Dry grass of august book

In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offe. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew, 2011 kensington publishing 352 pp. It is told by june a young teen who is becoming aware of the world around her.

Goodreads members who liked the dry grass of august also liked. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew on a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry. The dry grass of august randolph county public library. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide mayhew, anna jean. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book a. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. The dry grass of august is a haunting debut about family bonds that stretch without breaking, and a panoramic glimpse into an older america and the dying of an age. The dry grass of august is anna jean mayhews first book and it reminded me a lot of the book, the secret life of bees. Jan 29, 2019 the dry grass of august was an eyeopener in more ways than one. Particularly impressive is the fact that this is mayhews debut novel at the age of seventyone. The dry grass of august is a 2011 novel by anna jean mayhew, her debut novel. The dry grass of august ebook daniel boone regional. The dry grass of august does make use of the n word.

The dry grass of august is a carefully researched, beautifully written, quietly told tale of love and despair and a look backward at the way it was back then in the south. The dry grass of august new hampshire state library. Anna jean mayhew booklist anna jean mayhew message board. The dry grass of august book tulsa citycounty library. The dry grass of august tells the story of jubie watts, who gains wisdom beyond her years of life during the summer of 1954. The dry grass of august book summary and study guide.

Its a coming of age story emanating from a tragic event. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew book cover, description, publication history. For as long as jubie can remember, mary has been there cooking, cleaning, compensating for her fathers rages and her mothers benign. But there were moments in this book where i felt like i was reading prose that someone thought was important a little denser or more obtuse than i tend to prefer.

The dry grass of august wake county public libraries. The dry grass of august book club kit chapel hill public. Crammed into the packard along with jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the familys black maid, mary luther. Dry grass of august, the by mayhew, anna jean paperback book. In 1954, yearold jubie, traveling with her family and her familys black maid mary lutherwho has always been there for her, making up for her fathers rages and her mothers neglectencounters racial tension and tragedy. The pilot southern pines, north carolina deeply felt, lasting relationships formed in the mid20th century south between white families and the africanamerican women. Im growing tired of wonderful black maids in the 1950s south with mostly ignorant white people to serve except for that one young girl who sees the person working in their home as a person.

She has been writerinresidence at moulin a nef studio center in auvillar, france, and was a member of the first board of trustees of the north carolina writers network. Buy a cheap copy of the dry grass of august book by anna jean mayhew. Jun, 2017 i took this book off the shelf in her study without asking. The dry grass of august book the seattle public library. Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that run beneath the polite surface of her familys life.

Dry grass of august, her first book, was a great read that took her 16 years to write. No one should use it except as mark twain did, to make a point about characters, and to paint a picture of the times. Anna jean mayhew in 1954, yearold jubie, traveling with her family and her familys black maid mary lutherwho has always been there for her, making up for her fathers rages and her mothers neglectencounters. The book has been a kindle daily deal, and is featured in a promotion with southwest air and kobo ebooks. Reading guide for the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segreg. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry grass. Reading guide for the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew discussion guide for book clubs. Books similar to the dry grass of august goodreads. There is something very personal about this book which has been lacking in other similar books i have previously read. Dry grass of august, the by mayhew, anna jean paperback book the fast free. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, paperback.

However, both books provide a frontrow viewing of how white people treated black people in the late 50searly 60s. Along with their colored maid mary, the watts family takes a road trip down to florida, looking for the chance to escape from the. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jub. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew fantastic fiction. The dry grass of august is a touching chronicle of a period of time in jubies life that would forever define who she would be. Junes family maid was a loving, caring woman and very proper. Written with unusual charm, wonderful dialogue, and a deeply felt sense of time and place, the dry grass of august is a book for adults and young people both a beautifully written literary novel that is a real pageturner, i have to add. The dry grass of august is a comingofage work of literary fiction. The dry grass of august was an eyeopener in more ways than one. It is 1954 and junebug, or jubie, as she is sometimes called, is a thirteen yearold girl going on a trip with her mother, sister and their african american. Young jubie watts is the perfect heroine and narrator of this tale with her cleareyed look at the inconsistencies of the adults around her, and for her courage to ask why. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has become the law.

The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew librarything. Young jubie watts learns about racism and segregation in a most dramatic way as her family travels from north carolina to florida. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew penguin books. It has been described as a young adult novel, but its explicit and sometimes violent portrayals of racism have made some critics question its suitability for younger readers. Apr 01, 2011 the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew on a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. I liked it more than i wanted to due to its subject matter. Apr 01, 2011 the dry grass of august was read in the libraries of richland county, sc, in one book, one columbia, and in wilkes reads, a countywide event. My favorite part of the book was jubies compassion, strength and growing awareness of the world she lives in.

Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that. This study guide consists of approximately 26 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the dry grass of august. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has. Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide mayhew, anna jean, the dry grass of august.

Aj is dedicated to the truth in her work, she takes the time to personally study the environment of the setting, the colors and the kitchen smells in such a way you can get hungry for a piece of the cornbread thats cooking. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew the watts family of charlotte, north carolina, is embarking on their first family trip without their father as they head south to visit mrs. The dry grass of august was read in the libraries of richland county, sc, in one book, one columbia, and in wilkes reads, a countywide event. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. Today i finished the book, the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew. A girl comes of age in the tumultuous 1950s south in mayhews strong debut. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthoodand for the woman who means the world to her. Find books like the dry grass of august from the worlds largest community of readers.

The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew goodreads. Dry grass is wellwritten, though not as lyrical as secret life. Read the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew available from rakuten kobo. Despite a crush of perhaps unwarranted late book suffering, mayhew keeps the story taut. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with. It tells the story of jubie, a young white girl growing up in the midst of the civil rights movement who endures her fathers drunken tirades and her mothers indifference by relying on the sheltering compassion of. Along with their colored maid mary, the watts family takes a road trip down to florida, looking for the chance to escape from the pressures of daytoday life in north carolina. The dry grass of august is a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end.