Initial Impressions: Moonrise Over New Jessup, by Jamila Minnicks - March 2024

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please take care not to reveal information that might lessen other readers’ enjoyment.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I read this and finished it today because the library had my copy ready. I can whole-heartedly recommend it. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

That's great to hear, Diane. I'll be starting this after the weekend.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

It was a great choice Dave. How did you learn about it?

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

It got a great write up in the Southern Literary Review and went on to be joint winner for book-of-the year 2023
https://southernlitreview.com/reviews...

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

That was a great write up and review.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Waiting on library copy to become available.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

I started this morning and immediately loved Alice's voice. The journey begins...

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

7-Up cake? That's a new one on me.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I've heard of it, but. ever made one because I don't care for 7-Up. I have made a coca- cake though. The soft drink is basically just added sugar and a little zing.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Coca-Cola cake.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

For those coming across the word "finna", it's an eliding of the words "fixing to." As in, I'm fixing to make a cake. Fixing is the Southern way of saying doing or getting ready to do something. As in " I'm fixing to go to bed.
Confused yet?

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

The way you explain it makes perfect sense. "Finna" is a new one to me, a bit like Coka-Cola/7-Up cakes.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Starting in morning. My husband makes a sundrop cake….soda that’s big in Tennessee.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

This one is easy to get into right from the beginning. Really enjoying so far.

I really appreciated the high standards expected when working at the tailor shop. The owner wanted a classy and respectable reputation by Alice and she told her upfront.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I could immediately feel the comfort and safety offered in New Jessup. Simply not having think about what to say and do around white people must have been so freeing.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

Agree Diane, a weight lifted. I understand why Alice doesn’t want to mess with something that seems like a better situation.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

I've just read an interview with Jamila Minnicks and she says that New Jessup is based on enclaves she heard about when growing up in Alabama. She certainly a paints a very good picture of the place.

[Sam]

I am almost halfway through. Holding my thoughts till I see how the author handles some of the complications she has designed.

[Carol]

I’m 26% of the way in. Seems slow going….similar to the comment above, I can see why New Jessup would be a haven to live in.

[Lexy]

Wow, makes me sad the second she steps off the bus in New Jessup and asks for the colored entrance. Thanks for the definition of finna, Diane. I was perplexed.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

It's quite a powerful moment when she steps off the bus. Her reaction speaks volumes.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

I completely understood why Alice wouldn’t want to mess with what she thought was paradise. A place of peace.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I would have felt just like Alice, but I'm not confrontational enough to be actively promoting change. Especially when it's dangerous.