectual
and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need
greater self-esteem and confidence building. 13 Able was created to spur on fitness, happiness
and empowerment.
This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer
free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special
Needs world.
Today, as she fights for her parents against Alzheimer's and dementia, Operation
Caregivers: #LifewithDementia is yet another battle to restore dignity for those who suffer
from the disease and empowerment for their caregivers. Today, she also offers free fitness
classes for those living with special needs as she believes EVERYONE deserves to be
empowered!
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 8, 2014
This is a hard-hitting story, extremely well written. Theresa Franks celebrated winning her college scholarship, leaving inbred, small-town Texas behind for good. But at twenty-four, unexpectedly a mother, she limps home to the petty gossip, her babysitting mother and a job with the local paper. Male students do not have the pregnancy trap, and the efforts of women to escape are derided by locals. "Just like all the other girls in this town," comments the garage attendant, who barely finished high school.
Like Harper Lee immortalising her home town, Alexandra Allred describes the people of Granby, white trash or not. "There was no telling if they were ever good girls, but boredom and the disease of little expectation had rotted them both to where all one could expect was when the next would be expecting." "She was the Paris Hilton of Granby. Talk about trash." Police officers Wolfe and Fox, are a delight, a white girl and a Mexican girl partnered and enjoying each other's company, their work often humorous.
Casting aspersions on the entire community, assuring us that most of the young people are dumb as dirt, Thia somehow never explains why birth control hadn't entered her own head, nor anyone's in a town where kids get pregnant at seventeen. I thought at first that the book was set in the fifties, reminiscent of 'The Last Picture Show'. One of the townsmen gets arrested for gunrunning, which has the women agreeing that decent people shouldn't have to wait so long to get an assault rifle. But the unthinking insult tossed at a coloured baby is what sends Thia over the edge. Then a young black man is killed at his own graduation party, and the town's plentiful ugliness comes into the open.
I loved the fainting goats all over the main street, and I sympathised with a wife taking another battering from a husband. Small-town Texas is certainly not dull. Thia adores her baby and endures her mother's attempts to fix her up with men. And by doing her job as a reporter, she puts herself in harm's way - someone has too much to hide. Alexandra Allred, also author of 'Damaged Goods', is an assured writer who showed me a side of America I didn't want to see. WHITE TRASH deserves to be read, a deft social commentary and interwoven crime story. And a charming story of how you can, indeed, come home again.
Like Harper Lee immortalising her home town, Alexandra Allred describes the people of Granby, white trash or not. "There was no telling if they were ever good girls, but boredom and the disease of little expectation had rotted them both to where all one could expect was when the next would be expecting." "She was the Paris Hilton of Granby. Talk about trash." Police officers Wolfe and Fox, are a delight, a white girl and a Mexican girl partnered and enjoying each other's company, their work often humorous.
Casting aspersions on the entire community, assuring us that most of the young people are dumb as dirt, Thia somehow never explains why birth control hadn't entered her own head, nor anyone's in a town where kids get pregnant at seventeen. I thought at first that the book was set in the fifties, reminiscent of 'The Last Picture Show'. One of the townsmen gets arrested for gunrunning, which has the women agreeing that decent people shouldn't have to wait so long to get an assault rifle. But the unthinking insult tossed at a coloured baby is what sends Thia over the edge. Then a young black man is killed at his own graduation party, and the town's plentiful ugliness comes into the open.
I loved the fainting goats all over the main street, and I sympathised with a wife taking another battering from a husband. Small-town Texas is certainly not dull. Thia adores her baby and endures her mother's attempts to fix her up with men. And by doing her job as a reporter, she puts herself in harm's way - someone has too much to hide. Alexandra Allred, also author of 'Damaged Goods', is an assured writer who showed me a side of America I didn't want to see. WHITE TRASH deserves to be read, a deft social commentary and interwoven crime story. And a charming story of how you can, indeed, come home again.
June 6, 2013
After completing White Trash by Alexandra Allred, I can't help but be reminded of the small suburb I live in north of Chicago. Everyone knows the place and don't pretend that you don't. The place where everyone knows your name, who you're dating, the family you come from, and all your failures. Even big cities are made up of these little towns in the form of churchs, schools, neighborhoods, or even apartment buildings. These places where everyone knows everyone else's business... and wouldn't have it any other way. Allred is able to place a humorous, satirical spotlight on this type of social phenomenon in a page-turning novel that will have readers taking out their mirrors and wondering if any of the hypocrisies apply to them.
Thia Franks has returned to the town of Granby, Texas from the prestigious Duke University with her tail between her legs. She's an unwed mother and abandoned by her lover. Determined to make the best of the situation and provide for her daughter, she's works on the towns' newspaper The Recorder and for much of the novel is our narrator. Thia provides the insight into the small town of Granby and all its inhabitants. Circumstances begin to go awry once she hears someone refer to a baby as a "cute little niglet". These words are meant to be a compliment but the person saying them has no clue how defaming they are. As if things couldn't get worse for this small town, a popular, upstanding black man is found brutally killed and no one's coming forward.
Allred manages to really bring to life Granby in a very honest and comical way. From the town gossip down to the town slut, every character introduced is picked apart and very authentic. The police officers Fox and Wolf are hilarious in their hate for EVERY race including their own. Ms. Riley is hellbent on getting rid of the squirrels that steal her acorns. The quinessential mean girls (turned women) are provided to us courtesy of Tammy Whatley, Vicki, and Leann whom also run the town paper. And thanks to Alexandra Allred, I know what fainting goats are. There's a lot going on in this novel and I suggest anyone reading should take notes. There is also a lot of seriousness and relevance to so much that is happening around us in America now.
White Trash explores the seediness that happens in towns such as Granby. Instances of domestic abuse, drug use, racism, extramarital affairs, crime, and child molestation. Thia acknowledges that trash know they are trash and are even joke about it. Whereas, white trash folks have no idea they are who they are. They look down on people and don't care to see the irony in their ways. The best example of this is when Thia is confronted about not going to church. Thia is trying to be convinced that only those who go to church can go to heaven. Reflecting on this information, Thia realizes that the same people who go to church are the men who beat their wives, women who cheat the government, and people who have questionable sexual preferences. Their hypocrisy shines so brightly they are all blinded by it.
I may not have made it clear until now but I enjoyed White Trash tremendously. The small town is the perfect small-scale replica of the American landscape. This socially concious novel with themes of community, going home again, and courage littered with humorous tidbits will stick with readers for a long time. I look forward to reading more by Alexandra Allred.****
*copy provided by Netgalley for review purposes
Thia Franks has returned to the town of Granby, Texas from the prestigious Duke University with her tail between her legs. She's an unwed mother and abandoned by her lover. Determined to make the best of the situation and provide for her daughter, she's works on the towns' newspaper The Recorder and for much of the novel is our narrator. Thia provides the insight into the small town of Granby and all its inhabitants. Circumstances begin to go awry once she hears someone refer to a baby as a "cute little niglet". These words are meant to be a compliment but the person saying them has no clue how defaming they are. As if things couldn't get worse for this small town, a popular, upstanding black man is found brutally killed and no one's coming forward.
Allred manages to really bring to life Granby in a very honest and comical way. From the town gossip down to the town slut, every character introduced is picked apart and very authentic. The police officers Fox and Wolf are hilarious in their hate for EVERY race including their own. Ms. Riley is hellbent on getting rid of the squirrels that steal her acorns. The quinessential mean girls (turned women) are provided to us courtesy of Tammy Whatley, Vicki, and Leann whom also run the town paper. And thanks to Alexandra Allred, I know what fainting goats are. There's a lot going on in this novel and I suggest anyone reading should take notes. There is also a lot of seriousness and relevance to so much that is happening around us in America now.
White Trash explores the seediness that happens in towns such as Granby. Instances of domestic abuse, drug use, racism, extramarital affairs, crime, and child molestation. Thia acknowledges that trash know they are trash and are even joke about it. Whereas, white trash folks have no idea they are who they are. They look down on people and don't care to see the irony in their ways. The best example of this is when Thia is confronted about not going to church. Thia is trying to be convinced that only those who go to church can go to heaven. Reflecting on this information, Thia realizes that the same people who go to church are the men who beat their wives, women who cheat the government, and people who have questionable sexual preferences. Their hypocrisy shines so brightly they are all blinded by it.
I may not have made it clear until now but I enjoyed White Trash tremendously. The small town is the perfect small-scale replica of the American landscape. This socially concious novel with themes of community, going home again, and courage littered with humorous tidbits will stick with readers for a long time. I look forward to reading more by Alexandra Allred.****
*copy provided by Netgalley for review purposes
May 17, 2013
This is one of the rare books where the blurb pretty much gives a good overview of what's inside, so I'm lazily copying it here:
It all started when someone called an African American toddler "cute little niglet." White Trash was created in tribute to this unknown child. It has a hilarious cast and shocking storyline based on real people and true events in a small rural town in Texas. When Thia Franks returns to her home of Granby, Texas, the very place to which she'd vowed never to return, Granby's worst and best elements force the new single mother to face both her past and her destiny. At first, it seems that nothing has changed: Chester Kennedy's goats continue to run rampant through the town, Officer Tina Wolfe stands accused of racial profiling the growing Hispanic community, Thia's gun-wielding neighbor believes a squirrel has it in for her, and the town's local newspaper owner prints only what she believes the citizens should know. But when a young black man-an upstanding and popular citizen of the small, east-central Texas town-is brutally murdered, everything changes. Everyone is being watched. Everyone is being judged. White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works the biggest whodunit in Granby history, a startling underworld of domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total package is endearing. You'll want to read White Trash more than once in order to capture all of the tale's insights as it neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with neighbors you can't get away from, you can't stop talking about, and you may not want to leave.
Alexandra Allred delivers a realistic glimpse into small town Texas, with all the good and bad that entails. The writing is superb, with tongue firmly in cheek. There are some laugh out loud moments (especially the squirrel issues and OMG, fainting goats!!), but they are overshadowed by the social commentary hidden within this book. Prejudice and bigotry is alive and well in small southern towns, and Granby is no different. It's a reminder that we shouldn't judge people based on the color of their skin or their prominence in the community. It's a portrait of a well to-do young boy sharing a horrible secret with a boy from across the tracks that defines and shapes them both, about deceiving appearances and pretenses, about the chasm between rich and poor and the distrust between both sides of the tracks. Mayberry, this ain't.
The ending was at once satisfying and sad. Lives are lost or destroyed, shocking old secrets revealed, yet there is also a love story or two to be had.
For someone not from the South, a lot of the issues raised in this book may seem cliched, but let me assure you, they are not.
The language within is unapologetically real. Ms. Allred doesn't hold back, using dialogue that occasionally raised my hackles. It's one of those books where you know that the author doesn't share the views of some of the characters she portrays, yet still delivers realism with her words. There really are people who talk just like that. If you live in the South, there's a good chance you've experienced those kinds of snide remarks that are sweet on the surface, but pack a sour punch once you stop to think about them. People who will smile to your face and then turn around to talk bad about you, all while professing to be good Christians and pillars of the community.
This is a book to savor slowly, to make sure you catch all the little nuances and tidbits the author inserted. At nearly 300 pages, it's a good length, fast-paced in some parts, a little slower in other - just to give you a bit of a breather before the next roller coaster starts.
The author seems to have a specific style that I noticed in her first book, Damaged Goods, where the POVs change frequently, but are all written in 3rd person limited, except for one. In this book, it's the voice of Thia that's 1st person limited. It takes a bit of getting used to, but doesn't distract from the overall enjoyment.
Please give this a try.
I received a free ARC directly from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
It all started when someone called an African American toddler "cute little niglet." White Trash was created in tribute to this unknown child. It has a hilarious cast and shocking storyline based on real people and true events in a small rural town in Texas. When Thia Franks returns to her home of Granby, Texas, the very place to which she'd vowed never to return, Granby's worst and best elements force the new single mother to face both her past and her destiny. At first, it seems that nothing has changed: Chester Kennedy's goats continue to run rampant through the town, Officer Tina Wolfe stands accused of racial profiling the growing Hispanic community, Thia's gun-wielding neighbor believes a squirrel has it in for her, and the town's local newspaper owner prints only what she believes the citizens should know. But when a young black man-an upstanding and popular citizen of the small, east-central Texas town-is brutally murdered, everything changes. Everyone is being watched. Everyone is being judged. White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works the biggest whodunit in Granby history, a startling underworld of domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total package is endearing. You'll want to read White Trash more than once in order to capture all of the tale's insights as it neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with neighbors you can't get away from, you can't stop talking about, and you may not want to leave.
Alexandra Allred delivers a realistic glimpse into small town Texas, with all the good and bad that entails. The writing is superb, with tongue firmly in cheek. There are some laugh out loud moments (especially the squirrel issues and OMG, fainting goats!!), but they are overshadowed by the social commentary hidden within this book. Prejudice and bigotry is alive and well in small southern towns, and Granby is no different. It's a reminder that we shouldn't judge people based on the color of their skin or their prominence in the community. It's a portrait of a well to-do young boy sharing a horrible secret with a boy from across the tracks that defines and shapes them both, about deceiving appearances and pretenses, about the chasm between rich and poor and the distrust between both sides of the tracks. Mayberry, this ain't.
The ending was at once satisfying and sad. Lives are lost or destroyed, shocking old secrets revealed, yet there is also a love story or two to be had.
For someone not from the South, a lot of the issues raised in this book may seem cliched, but let me assure you, they are not.
The language within is unapologetically real. Ms. Allred doesn't hold back, using dialogue that occasionally raised my hackles. It's one of those books where you know that the author doesn't share the views of some of the characters she portrays, yet still delivers realism with her words. There really are people who talk just like that. If you live in the South, there's a good chance you've experienced those kinds of snide remarks that are sweet on the surface, but pack a sour punch once you stop to think about them. People who will smile to your face and then turn around to talk bad about you, all while professing to be good Christians and pillars of the community.
This is a book to savor slowly, to make sure you catch all the little nuances and tidbits the author inserted. At nearly 300 pages, it's a good length, fast-paced in some parts, a little slower in other - just to give you a bit of a breather before the next roller coaster starts.
The author seems to have a specific style that I noticed in her first book, Damaged Goods, where the POVs change frequently, but are all written in 3rd person limited, except for one. In this book, it's the voice of Thia that's 1st person limited. It takes a bit of getting used to, but doesn't distract from the overall enjoyment.
Please give this a try.
I received a free ARC directly from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return.
June 10, 2013
*review to be posted 11 June as part of Blog tour*
UPDATE:
Let me start by saying that I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud so much! I got a few strange looks from the other half for it. So much so, I had to take a break and youtube videos of fainting goats so he would understand, and that's just one aspect of hilarity in White Trash.
I loved the 'voice' this was written in, it really transported me to Granby, Texas. I felt that Thia especially, truly made the reader connect to what was happening.
All of the characters felt real and often reminded me of people I have met/knew once upon a time, but by and far my favourite characters were Rosa Fox and Tina Wolfe. I often found myself laughing out loud when reading about them and the banter that flowed easily between them. They made me want to pack my stuff up and move out to Granby and just sit and watch them all day. I want them as my friends to entertain me.
Because of this, I could completely see this book transition into a film or even a mini series on TV. I would definitely watch that!
I must admit, I was starting to get frustrated by Thia for not speaking out to the women at the paper, but she redeemed herself in such a great way I forgave her instantly. She was an excellent lead character as she didn't want to be in town, never mind be involved of all the goings on, which made her objective about what was happening even as she was drawn in further.
Considering this is a story about murder (and other quite scary crimes), I couldn't help but smile throughout reading the whole thing. The sad portions of the story did pull emotion from me, and I felt myself welling up, especially when baby Darion was involved, but on the whole, the books is funny. The fainting goats got me every single time!
I will definitely read more by this author as her style of writing is so easy and flows over the reader.
UPDATE:
Let me start by saying that I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud so much! I got a few strange looks from the other half for it. So much so, I had to take a break and youtube videos of fainting goats so he would understand, and that's just one aspect of hilarity in White Trash.
I loved the 'voice' this was written in, it really transported me to Granby, Texas. I felt that Thia especially, truly made the reader connect to what was happening.
All of the characters felt real and often reminded me of people I have met/knew once upon a time, but by and far my favourite characters were Rosa Fox and Tina Wolfe. I often found myself laughing out loud when reading about them and the banter that flowed easily between them. They made me want to pack my stuff up and move out to Granby and just sit and watch them all day. I want them as my friends to entertain me.
Because of this, I could completely see this book transition into a film or even a mini series on TV. I would definitely watch that!
I must admit, I was starting to get frustrated by Thia for not speaking out to the women at the paper, but she redeemed herself in such a great way I forgave her instantly. She was an excellent lead character as she didn't want to be in town, never mind be involved of all the goings on, which made her objective about what was happening even as she was drawn in further.
Considering this is a story about murder (and other quite scary crimes), I couldn't help but smile throughout reading the whole thing. The sad portions of the story did pull emotion from me, and I felt myself welling up, especially when baby Darion was involved, but on the whole, the books is funny. The fainting goats got me every single time!
I will definitely read more by this author as her style of writing is so easy and flows over the reader.
June 11, 2013
Originally posted on: MyReadingLounge
If you're among the many readers who have enjoyed Damaged Goods (by the same author), you already know how faultlessly Alex Allred can bring small Texan communities to life. When you finish reading her books, it seems you have actually lived there.
With her new novel, White Trash, Allred takes us to Granby, the place to which Thia (Theresa) Franks had vowed never to return. Thia's promising career crashed, and she's single again, with a baby to raise; so she has to come back and live with her mother, accepting her and her aunt's help. Thia has to settle for a modest job in the local newspaper and come to terms with failure.
Through her eyes, we see her fellow citizens live and act, and we're told of their quirks and small (and big) lunacies.
Thia’s schoolmates have grown, and some of them made a mess of their life; older people are set in their ways and gossip is rampant, as it always was.
Alex Allred certainly doesn’t put on rosy glasses when describing the community under her scrutiny: even a thriving weapon smuggling business is going on.
Are there any nice things in Granby?
Yes. It's a safe community – or so it looks – and it has a solidarity that transcends petty feelings and prejudices. So Thia is warming up to her hometown, until tragedy strikes and the plot turns to mystery. James Otis – a young black man who was picking up his life after the end of a career in sports and some wild years – is brutally murdered after his graduation party.
White Trash's shocking storyline is based on real people and true events in a small rural town in Texas. The novel has a hilarious cast, but after the murder everyone is being watched, and everyone is being judged.
What a non-American reviewer really appreciates about this book is that it dispels a lot of ideas and misconceptions on white and black people relations, particularly in Southern US. For instance, the graduation party connected with the murder was a mixed one, and the atmosphere there appeared to be completely relaxed.
But, why did James Otis die in such a gruesome way? Speculation is overflowing: theory after theory accumulate, from a revamping of the Ku Klux Klan hating that a black boy was making it good, to more private reasons. The answer, when it comes, will be a surprise. The reasons of James’s death spring from a distant past, from events that can happen (and do happen, unfortunately) in any community and on any latitude, without anything to do with the skin color.
At the end of the story the community will be at peace again – the mystery solved, the bereaved consoled. We see Thia at her aunt’s surprising wedding, and – who knows? – maybe there's a romance in store for her, too.
Camilla and Raum
Alexandra Allred’s writing career began following a stint on the US women’s
bobsled team. After being named “Athlete of the Year” by the United
States Olympic Committee, she became an adventure writer. While writing
for a variety of national publications, she test drove the Volvo Gravity
Car, donned a dog attack suit, played professional women’s football,
and even outran a beefalo mix (that’s a buffalo/cow mix to you city
folk).
She
turned to fiction writing using her rural Texas homestead as fodder for
storytelling. When not writing, she lobbies for healthy children.
Allred lives outside Dallas, Texas, with her husband, children, and a
plethora of animals.
Ways to connect with the author:
Twitter: @alexandraallred
White
Trash is available on Amazon, B&N.com, Kobo, iTunes, and The Writer's Coffee Shop website.
http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/88
White Trash summary:
It all started when someone called an African American toddler "cute little niglet." White Trash
was created in tribute to this unknown child. It has a hilarious cast
and shocking storyline based on real people and true events in a small
rural town in Texas. When Thia Franks returns to her home of Granby,
Texas, the very place to which she’d vowed never to return, Granby’s
worst and best elements force the new single mother to face both her
past and her destiny. At first, it seems that nothing has changed:
Chester Kennedy’s goats continue to run rampant through the town,
Officer Tina Wolfe stands accused of racial profiling the growing
Hispanic community, Thia’s gun-wielding neighbor believes a squirrel has
it in for her, and the town’s local newspaper owner prints only what
she believes the citizens should know. But when a young black man—an
upstanding and popular citizen of the small, east-central Texas town—is
brutally murdered, everything changes. Everyone is being watched.
Everyone is being judged.
White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter
social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks
comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works
the biggest whodunit in Granby history, a startling underworld of
domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation
is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of
Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total
package is endearing. You’ll want to read White Trash
more than once in order to capture all of the tale’s insights as it
neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with
neighbors you can’t get away from, you can’t stop talking about, and you
may not want to leave.
If you're among the many readers who have enjoyed Damaged Goods (by the same author), you already know how faultlessly Alex Allred can bring small Texan communities to life. When you finish reading her books, it seems you have actually lived there.
With her new novel, White Trash, Allred takes us to Granby, the place to which Thia (Theresa) Franks had vowed never to return. Thia's promising career crashed, and she's single again, with a baby to raise; so she has to come back and live with her mother, accepting her and her aunt's help. Thia has to settle for a modest job in the local newspaper and come to terms with failure.
Through her eyes, we see her fellow citizens live and act, and we're told of their quirks and small (and big) lunacies.
"She was the Paris Hilton of Granby. Talk about trash."
Thia’s schoolmates have grown, and some of them made a mess of their life; older people are set in their ways and gossip is rampant, as it always was.
"There was no telling if they were ever good girls, but boredom and the disease of little expectation had rotted them both to where all one could expect was when the next would be expecting."
Alex Allred certainly doesn’t put on rosy glasses when describing the community under her scrutiny: even a thriving weapon smuggling business is going on.
Are there any nice things in Granby?
Yes. It's a safe community – or so it looks – and it has a solidarity that transcends petty feelings and prejudices. So Thia is warming up to her hometown, until tragedy strikes and the plot turns to mystery. James Otis – a young black man who was picking up his life after the end of a career in sports and some wild years – is brutally murdered after his graduation party.
White Trash's shocking storyline is based on real people and true events in a small rural town in Texas. The novel has a hilarious cast, but after the murder everyone is being watched, and everyone is being judged.
What a non-American reviewer really appreciates about this book is that it dispels a lot of ideas and misconceptions on white and black people relations, particularly in Southern US. For instance, the graduation party connected with the murder was a mixed one, and the atmosphere there appeared to be completely relaxed.
But, why did James Otis die in such a gruesome way? Speculation is overflowing: theory after theory accumulate, from a revamping of the Ku Klux Klan hating that a black boy was making it good, to more private reasons. The answer, when it comes, will be a surprise. The reasons of James’s death spring from a distant past, from events that can happen (and do happen, unfortunately) in any community and on any latitude, without anything to do with the skin color.
At the end of the story the community will be at peace again – the mystery solved, the bereaved consoled. We see Thia at her aunt’s surprising wedding, and – who knows? – maybe there's a romance in store for her, too.
Camilla and Raum
Alexandra Allred’s writing career began following a stint on the US women’s
bobsled team. After being named “Athlete of the Year” by the United
States Olympic Committee, she became an adventure writer. While writing
for a variety of national publications, she test drove the Volvo Gravity
Car, donned a dog attack suit, played professional women’s football,
and even outran a beefalo mix (that’s a buffalo/cow mix to you city
folk).
She
turned to fiction writing using her rural Texas homestead as fodder for
storytelling. When not writing, she lobbies for healthy children.
Allred lives outside Dallas, Texas, with her husband, children, and a
plethora of animals.
Ways to connect with the author:
Twitter: @alexandraallred
White
Trash is available on Amazon, B&N.com, Kobo, iTunes, and The Writer's Coffee Shop website.
http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/88
White Trash summary:
It all started when someone called an African American toddler "cute little niglet." White Trash
was created in tribute to this unknown child. It has a hilarious cast
and shocking storyline based on real people and true events in a small
rural town in Texas. When Thia Franks returns to her home of Granby,
Texas, the very place to which she’d vowed never to return, Granby’s
worst and best elements force the new single mother to face both her
past and her destiny. At first, it seems that nothing has changed:
Chester Kennedy’s goats continue to run rampant through the town,
Officer Tina Wolfe stands accused of racial profiling the growing
Hispanic community, Thia’s gun-wielding neighbor believes a squirrel has
it in for her, and the town’s local newspaper owner prints only what
she believes the citizens should know. But when a young black man—an
upstanding and popular citizen of the small, east-central Texas town—is
brutally murdered, everything changes. Everyone is being watched.
Everyone is being judged.
White Trash is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud book that also serves as a bitter
social commentary on American hypocrisies and prejudices. As Thia Franks
comes to terms with the murder, and the small police department works
the biggest whodunit in Granby history, a startling underworld of
domestic abuse, gunrunning, drug use, illicit sex, and child molestation
is revealed. While the murder is horrendous and some of the citizens of
Granby are appalling, many stand up for what is right, and the total
package is endearing. You’ll want to read White Trash
more than once in order to capture all of the tale’s insights as it
neatly summarizes the reality of every American small town peopled with
neighbors you can’t get away from, you can’t stop talking about, and you
may not want to leave.
January 24, 2020
I looked down the street to see the three dumbest human beings perched on the tires at Griffin’s Garage. Roland Wyck had his hands between his legs, and he was rocking back and forth while it looked like Milford East was punching Willie Strictland in the stomach. You couldn’t help but stare. These were people who voted, drove, and procreated. They had a voice, however weak, in our government and would be expected to mold and shape the young minds of their offspring. It was a terrifying, yet fascinating, concept.
Allred perfectly captures the essence of a small, podunk town in the middle of nowhere. While my hometown isn't quite this rural, it's made up of similar demographics and attitudes. Allred also succinctly conveys the frustration and disappointment felt by people like our main character Thia, who are forced by unfortunate circumstances to come back to a town they hate and have outgrown.
While I enjoyed reading about the shenanigans in Granby, I found fault in plenty of places too.
Characters
The town feels populated by real human beings with real flaws, some of which are easier to accept than others. Many of the characters are introduced as tropes, but they're developed in hilarious and multi-dimensional ways. The dialogue does distinguish most characters, which is a bonus when you consider just how many characters there are.
My main problem is that there are just too many characters, most of whom have too little time in the spotlight to be memorable. Other than our main girl, Thia, and the two cops, Fox and Wolfe, I found it impossible to keep all the names straight. By the end, I was confused more than anything.
Plot
The pacing was super slow, almost DNF-worthy until the last half. While the humor helps mitigate this, it isn't enough to offset it completely. The slow burn of both the characters' relationship development and the mystery made reading White Trash feel like work. This, coupled with the sheer number of characters, only served to detract from the emotional impact of the ending.
That being said, I appreciated Allred's consideration of important social issues such as racism, welfare, and abortion. Although ham-fisted at times, I think she did a good job overall of incorporating it into her narrative without coming across as preachy (except at one point when she's arguing with another character about abortion).
Writing
I think this is Allred's major strength. She can capture complex emotions with words in a way that's both witty and touching. I felt myself nodding along at points because she perfectly summed up my feelings about getting the hell out of my hometown, as well as the frustration and embarrassment of somehow ending up back there after uni.
More than that, she can write humor well. Where some authors struggle to write humor tastefully in sad or dangerous situations, I think Allred did a fantastic job balancing humor with emotion in her novel.
All in all, White Trash was a decent book, especially for a little-known author. I'd mostly recommend it to people who live in similar areas or among similar demographics, as I think they would probably enjoy it the most.
January 4, 2015
4.75
This one was so good! I could see it as a movie within a few lines. I was gasping at parts, and there were many moments that I could not stop laughing. I am not from a small town but I had wanted to raise my kids in one. I made comment to a friend of mine who grew up in a small town and she told me I was crazy for even thinking it. She said you can't do anything without everyone in town knowing about it. So reading the same thing had me cracking up.
I know that many want to believe that we as humans have evolved and gotten better over time and there is no discrimination, I am also not from the south. I have had many friends who have told me that is not the case. There are people that are ignorant and will stay that way.
All I know is that my favorite hands down is Tina Wolfe. She had me cracking up the entire time. She is my kind of girl, it would be so much fun just to hang out with her.
I wasn't sure exactly how this book would be funny when the death rattles the town. I thought to myself there is no way this can be funny now. BUT you do end up laughing through all the serious stuff. There is a lot touched on in this book, like the synopsis says... child molestation, blackmail, alcoholism, murder, theft, racism, domestic abuse, gun running, drug use, ... and so on. So I can honestly say you don't get bored reading this! The best part of it for me was no matter how serious the topic was. Alexandra had a way to make you laugh just when you think there is no way it can be funny now.
I looked her up on goodreads to see what else she has written and found White Tree and see that it is in the same town with the same officers Wolfe and Fox. I WILL be reading it when it becomes available! I love those two together.
As I read I found myself relating to so many things. I mean we all know "white trash" by the definition she gives:
I can honestly say that I do know a few people who are this way. It always made me sad that so many people could be so close minded but what can ya do? You can can argue with them but it is a loosing battle. You cannot change someones feelings or thoughts.
I laughed and laughed when reading about the different things that could only happen in a small town. I mean fainting goats, squirlles on a mission, who wouldn't laugh reading that?
Although some of the stuff is racial some of the stuff I couldn't help but laugh at because well when Wolfe is saying it, you can't help but laugh as she hates everyone equally. Here is an example of her and Fox going back and forth. They are just hilarious!
It is mixed here and there throughout the book so you will find yourself giggling often.
Now, the only thing that I would have to say is a negative is the changing of people throughout the book. There were a few parts that threw me and I had to go back and reread to remember who I was reading about. The ONLY time in the book that "I" is used is in reference to the. I kind of wish she would put who the parts were with at the top but then it would give some things away so I understand why she didn't. I haven't read a book that was written that way where you will go from one person to another but the entire time the first person writing is only about one character (the main character). It doesn't happen right away so when it did it did surprise me I didn't know it was going to do that, but I did find myself wanting more from others perspectives.
This one was so good! I could see it as a movie within a few lines. I was gasping at parts, and there were many moments that I could not stop laughing. I am not from a small town but I had wanted to raise my kids in one. I made comment to a friend of mine who grew up in a small town and she told me I was crazy for even thinking it. She said you can't do anything without everyone in town knowing about it. So reading the same thing had me cracking up.
I know that many want to believe that we as humans have evolved and gotten better over time and there is no discrimination, I am also not from the south. I have had many friends who have told me that is not the case. There are people that are ignorant and will stay that way.
All I know is that my favorite hands down is Tina Wolfe. She had me cracking up the entire time. She is my kind of girl, it would be so much fun just to hang out with her.
I wasn't sure exactly how this book would be funny when the death rattles the town. I thought to myself there is no way this can be funny now. BUT you do end up laughing through all the serious stuff. There is a lot touched on in this book, like the synopsis says... child molestation, blackmail, alcoholism, murder, theft, racism, domestic abuse, gun running, drug use, ... and so on. So I can honestly say you don't get bored reading this! The best part of it for me was no matter how serious the topic was. Alexandra had a way to make you laugh just when you think there is no way it can be funny now.
I looked her up on goodreads to see what else she has written and found White Tree and see that it is in the same town with the same officers Wolfe and Fox. I WILL be reading it when it becomes available! I love those two together.
As I read I found myself relating to so many things. I mean we all know "white trash" by the definition she gives:
"White trash folks, on the other hand, have no idea how trashy they are...They look down on other folks and operate under the misconception that the darker the skin, the dumber the person...or at least, the more prone to violence."
I can honestly say that I do know a few people who are this way. It always made me sad that so many people could be so close minded but what can ya do? You can can argue with them but it is a loosing battle. You cannot change someones feelings or thoughts.
I laughed and laughed when reading about the different things that could only happen in a small town. I mean fainting goats, squirlles on a mission, who wouldn't laugh reading that?
"S*it!" Wolfe yelled, climbing out of the car before Fox had stopped. "They're dropping like flies! Look at 'em. They're dropping like flies! What the hell?"
Although some of the stuff is racial some of the stuff I couldn't help but laugh at because well when Wolfe is saying it, you can't help but laugh as she hates everyone equally. Here is an example of her and Fox going back and forth. They are just hilarious!
"All right, so we'll check out their house and the Town Pump. He hangs out there a lot. If not we'll go over to Paradice Park-you know, to your people. ..."
"My people?"
"Your peeps. You're their homegirl." ... "Let's roll, homey.
It is mixed here and there throughout the book so you will find yourself giggling often.
Now, the only thing that I would have to say is a negative is the changing of people throughout the book. There were a few parts that threw me and I had to go back and reread to remember who I was reading about. The ONLY time in the book that "I" is used is in reference to the. I kind of wish she would put who the parts were with at the top but then it would give some things away so I understand why she didn't. I haven't read a book that was written that way where you will go from one person to another but the entire time the first person writing is only about one character (the main character). It doesn't happen right away so when it did it did surprise me I didn't know it was going to do that, but I did find myself wanting more from others perspectives.
November 19, 2013
This was an amusing story that while reading I found myself bouncing back and forth between awarding 3 and 4 stars. The story ended with a good strong finish so I’ll post 4 stars.
The cast of characters is massive with introductions still being made in the last chapters. The shifting POVs was interesting but not quite balanced. The first third of the story was heavily in Thia’s POV but a few other characters were sprinkled in to keep the reader intrigued while the craziness of small East Texas town Granby unfolded.
Thia, however, was all but a blip on the radar at the very end and I didn’t feel that the reader heard from her as much as the murder mystery was coming to its close. Case in point: her budding relationship with Frankie: one minute she’s wanting to make certain he gets to know her and even puts some distance between them by avoiding a lunch date, then the next time they’re together we find them hanging out at the park. Shortly afterwards they’re attending a wedding where toddler Ella runs into Frankie’s arms because she loves him so much. Now, when did little Ella have time for that happen? I feel there must have been some scenes between avoiding lunch and Ella falling in love with Frankie that must have been struck by the delete key. For so much of this story we’re inside Thia’s overthinking head but her new relationship was just glossed over. My preferred genre is romance so Thia + Frankie were on my radar.
Fox and Wolf. What a hoot of amusing characters. Their personalities were well balanced and their antics, well, those were quite fun to read. I imagine some readers could think the scenes that this pair stumbled and fumbled through might be over the top, but I spent half my life in deep East Texas and will attest that it’s a whole other world than the rest of the Lone Star State. I could easily place a face upon every colorful character Allred plucked for her fictional Granby (which in my head is Granbury – no offense to that small town!). The gossip spot: check. The gaudy boutique: check. The gas station manned with bored men: check. The racially segregated parts of town: check. The taboo events: check, check, check, check. Every little niche and corner in a small town has a story to tell and Granby is no exception.
And last, it’s not too often that I can nod with recognition at the locale names in a book. White Trash takes us up and down the State Highway 77 corridor: Waco, Mexia (pronounced meh-HAY-eh) and even Milford, although the latter was used as a surname. So, that was fun.
The cast of characters is massive with introductions still being made in the last chapters. The shifting POVs was interesting but not quite balanced. The first third of the story was heavily in Thia’s POV but a few other characters were sprinkled in to keep the reader intrigued while the craziness of small East Texas town Granby unfolded.
Thia, however, was all but a blip on the radar at the very end and I didn’t feel that the reader heard from her as much as the murder mystery was coming to its close. Case in point: her budding relationship with Frankie: one minute she’s wanting to make certain he gets to know her and even puts some distance between them by avoiding a lunch date, then the next time they’re together we find them hanging out at the park. Shortly afterwards they’re attending a wedding where toddler Ella runs into Frankie’s arms because she loves him so much. Now, when did little Ella have time for that happen? I feel there must have been some scenes between avoiding lunch and Ella falling in love with Frankie that must have been struck by the delete key. For so much of this story we’re inside Thia’s overthinking head but her new relationship was just glossed over. My preferred genre is romance so Thia + Frankie were on my radar.
Fox and Wolf. What a hoot of amusing characters. Their personalities were well balanced and their antics, well, those were quite fun to read. I imagine some readers could think the scenes that this pair stumbled and fumbled through might be over the top, but I spent half my life in deep East Texas and will attest that it’s a whole other world than the rest of the Lone Star State. I could easily place a face upon every colorful character Allred plucked for her fictional Granby (which in my head is Granbury – no offense to that small town!). The gossip spot: check. The gaudy boutique: check. The gas station manned with bored men: check. The racially segregated parts of town: check. The taboo events: check, check, check, check. Every little niche and corner in a small town has a story to tell and Granby is no exception.
And last, it’s not too often that I can nod with recognition at the locale names in a book. White Trash takes us up and down the State Highway 77 corridor: Waco, Mexia (pronounced meh-HAY-eh) and even Milford, although the latter was used as a surname. So, that was fun.
April 20, 2015
When I drive across Texas this summer I'm going to keep my eye on city limits signs. If I see that Alexandra Allred's fictional White Trash town of Granby has suddenly become real, I may back track and go around. Not because I don't want to see it, but because there's a good chance that if I do I'll get swept up into its stories and never leave.
That's exactly what happened to Thia Franks. When she graduated high school, her scholarship to Duke was her one-way ticket out of town, and you probably can guess what happened. A few years later she returned home with a degree, a baby and not a little chagrin. Her aunt wangled her a temporary job at the newspaper. Thia planned her way back out of town. However, when she heard a stunningly offensive racial slur (not repeated here), she was swept up into the dramas and complexity of Granby.
Three groups make up the tiny town: Anglo, African American, and Latino. Conflicts and alliances rule the day. The newspaper office is right in the middle of most of them, and Thia right along with it.
This gallop through a few Granby months almost threw me with its shifting point-of-view and many, many characters. (A cast of characters would help a lot. I had to grab a pencil and create my own.) But I hung on and was glad I finished the ride. The stories are intriguing and the characters worth knowing, even the goats. As you might expect in a novel about west Texas, there are plenty of goats and some Port-a-potties as well.
Early on, James Otis, whom I selected to be the hero, meets a violent and inexplicable death at the end of a celebration party in his honor. Thia is there and knows all the other guests, so she must know the killer or killers.
White Trash sounds dark, and it is, but Allred's characters bring light to the situations with their ongoing, complex and sometimes very funny personal stories. Thia's aunt Cici and her unlikely romance bring not only welcome laughter, but a good measure of joy.
Once again, I learn the power of story to help us discover all aspects about life. I hope that Allred is thinking about a sequel, because I certainly want to know what happens next.
by Trilla Pando
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
That's exactly what happened to Thia Franks. When she graduated high school, her scholarship to Duke was her one-way ticket out of town, and you probably can guess what happened. A few years later she returned home with a degree, a baby and not a little chagrin. Her aunt wangled her a temporary job at the newspaper. Thia planned her way back out of town. However, when she heard a stunningly offensive racial slur (not repeated here), she was swept up into the dramas and complexity of Granby.
Three groups make up the tiny town: Anglo, African American, and Latino. Conflicts and alliances rule the day. The newspaper office is right in the middle of most of them, and Thia right along with it.
This gallop through a few Granby months almost threw me with its shifting point-of-view and many, many characters. (A cast of characters would help a lot. I had to grab a pencil and create my own.) But I hung on and was glad I finished the ride. The stories are intriguing and the characters worth knowing, even the goats. As you might expect in a novel about west Texas, there are plenty of goats and some Port-a-potties as well.
Early on, James Otis, whom I selected to be the hero, meets a violent and inexplicable death at the end of a celebration party in his honor. Thia is there and knows all the other guests, so she must know the killer or killers.
White Trash sounds dark, and it is, but Allred's characters bring light to the situations with their ongoing, complex and sometimes very funny personal stories. Thia's aunt Cici and her unlikely romance bring not only welcome laughter, but a good measure of joy.
Once again, I learn the power of story to help us discover all aspects about life. I hope that Allred is thinking about a sequel, because I certainly want to know what happens next.
by Trilla Pando
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
July 10, 2013
Ms. Allred's first book (Damaged Goods) shocked me, then made me laugh in the opening chapter. This one made my jaw drop when I read what those women called that baby. I wanted to immediately see some kind of justice, or apology, or growth in this town.
Then the murder happened and everyone was pointing fingers and there were mobs and sadness and distrust was growing by leaps and bounds.
In the middle of all of the drama there were moments of outright hilarity. Have you ever heard of fainting goats? I hadn't, then there they were, in downtown Granby. Two of the best supporting characters ever, Officers Wolfe and Fox, women who fit together like PB&J, are right there in the middle of the mess...and one of them has her gun drawn! You might want to put your coffee down when you get to that part.
Once again, Ms. Allred gives us a good, hard look into small town life as Thia, who has returned to Granville with a child in tow, reintegrates herself a world she had hoped to leave forever.
As tension rises over the murder of a well-loved young man, truth makes it's way through the racism, the phobias, the prejudices, and yes, the love and joy that living in a small town (or even a big one) provide.
Not everything is black and white, there are shades of gray and you'll enjoy the journey as Thia finds her way back home.
FIVE BOOKMARKS to Ms. Allred for showing us how to live well and honorably. Thia's journey is one you'll follow, wishing her well every step of the way.
*Full disclosure time. I was the proofreader for WHITE TRASH and also got the ARC from NetGalley and TWCS.
This review is also at my blog:
www.firstpagetothelast.com
Then the murder happened and everyone was pointing fingers and there were mobs and sadness and distrust was growing by leaps and bounds.
In the middle of all of the drama there were moments of outright hilarity. Have you ever heard of fainting goats? I hadn't, then there they were, in downtown Granby. Two of the best supporting characters ever, Officers Wolfe and Fox, women who fit together like PB&J, are right there in the middle of the mess...and one of them has her gun drawn! You might want to put your coffee down when you get to that part.
Once again, Ms. Allred gives us a good, hard look into small town life as Thia, who has returned to Granville with a child in tow, reintegrates herself a world she had hoped to leave forever.
As tension rises over the murder of a well-loved young man, truth makes it's way through the racism, the phobias, the prejudices, and yes, the love and joy that living in a small town (or even a big one) provide.
Not everything is black and white, there are shades of gray and you'll enjoy the journey as Thia finds her way back home.
FIVE BOOKMARKS to Ms. Allred for showing us how to live well and honorably. Thia's journey is one you'll follow, wishing her well every step of the way.
*Full disclosure time. I was the proofreader for WHITE TRASH and also got the ARC from NetGalley and TWCS.
This review is also at my blog:
www.firstpagetothelast.com
May 19, 2013
Review originally posted here: www.fictionfinders.blogspot.com
Set in the small rural town of Granby Texas, White Trash follows multiple characters whose lives are all somehow connected. The story begins when Thia Franks returns to Granby after having sworn to never return to the small southern town. After finishing her undergrad at Duke, Thia follows in the footsteps of many Granby young women and gets knocked up. Not knowing what else to do, Thia brings her daughter Ella back to her hometown to live with her mother. As Granby's top newspaper reporter, Thia hears about everything that goes on in her town including racism, ignorance, abuse, and affairs. Alexandra Allred elaborately describes the inhabitants of Granby including characters like Chester Kennedy, whose fainting goats constantly wreak havoc on the small town. Things spin out of control even more when James Otis, a young black man, is brutally murdered. The town cops have few leads and racial tensions continue to rise.
My Thoughts:
I throughly enjoyed this novel. Having grown up in a small southern town myself, I could relate to many of the happenings within the book. Allred paints an accurate picture of life in small southern towns and is able to exemplify the complexities within. While many of the character's actions are looked down upon, Allred also presents characters who are hard working, caring, and honest. I at times had trouble keeping up with all of the characters, but found myself wanting to know more about each of them. I especially liked how Allred created a mystery that tied so many of the characters together in the end.
Set in the small rural town of Granby Texas, White Trash follows multiple characters whose lives are all somehow connected. The story begins when Thia Franks returns to Granby after having sworn to never return to the small southern town. After finishing her undergrad at Duke, Thia follows in the footsteps of many Granby young women and gets knocked up. Not knowing what else to do, Thia brings her daughter Ella back to her hometown to live with her mother. As Granby's top newspaper reporter, Thia hears about everything that goes on in her town including racism, ignorance, abuse, and affairs. Alexandra Allred elaborately describes the inhabitants of Granby including characters like Chester Kennedy, whose fainting goats constantly wreak havoc on the small town. Things spin out of control even more when James Otis, a young black man, is brutally murdered. The town cops have few leads and racial tensions continue to rise.
My Thoughts:
I throughly enjoyed this novel. Having grown up in a small southern town myself, I could relate to many of the happenings within the book. Allred paints an accurate picture of life in small southern towns and is able to exemplify the complexities within. While many of the character's actions are looked down upon, Allred also presents characters who are hard working, caring, and honest. I at times had trouble keeping up with all of the characters, but found myself wanting to know more about each of them. I especially liked how Allred created a mystery that tied so many of the characters together in the end.
May 14, 2013
ARC was provided by NetGalley and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House in exchange for an honest review
Welcome to Granby, Texas.
Where everybody knows everybody and the comunity is ruled by their strong leaders.
Thia Franks thought that she could leave it all behind her.
The town, the narrowmindness, the friends she had growing up ,as well as the people who she could not stand growing up.
Then she made one mistake and had to come back.
But she didn't resent her mistake because it gave her Ella, her beautiful daughter.
She started working on the local newspaper and living with her mother and her aunt, Cece.
At first the town looks just like she left it, with the queen bees, the scandals nobody dares mentioning out loud and the ones nobody cares to.
And then James Otis was murdered, and suddenly all the web of lies starts unraveling until it reveals secrets that the town keeps hidden.
Only one of them is the most dangerous.
One truth that by remaining hidden destroyed a lot of lives and helped forming an unusual friendship between 2 men who had only that in common.
(Note : No,the secret is not that the men are gay)
This book was a window to what happens in small towns.
And despite of the bad parts it had a lot of parts to laugh, to sigh and to ask youself "Did I just read that?".
All in all for me it was a 4 star read, although I don't know if I will countinue reading books of this genre.
Welcome to Granby, Texas.
Where everybody knows everybody and the comunity is ruled by their strong leaders.
Thia Franks thought that she could leave it all behind her.
The town, the narrowmindness, the friends she had growing up ,as well as the people who she could not stand growing up.
Then she made one mistake and had to come back.
But she didn't resent her mistake because it gave her Ella, her beautiful daughter.
She started working on the local newspaper and living with her mother and her aunt, Cece.
At first the town looks just like she left it, with the queen bees, the scandals nobody dares mentioning out loud and the ones nobody cares to.
And then James Otis was murdered, and suddenly all the web of lies starts unraveling until it reveals secrets that the town keeps hidden.
Only one of them is the most dangerous.
One truth that by remaining hidden destroyed a lot of lives and helped forming an unusual friendship between 2 men who had only that in common.
(Note : No,the secret is not that the men are gay)
This book was a window to what happens in small towns.
And despite of the bad parts it had a lot of parts to laugh, to sigh and to ask youself "Did I just read that?".
All in all for me it was a 4 star read, although I don't know if I will countinue reading books of this genre.
June 12, 2013
Full review posted here.
Source : Netgalley / Publisher ARC
Rating : 4.2/5
This book is an atmospheric account of small-town life in rural Granby. If you haven’t lived in a small Southern town, Allred brings it to life for you. There are many characters in this book but all were fleshed out beautifully. We root for Thia herself because she is a bold, upright sensible young woman who cannot tolerate racism and injustice. She also has a spry sense of humor, and we get to read her tongue-in-cheek accounts of the townspeople. Also endearing are her mother and aunt, while Officers Wolfie and Foxie add spice to the mix with their no-nonsense philosophy of hating everyone equally.
Allred excels in creating a sprawling story with nuanced details. The many characters in the book are tied through to the main story with well-etched out back-stories. The book’s tone feels authentic. Allred displays impeccable command of the story’s pace – she balances out the humorous, quixotic segue-ways about life in Granby with plot elements which keep the book chugging away. White Trash is well-paced, sauntering through Granby giving us a good feel for the place and its people, but ratcheting up the tension as things hot up.
This was an engrossing read. If you liked “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, I’d highly recommend White Trash.
Source : Netgalley / Publisher ARC
Rating : 4.2/5
This book is an atmospheric account of small-town life in rural Granby. If you haven’t lived in a small Southern town, Allred brings it to life for you. There are many characters in this book but all were fleshed out beautifully. We root for Thia herself because she is a bold, upright sensible young woman who cannot tolerate racism and injustice. She also has a spry sense of humor, and we get to read her tongue-in-cheek accounts of the townspeople. Also endearing are her mother and aunt, while Officers Wolfie and Foxie add spice to the mix with their no-nonsense philosophy of hating everyone equally.
Allred excels in creating a sprawling story with nuanced details. The many characters in the book are tied through to the main story with well-etched out back-stories. The book’s tone feels authentic. Allred displays impeccable command of the story’s pace – she balances out the humorous, quixotic segue-ways about life in Granby with plot elements which keep the book chugging away. White Trash is well-paced, sauntering through Granby giving us a good feel for the place and its people, but ratcheting up the tension as things hot up.
This was an engrossing read. If you liked “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett, I’d highly recommend White Trash.
June 27, 2013
Thia Franks is back in her home town, and must figure out her place in it. That’s not as easy as it sounds, since everyone living there seems to have a secret life or agenda. There are a lot of townsfolk with intriguing stories, many of them unattractive. Thia is a keen observer of them all.
Ms. Allred has the ability to throw light on dark issues without making stories preachy. The lady cops, Fox and Wolfe are badass. Also, hilarious. And I got a particular kick out of the squirrel lady as I actually know someone like her.
When this story reaches its climax, it’s almost like somebody dumped over a bucket of crabs. Some scurry everywhere, some hide and some pinch. It’s utter chaos. Not a trick is missed and not a moment drags. Highly recommended. Five stars.
Much thanks to The Writers Coffee Shop and Alexandra Allred for giving me an ARC in return for my honest review.
Ms. Allred has the ability to throw light on dark issues without making stories preachy. The lady cops, Fox and Wolfe are badass. Also, hilarious. And I got a particular kick out of the squirrel lady as I actually know someone like her.
When this story reaches its climax, it’s almost like somebody dumped over a bucket of crabs. Some scurry everywhere, some hide and some pinch. It’s utter chaos. Not a trick is missed and not a moment drags. Highly recommended. Five stars.
Much thanks to The Writers Coffee Shop and Alexandra Allred for giving me an ARC in return for my honest review.
June 8, 2013
Braine's Talk Supe review
WHITE TRASH's premise is simple but it's the characters who really made the big difference for me. They made me laugh, cringe in embarrassment and really had me thinking hard about some of the issues they took on. And most importantly, I love how Allred's clever sense of humor made the issues she highlighted easier to read and very effective in terms of having us readers reflect on our own prejudices.
WHITE TRASH's premise is simple but it's the characters who really made the big difference for me. They made me laugh, cringe in embarrassment and really had me thinking hard about some of the issues they took on. And most importantly, I love how Allred's clever sense of humor made the issues she highlighted easier to read and very effective in terms of having us readers reflect on our own prejudices.
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