cannot remember the name or author of a book: help needed please

15 years ago

I read a book recently (possibly based on a recommendation here). I cannot for the life of me recall the title or author, just that I thought it was a well-told story -- and I'd like to recommend it to a friend. Perhaps if I describe the plot a bit (sorry for the spoilers!), someone here may know of it?

I searched tags on amazon, looked at my purchase history, looked at my library records, etc. and can't find this book!

Plot summary as follows:

I believe it takes place in the south, lots of racial tension, early-mid 1900s -- unmarried white mother lives on the edge of town with her son, and then daughter. At first, she works in a beauty parlor. The story is about the friendship between this (white) daughter and her next-door (black) best friend (who has an older brother too) -- who are untouched by their racial differences, then accepting of them when they each start school (and go to different schools). The black women in the book basically take care of these little girls due to the negligent (often drunk) white mother... The girls grow into teens and racial differences become prominent in their lives but they are determined to be best friends forever (become blood sisters during a "ritual").

That's basically the premise without spoiling it further...

Does this ring a bell with anyone??

Thanks for your help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

phyllis__mn
15 years ago
No bells here, but if no one knows, go to the Readers Paradise forum......lots of help there.
sandysays
15 years ago
This one?

http://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Life-Lana-Turner/dp/B0000714BT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1277836038&sr=8-1

or perhaps this one...

http://www.amazon.com/Pinky-Jeanne-Crain/dp/B00066FAOE/ref=pd_sim_d_12

"Imitation of Life" the book..
http://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Life-Fannie-Hurst/dp/0822333244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277836150&sr=1-1

I both read the book (Imitation of Life) and saw the film. I was about 10 years old whe I first saw the film. I cried unabashedly and vowed never to become prejudiced. Growing up with a father who was both racist and violent it became increasingly more difficult to verbalize my beliefs. I am just glad I did not turn into the bigot that my father tried so hard to produce. Seeing this film at a young age was particularly eye opening after hearing a life time of the words of hate from my father.

You may find the film Pinky to be of help, too.
Related Discussions
~Need OnlIne Book Appraisal Site Please
Q
Comments (3)
Two sites that I use are www.abebooks.com and www.alibris.com. You can search by author or title and then sort your results by high or low price, old or new price, etc.
...See More
Favorite mystery authors, please (I need a new one)
Q
Comments (51)
I'm hoping for another book by Julia R. Fleming about the helicopter pilot turned Episcopal minister, with 'feelings' for her small town's chief of police. Dramatic, very human characters, *funny*, unpredictable. I liked Anne Perry's books set in England between the wars, but she began to repeat herself -- writing too much, too fast? DH and I ejoyed Silva's books featuring Gabriel Allon, but...eventually the character is running out of steam. Great plots! Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko is another great character. ("Gorky Park", etc.) Love Sandford, Robert Crais, the late Donald Westlake. (So sad there will be no more from him.) S. J. Rozan! Her Chinese-American detective Lydia Chin and her 'friend'. ("The Coldest Place") Who is the author who writes about books and book sellers? Lives Minneapolis, I think. May I mention my modern favorite book, "City of Thieves"? A 'fairy tale', a mystery, reads like Dostoevski might have written it if he'd lived through WWII. Alan Furst -- "The Polish Officer", etc. Philip Kerr's character Bernie Gunther in the "Berlin Noir Trilogy" and more. (Another character who must eventually wind down...so sad.) Oh-oh, I've really stayed from the OP's request. Sorry, Susan.
...See More
need book title help please!
Q
Comments (2)
You are right!! Thank you so much Minne Tx! I just looked at the synopsis and that is the book I am looking for. THANK YOU!
...See More
Need help with the title of a book
Q
Comments (17)
This lack of a title will slowly drive me nuts *g*... FWIW, here's the plot as I remember it: --------------MAJOR SPOILERS! --------- `` `` `` `` `` `` `` Heroine somehow winds up with Raven King (I don't remember her falling asleep, but I do vaguely recall she was against the idea initially). Raven King seduces her, they fall in love, and go off to live in a huge black stone castle, I think, in Wales. Raven King has an unhinged and dangerously jealous brother who does something nasty to him and the Heroine, I can't recall just what, but she eventually forgives him (stupid move on her part). When she finds out she's pregnant, and while Raven King is off doing something or other, she goes to the rotten brother to make a peace offering and try to bring the brothers back together. Evil brother promptly sells her into slavery and tells the RK she's dead or run off. She's sold to a noble family far away consisting of an older father and a horrible son who has two wife/concubines but he's annoyed that he's not fathered any children with them. As Heroine is very pregnant by the time she arrives here, he decides she'll be his, because obviously she can breed. She in turn questions the ill-treated wife/concubines and learns the horrible son had mumps as a teenager. Because of her knowledge of medicine, she tells him he's sterile, which angers him further. Older dad steps in and decides Heroine should belong to him instead. Son nurses deep rage. She has her baby (the Raven King's son) and she and the older man slowly come to care for each other. Heroine becomes the healer in the castle. She eventually bears a daughter for her new husband. In the meantime, the RK finally figures out she might still be alive and poses as a troubadour to get into the nobleman's castle. This part is hazy at best, but I think he tricks the two men into fighting and something happens to the father. The Heroine is then forced by the nasty son to be the castle whore and is offered to the troubadour (the RK is disguised as a really yucky guy). Lucky for her, it's her own true love, and everything works out. I believe she becomes pregnant again, but they are separated again. Somehow they escape and make it back separately to the RK's castle, but while he's turned into a raven one of his own men accidentally shoots him down and he dies. She's left with three children and his castle and I really don't remember what happens to the evil brother. Finally, in the last chapter, fast forward 500 years or so to two sedate, proper, Regency-era lovers who are taking a sedate and proper walking tour and come across the ruins of the RK's castle. The reincarnated Heroine somehow knows how to climb the barely discernible stairs hewn in the rock and talks about which rooms were where in the castle. The Hero (whose name, for who knows what reason I clearly remember as being Tom -- would that the author and title had made the same...
...See More
Oakley
15 years ago
No, but it sure sounds good! It kind of reminds me of the book, "The Help." Have you read it? It's very good and a great eye-opener!
sandysays
15 years ago
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Outside-Mildred-Pitts-Walter/dp/0590460919/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277836804&sr=8-2
peoniesandposies
15 years ago
I have a hold request in at our library for a book. Is this it? (I haven't read it yet, but it sounds similar)

The Queen of Palmyra
sandysays
15 years ago
Additional books with a similar theme:

http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Secret-Life-of-Bees_W0QQtgZdetailsQQprZ66641749

Peonie and Posey Lady.... You can purchase a used paperback copy of your book on half.com
http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Queen-of-Palmyra_W0QQprZ74198854QQtgZinfo

Summary of "The Queen of Palmyra" follows:
"In the turbulent southern summer of 1963, Millwood's white population steers clear of "Shake Rag," the black section of town. Young Florence Forrest is one of the few who crosses the line. The daughter of a burial insurance salesman with dark secrets and the town's "cake lady," whose backcountry bootleg runs lead further and further away from a brutal marriage, Florence attaches herself to her grandparents' longtime maid, Zenie Johnson. Named for Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, Zenie treats the unwanted girl as just another chore, while telling her stories of the legendary queen's courage and cunning.

The more time Florence spends in Shake Rag, the more she recognizes how completely race divides her town, and her story, far from ordinary, bears witness to the truth and brutality of her timesÂa truth brought to a shattering conclusion when Zenie's vibrant college-student niece, Eva Greene, arrives that fateful Mississippi summer.

Minrose Gwin's The Queen of Palmyra is an unforgettable evocation of a time and a place in AmericaÂa nuanced, gripping story of race and identity."
sandysays
15 years ago
I read some details of "The Help" on half.com and purchased it just now. Thank you!

I can't wait to read it.

Partial review from Amazon for "The Help":
"What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn's new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it."

SandyS
patti43
15 years ago
SandyS, you won't be able to put it down.
casey_nfld
15 years ago
It's not "The Help".
Maura63
Original Author
15 years ago
I remembered!!

It took me all day, racking my brain, searching through library records, amazon.com purchases, bn.com (which has my personal "virtual" library), my bookshelves, back issues of Real Simple (articles recommending books), my planner. I had it all along, but did not connect the title with the story.

It is by Lynne Hinton -- who I think I first heard of here at the KT -- and the name of the book is The Arms of God: A Novel.

In my Barnes&Noble "virtual" library (love that web site feature) I gave it just 3/5 stars -- but the story has stuck with me somewhat, perhaps it should have been 4 stars. (I am a tough critic.)

Thanks to all who helped me brainstorm -- and for all the new title suggestions! I am off to the library tomorrow!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Arms of God

cannot remember the name or author of a book: help needed please

Comments (10)

phyllis__mn

sandysays

Related Discussions

Oakley

sandysays

peoniesandposies

sandysays

sandysays

patti43

casey_nfld

Maura63
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

cannot remember the name or author of a book: help needed please

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

Maura63Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Maura63
Original Author