Customer Reviews

An Eighth of August

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read the authors previous novel 'Only Twice I've Wished For Heaven' and enjoyed it so much that I was eagerly anticipating this novel. I was however somewhat disappointed.

This novel is about the events surrounding a celebration of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation which occurs every year in the Midwest. This story is told from the perspective of several different characters which at times renders the novel difficult to understand. Although the author takes the time to convey to the reader which character is speaking and the time frame (year) in which they are recounting their story, the novel jumps back and forth between time periods and characters in a manner which is often very confusing.

At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to Flossie who pulls a gun on a minister in the middle of a church service. The reader is made aware that she, Flossie holds the minister responsible for some "un-Christian like" behavior. However it is not until the middle of the book, after much discussion of Flossie and her life after this event ( attempted shooting of the minister), that the reader discovers what that event is. After the reader is made aware of the event, the author incorporates the same opening scene into the novel at a later date and continues the story from that point.

The reader also is told that a tragic event occured which resulted in the death of one of the children, EL of one of the characters, (Sweet Alma, Flossie's daughter) and we know that another of the characters (Pepper) feels to blame and feels responsible but by the end of the novel, it is unclear, based on the circumstances of the death, why he feels that way. The author also tells us that Flossie, El's grandmother feels as if Pepper is to blame for the death. However, the reason why she holds him responsible is never fully explored. Additionally, the reader is made aware of an incredible rift between Flossie and Sweet Alma however once again, although the basis of the rift was there, the author didn't seem to fully explore the impact that it had on the parties.

The story is also told from the perspective of May Ruth, a white English woman who, although a charming character, somehow becomes involved in the festivities and lives with the main family.

All in all, although the story could have been a good one, the events and characters jumped too much and too drastically. Once again, although the story surrounded the celebration, it was incredibly difficult, based on the way the novel was written, to understand how the stories told by each character directly fit into the celebration.

I tried to read this book,but I couldn't follow it. I got to about page 55 when I just couldn't take it anymore. I usually try to finish any book I start, but this one was torture. She jumps from character to character, and I just couldn't follow her. I wasn't sure who was who, or what was what. I was still waiting to find out what happened to El. I'm willing to give her first book a try, because I've read some pretty good reviews about it, but I wouldn't suggest this one to anyone.

An eighth of august is the story of a just everyday family in the 60's going through problems. The story is told through different members of the family. The story is centered around El, the young nephrew, death a year before. The family is again getting ready to attend the county festive where the tradgedy struck the year before. The story setting is before and after the death took place. I like reading books with the time frame of the 60's I throught the book was good, but kinda of confusing with the years.

Dawn Turner Trice is an excellent author. This is the first book that I read of hers. She has so many lessons in this story..so many old sayings that make you feel like the characters are a part of your family. I hope the lessons will linger on within me for years to come. If this festival that they speak of was near here, I would surely attend. This book makes true that in every family some rain, and some pain must fall as the author says, " Sometimes grief opens up a window. Sometimes grief open it wide enough for something wonderful to fly in". I'm glad Trice's messages flew into my space.

I purchased this book because I was drawn by it's cover. I'm just not sure I understood the storyline. I was never able to grasp who was telling it and what timeframe we were supposed to be in. I was able to finish the book but I think I just didn't get what the writer was trying to say. Guess that's why they say never judge a book by the cover.

As much as I enjoyed Ms. Trice's first book, OTIWFH, this new one just threw me for a loop because I got lost trying to follow the characters and the logic of the storyline. Tip to the wise: borrow it from the library.

AT FIRST I HAD A LITTLE DIFFICUTY DECIPHERING WHO WAS WHO AND WHAT WAS WHAT. FINALLY GETTING INTO THE BOOK, HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT IT WAS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT. THE CHARACTERS ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE,TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE HAND THAT LIFE HAS DEALT THEM. THIS IS THE VERY THING THAT MAKES THEM ALL SO ENDEARING--EVEN VIOLA'S DOGS THAT WON'T RUN AWAY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEMSELVES TO BE TIED UP.
VERY UNIQUE--VERY SWEET AND I'M GRATEFUL TO MS.TRICE FOR A NOVEL THAT I WON'T SOON FORGET.

[...]

By a quarter of the way into the book I was absolutely hooked and wanted to keep reading it as quickly as possible. It's a terrifically engaging book and I felt very rewarded for staying with it early on when it was a bit confusing.

What I liked most about the book was how the story was told, ie., by several characters and not always chronoligically. This style unfolded the characters in very interesting ways. Just about every one of them grew in depth as the story worked toward a conclusion. I made judgments about people which weren't always accurate at the beginning and they grew before my eyes as the story moved on. Each character had much more depth than was revealed in the first half of the book and it reflects real life as we get to know people and they hold so much more depth than when we first meet them.

Further, I enjoyed her style of writing "in dialect". I had the feeling of evesdropping in on conversations in a household I wouldn't ordinarily have access to (I'm white). If these people were talking to me in real life they'd probably speak more "proper". This aspect endeared them to me. I also happen to live in an African American neighborhood so I do get an opportunity a times to hear and appreciate the more natural style of speaking that goes on in the 'hood so her style seemed very realistic and "down home" to me.

I highly recommend.

I loved it. Yes, it can be confusing, just concentrate, and it will be rewarding.