Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Wonderful Southern Fiction
In 1939, at 31 years old, spinster, Laura meets Henry McAllen. After a bit of dating, they get married and start a family. Henry works for the Army Corps of Engineers, they’re in the city. This is great, because Laura is a city woman through and through.
One day Henry comes home with news, he has bought a farm in the Mississippi Delta and is quitting he job to farm. Of course this is quite a blow to Laura, Henry didn’t even consult her. The farmhouse has none of the conveniences that city folk take for granted such as running water, plumbing, electricity, etc. However, Henry is her husband, so Laura goes along with it.
After WWII Henry’s brother Jamie shows up at the farm. At the same time Ronsel Jackson returns home as decorated solder. He is the son of the black sharecroppers’ family living on the farm.
Ronsel and Jamie become friends, which is very risky in the Jim Crow south. This unlikely friendship is what brings this powerful novel to its grim conclusion.
Mudbound is told by each of the character’s own point of view. This technique works very well for this novel. Jordon was able to write each characters point of view so well, that it felt as if I was each character. She really enables the reader to get in side the heads of the characters.
Jordan’s prose sings! She makes the farm a kind of character itself and captures both its beauty and muddy short falls, exquisitely!
I highly recommend this book and can hardly wait for Hillary Jordan to write another novel!
5/5
Thanks to Harper Collins for an advance copy of this wonderful book!
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5 stars and it sounds like something I'd enjoy. Great review Teddy!
Kristy said... May 10, 2008 9:49 AM
I'm reading this for the Southern Reading Challenge--I can't wait to start it! Thanks for the great review!
Laura said... May 10, 2008 9:58 AM
Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed this as much as I did. I'm with you in looking forward to her next book.
SuziQoregon said... May 10, 2008 11:50 AM
Thank you Teddy - gotta keep an eye out for this new title!
Katknit said... May 10, 2008 3:54 PM
Kristy,Laura, and Katknit,
I really do think you would both enjoy it. I look forward to reading your reviews if and when you do read it.
Teddy Rose said... May 10, 2008 4:19 PM
Woo Hoo! Glad to see that this is highly recommended by you, too! It's on my list!
Joy said... May 12, 2008 4:33 AM
Sounds wonderful, Teddy...I'm putting it on my wish list :)
Wendy said... May 13, 2008 8:45 AM
Joy and Wendy,
I think that you would both really like this one. I look forward to getting your opinions on it.
Teddy Rose said... May 13, 2008 12:26 PM
I've read nothing but positive reviews of this one. So glad to see you also enjoyed it!
Bookfool said... May 13, 2008 4:08 PM
This is one book I loved reading. I just couldn't put it down.
Linked your review with mine:
SRC3:Mudbound
gautami tripathy said... May 30, 2009 6:38 PM
Gautami, I couldn't put it down either. I added your link as well.
Teddy Rose said... May 31, 2009 5:52 PM
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