The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew historical fiction. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, karen white. Its a hot august in 1954 and thirteen year old jubie watts, her family and their maid are all headed to pensacola, florida in their packard. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew librarything. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book a. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jub. 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. Reading is believing, however, and once youve experienced the dry grass of august, youll swiftly see that anna jean mayhews debut novel deserves all the. See all books authored by anna jean mayhew, including the dry grass of august, and tomorrows bread, and more on thriftbooks. The book was an okra pick from the southern independent booksellers alliance. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offe. The dry grass of august is a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end.
Anna jean mayhew books list of books by author anna jean. If you liked the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, here are some books like this. Crammed into the packard along with jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the familys black maid, mary luther. Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of august, won the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers. It is told by june a young teen who is becoming aware of the world around her. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew 9781496722263. Mayhew creates authentic characters and a southern setting that will make you feel and smell a summer day from half a century ago. Did you draw on any specific personal experiences when writing the dry grass of august. The dry grass of august audiobook by anna jean mayhew. This is a beautifully written, debut book by anna jean mayhew. 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. Browse anna jean mayhews bestselling audiobooks and newest titles.
The dry grass of august tells the story of jubie watts, who gains wisdom beyond her years of life during the summer of 1954. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. 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. The book has been a kindle daily deal, and is featured in a promotion with southwest air and kobo ebooks. The dry grass of august new hampshire state library. The dry grass of august, available march 29, 2011, from. For as long as jubie can remember, mary has been there cooking, cleaning, compensating for her fathers rages and her mothers benign. A girl comes of age in the tumultuous 1950s south in. Ive been invited to speak at the southern voices conference in february. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte. Anna jean mayhew author anna jean mayhew, a native of charlotte, north carolina, has never lived outside the state, although she often travels to europe with her swissborn husband. 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. Anna jean mayhew discusses her first novel, the dry grass of august, and what inspired her to start writing relatively late in life.
Junes family maid was a loving, caring woman and very proper. However, both books provide a frontrow viewing of how white people treated black people in the late 50searly 60s. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew overdrive. With a debut novel thats being compared to the best in southern literature, author anna jean mayhew tells us how her own experiences have influenced her fiction. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry grass. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has. Buy a cheap copy of the dry grass of august book by anna jean mayhew. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. A blackstone audio book was followed by french, italian, turkish, polish, norwegian, and flemish translations. When thirteenyear old jubie watts embarks on a road trip with her mother, siblings, and the familys black maid named mary, jubie witnesses in full effect how racism becomes more prevalent driving from north carolina to florida. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segreg. The dry grass of august a touching coming of age story set among the turmoil of overt discrimination and racial tensions in the deep south in the 1950s.
Anna jean mayhew audio books, best sellers, author bio. Author interview anna jean mayhew, author of the dry. Was there any one thing that compelled you to write the novel. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew rakuten kobo. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation and what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthood and for the woman who means the world to her. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew fantastic fiction. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew goodreads. Anna jean mayhew draws from her charlotte roots and builds on the long tradition of north carolina storytelling in this stunning comingofage debut. As in her fine first novel, the dry grass of august, mayhew plumbed her considerable imaginative and empathic gifts along with meticulous research to create vivid, fascinating characters and the bonds between them.
Mayhew keeps the story taut, thoughtful and complex, elevating it. The story is told through the eyes of thirteen year old june watts, aka jubie, a. In 1957 something happened that changed the way i saw things. Join facebook to connect with anna jean mayhew and others you may know. 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. However, both books provide a frontrow viewing of how white. When a new novel gets compared to some of the biggest hits of the last 10 years like the help and the secret life of bees, its author has some awfully big shoes to fill. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book. Jul 29, 2011 anna jean mayhew draws from her charlotte roots and builds on the long tradition of north carolina storytelling in this stunning comingofage debut. The dry grass of august is anna jean mayhews debut novel about 1950s southern racism seen through the eyes of a thirteenyear old white girl.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, paperback. Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of augustnow in its twelfth printingwon the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance. May 05, 2011 buy dry grass of august, the by mayhew, anna jean from amazons fiction books store. Mayhew has wrought a miracle, bringing vividly to life the semblance of an african american neighborhood in charlotte, n. Read the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew available from rakuten kobo. Buy dry grass of august, the by mayhew, anna jean from amazons fiction books store. Sep, 2011 the dry grass of august anna jean mayhew summary. Anna jean mayhew answers questions about the dry grass of august hi, dave, ive had a positive response from the majority of readers, especially southerners. The dry grass of august 9780758254092 by mayhew, anna jean and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. For as long as jubie can remember, mary has been there cooking, cleaning, compensating for her fathers rages and her mothers. Beautifully written, the language is deceptively straightforward, while the narrative and the protagonists insights are deep and complex.
It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has become the law. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew book cover, description, publication history. This is the audiobook cassette library edition in vinyl case. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew reading for sanity. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Told from year old jubie watts perspective, the story follows the watts family as they travel with their girl their 48year old negro maid through the south in august, 1954. I will be doing readings in nc, sc, ga, and tn over the coming months.
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. A blackstone audio book was followed by french, italian, turkish, polish, norwegian, and flemish. Much of her work reflects her vivid memories of growing up in the segregated south. 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. Dry grass is wellwritten, though not as lyrical as secret life.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew penguin books. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew our state. Tomorrows bread is an eloquent and important novel. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew, 2011 kensington publishing 352 pp. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew overview 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. The dry grass of august kindle edition by anna jean mayhew author format. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew historical. Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of august now in its twelfth printingwon the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance. A girl comes of age in the tumultuous 1950s south in mayhew s strong debut. As in her fine first novel, the dry grass of august, mayhew plumbed her considerable imaginative and empathic gifts along with meticulous research to. 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. The dry grass of august is a moving and insightful recalling of a traumatic childhood incident by a young protagonist, jubie watts.
Anna jean mayhew is a master storyteller with a tale profoundly relevant for our time. Reading is believing, however, and once youve experienced the dry grass of august, youll swiftly see that anna jean mayhews debut novel deserves all the early praise its getting. Listen to dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew at. The dry grass of august randolph county public library.
Angela davisgardner, author of butterflys child anna jean mayhew has a true ear for southern speech. Elaine neil orr, author of swimming between worlds in her wise and empathic new novel, anna jean mayhew returns to jim crowera charlotte, north carolina, where the vibrant black community of brooklyn is about to be demolished. Board of education decision, yearold jubie watts of charlotte and her fractured, puzzling family take a vacation for the first time without jubies. Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of august, won the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance. You grew up in charlotte, north carolina, which is where your protagonist, jubie, is from.
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