Worthy's Town: A Novel

by Sharon Rolens

The story of a family and its small Illinois town from 1925-50.

Genres: Historical Fiction

262 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2000

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I enjoy reading historical books. This book takes place from 1925 to 1950 . It takes place in a small town in Illinois. This coming of age book is full of ignorance and disturbing things. I would not recommend you read it.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up 'Worthy's Town' at the local library as, based on the reviews, I was hoping for an experience along the lines of 'Rush Home Road'. Small town setting, connected characters, historical novel. Unfortunately, I found the writing style to be somewhat juvenile and there were times (especially when reading Cap's journalistic attempts for the local newspaper) when I felt like I was reading a novel written for a teen audience. That being said, the book seemed to vacillate between a teen novel and suddenly, when the author realized it was a little too simplistic, she interjected sex scenes to startle you. I am not in any way against (good, well-written) sex scenes in a novel, but in every single one in 'Worthy's Town' one character was manipulating the other in often perverse ways (sex scenes of child molestation, another of an adult in a position of power having oral sex with a somewhat 'slow' young man). There was not one single scene of love or respect or even just mutual desire between the characters. And if you want to know about penises, the author creates characters that seem to be fixated on them, from the experimentation between Cappy and his friend, Beany, to the undertaker checking out the men's penises while embalming bodies. The book itself almost gave me the sense that an editor said, 'well to keep this interesting, we need to add something that the readers wouldn't expect, something a little dark, a little taboo.' Hard to categorize this book other than 'hmmmm'.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent snapshot of mid west small-town Americana.

When Willa and Worthy Gilberson's 14 year old beautiful, sensitive and intelligent daughter dies in childbirth, they raise their illegitimate grand son Cappy, providing love and solid values.

Set in the time frame of 1925-WWII, life in Kane, Illinois is anything but idyllic. The town near do well attempts to claim Cappy as his own, menacing both the grandparents and then later the child.

The town contains many solid, well respecting individuals peppered with a smattering of some nasty, evil yokels with plenty of time and intent to do harm.

The book contains humor, sadness, folksiness, and a wonderful portrayal of love that endures.

[Tiffany Speed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A throwback to small town living in rural Illinois. This is a quick, easy read that flows well while telling a story full of twists and turns. Every small town has it's secrets whether the time period be the 20's, 50's or today. Now, I must say there are some perverse reverences of sexual exploration and child molestation mixed with homosexuality which could have been omitted and the book would have been all the more enjoyable. I am choosing to believe this was inserted from an editorial viewpoint versus the author's viewpoint. This being said, the novel is jam packed with other characters that you will love or love to hate. Either way, you will finish this novel is 2 or 3 days just to see what happens to Worthy, Cappy, and Drayton.

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author must have a penis obsession! Lot's penis stuff going on that doesn't need to be. LOL

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good story however, there are several disturbing parts that could have been left out. If it was written without the useless disturbing passages I would have given it four stars.

[Lea Harte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book with every intention of finishing it whether I agreed with it or not. However, I found this book to be quite disturbing. The author must have experienced a sexual abuse because there were several scenes of abuse that did not have any reason to be there. Do others find it hard to read disturbing stories?