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The Rising Place
If you found a box of letters written during World War II-would you read them? And what if you did and discovered an amazing story about unrequited love, betrayal, and murder in a small southern town? A young lawyer meets Emily Hodge, a 75-year-old spinster shunned by her hometown society, and can't understand why she lives such a solitary and seemingly forgotten life. But the letters she leaves for him reveal how her choices caused her to be ostracized-but definitely not forgotten by those who loved her.
- GenresFiction
198 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 30, 2020
David, a young lawyer in Hamilton, Mississippi met Emily Hodge when she was 75. He did not know much about Miss Emily, but wondered why someone born and bred in Hamilton was not surrounded by family and friends from the long life she led when her days become numbered. She shared a picture of her late teenage years with David and he was startled to see she was beautiful and full of life.
After her funeral, he gathered up the picture and some letters he found in the drawer next to her bed. Therein lies the history and heartache of Miss Emily. Never married, she fell in love with a man that was one quarter African American. Harry is a pilot and took her flying in his plane. They were intimate just once, right before he left for the war. As fate would have it, she was pregnant. So began the ostracizing of Miss Emily. The 1940’s in Mississippi were intolerant of mixed marriages and no compassion was given to unwed mothers.
Heartbroken and lonely, she began writing Harry about her love for him, the progress of her pregnancy and the racial tensions in Hamilton. Headstrong and defiant, Miss Emily refused to stop seeing her best friend Wilma who is an African American. This is just not done in Mississippi in the 1940s.
The Rising Place is an interesting, emotionally charged glimpse at life in the 1940s south. While it is a work of fiction, there are many parallels to the events that actually occurred during that timeframe. The war, racial tension and the societal rules for women are clearly outlined, yet challenged by Miss Emily no matter the high cost of spending most of her adult life alone.
This fast and fascinating book is David Armstrong’s debut novel. Previously made into a film, The Rising Place is available on DVD. As always, I suggest reading the book first – it is always better, even if the film is fabulous. He has previously published collections of his short works and screenplays.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy from publicist Maryglenn McCombs in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman
After her funeral, he gathered up the picture and some letters he found in the drawer next to her bed. Therein lies the history and heartache of Miss Emily. Never married, she fell in love with a man that was one quarter African American. Harry is a pilot and took her flying in his plane. They were intimate just once, right before he left for the war. As fate would have it, she was pregnant. So began the ostracizing of Miss Emily. The 1940’s in Mississippi were intolerant of mixed marriages and no compassion was given to unwed mothers.
Heartbroken and lonely, she began writing Harry about her love for him, the progress of her pregnancy and the racial tensions in Hamilton. Headstrong and defiant, Miss Emily refused to stop seeing her best friend Wilma who is an African American. This is just not done in Mississippi in the 1940s.
The Rising Place is an interesting, emotionally charged glimpse at life in the 1940s south. While it is a work of fiction, there are many parallels to the events that actually occurred during that timeframe. The war, racial tension and the societal rules for women are clearly outlined, yet challenged by Miss Emily no matter the high cost of spending most of her adult life alone.
This fast and fascinating book is David Armstrong’s debut novel. Previously made into a film, The Rising Place is available on DVD. As always, I suggest reading the book first – it is always better, even if the film is fabulous. He has previously published collections of his short works and screenplays.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy from publicist Maryglenn McCombs in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman
July 3, 2020
Told in the form of letters read decades after the main events, the story unfolds with a sense of mystery. Why would the woman, Emily, who wrote these letters be so isolated in her old age? A lawyer reads them to try to understand.
The letters take us back to the WWII era, in the South. With little details, the writer paints a good picture of that world and its troubles. The protagonist falls for a man, Harry, who is one quarter African-American. He is called to duty, flying a plane in the war, and she stays behind, pregnant. Society ostracizes this unmarried woman.
Readers will be moved by what Emily, her friends, and the African-American community experience. Emily’s best friend, Wilma, is African-American, and the ignoramuses of their town give Emily grief for this as well.
Things escalate, and an innocent man is murdered. Emily wants to get involved, but her family warns her of the grave danger involved in doing so. However, Emily is driven to stand up for injustice and goes to a meeting with the oppressed people of her town. Things get worse from that point, and Emily must deal with the aftermath.
The main and the secondary characters play their important role in bringing to life a tragic story in its given setting. It is a realistic accounting of a time and place, filled with powerful feelings while inspiring similar feelings in readers with its important message.
The letters take us back to the WWII era, in the South. With little details, the writer paints a good picture of that world and its troubles. The protagonist falls for a man, Harry, who is one quarter African-American. He is called to duty, flying a plane in the war, and she stays behind, pregnant. Society ostracizes this unmarried woman.
Readers will be moved by what Emily, her friends, and the African-American community experience. Emily’s best friend, Wilma, is African-American, and the ignoramuses of their town give Emily grief for this as well.
Things escalate, and an innocent man is murdered. Emily wants to get involved, but her family warns her of the grave danger involved in doing so. However, Emily is driven to stand up for injustice and goes to a meeting with the oppressed people of her town. Things get worse from that point, and Emily must deal with the aftermath.
The main and the secondary characters play their important role in bringing to life a tragic story in its given setting. It is a realistic accounting of a time and place, filled with powerful feelings while inspiring similar feelings in readers with its important message.
June 3, 2020
Thanks for the copy. This is a book set in the 1940's when racial issues were at the forefront. The author told the story through letters of a white girl who had a black girl as a boyfriend and a best friend. The way this story was told I learned a lot about racism.
September 10, 2020
Very good, concise book..it was long but it was well written and I was happy to experience a Mississippi author
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews