Customer Reviews

In the Hope of Rising Again

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The heroine of Helen Scully's impressive debut is a conventional daughter of the aristocratic South who possesses a quiet strength, held mostly in reserve. The novel opens with Regina Riant's marriage to Charles Morrow in 1919, after her beloved father's death, and the couple's temporary removal from Mobile, Alabama, to rural Choctaw Bluff, 80 miles away, so that Charles can liquidate some of his lumber business to build them a house in Mobile.

The isolation and boredom soon take their toll on Regina. She craves attention from Charles, but he's increasingly preoccupied, though he tells her nothing, saying only, " `Things might take longer than I originally thought.' ...She had heard him say this so many mornings, her worry evolved into a silent panic she tried to ignore, though not always with success."

Then pregnancy gives her an excuse to send for Camilla, her black maid, who has been with the family for years. With Camilla, as with no one else, she can share her discontent, as well as the long, empty hours.

These first chapters establish Regina as a woman of her time and place. Very much aware of what is expected of her, she presents a confident, cheerful demeanor to her new husband, repressing any doubts. And as the years pass, Regina remains faithful to this ideal and convention of womanhood, a pose that both sustains and hinders her. It gives her a face to present to the world in times of tragedy or embarrassment or consternation, and it leaves her utterly unprepared for her family's financial reversals or her husband's desperation.

As Regina finally escapes back to Mobile (leaving Camilla behind to close up the cabin), the novel drops back in time, to the recent past; her father's long decline, and her own first crucial choice as an adult.

Her father, though he had served as a lieutenant in the Civil War, is known as the Colonel, a mark of respect in a place where the glory of the Confederacy is revered without question. Grown wealthy as owner of the city's daily newspaper, he dotes on his only daughter, his gracious paternalism extending like an umbrella over the family and even the servants.

As Camilla reflects: "There were good whites and there were bad whites." She recalls how the Colonel sent flowers to her daughters' weddings and paid for her doctor visits and her eyeglasses. And: "Regina and her brothers stood in the sun all dressed in black outside the funeral of her mother, Amelia, to hug and kiss her cheek as she left the church."

Regina's mother upholds the family standards. "According to Mother Riant, there was to be no returning to the house at unseemly hours, no throat clearing, no voice raising, no sitting while a woman stood. There was to be no lending or borrowing, no bad breath, betting or blaspheming, no smoking in the dining room or front porch, no adjusting clothes in public, no eating while in motion. No detail of graciousness went overlooked, no chance at attentiveness went unseized, no than-you notes unwritten, no funeral flowers unsent."

From the first page you can feel the sweat beading on your brow, smell the Sunday ham, and embrace the safety of bedrock conventions. So while it may not be surprising that Regina's first love is a Chinese boy who blithely breaks all of Mother Riant's rules (perhaps is not even aware of them), it's completely unexpected when their whirlwind courtship and betrothal is enthusiastically embraced by all her family. And all are dismayed when she breaks off her marriage plans to stay home and nurse her father after a fall, thereby changing the course of her life.

Women's dependency upon men is a major theme. Because Ahlong won't wait, Regina marries a man of her own kind who finds the burden of patriarchy too great. Her four brothers may be feckless wastrels, but they don't have to account to her - or even their declining and terrified mother - for what they do with the Riant money.

This is a novel about loss - the decline of a long-established way of life as the 20th century advances into speeding automobiles and electric washing machines and devastating Depression. For Regina, starting out so full of exuberance and love and serenity, life is a whittling away of possibilities. Each loss forces her to rely a little more heavily on herself, a habit Camilla learned long ago, out of necessity, and a habit her brothers, inheritors of a proud tradition gone dissipated, never learn.

But this is not the sort of novel where the heroine rises to the occasion, which is a bit surprising since Scully, only 26, was inspired by the life of her own great-grandmother. Regina is often infuriatingly immobile, moping on the front porch over her darning or spending weeks lost in books while tasks and calamities mount. But this makes her as real as a recalcitrant friend, and when she rouses herself to an effort, the disappointment of failure is all the more acute.

Scully's complex narrative explores nuances of race, family, culture, religion, and history that seem all the more stirring coming from such a young author. The structure, often moving up to an event, then dropping back to explore what came before, and shifting among points of view throughout, allows a multi-faceted exploration. The prose is graceful and evocative without being flashy, and while there are a few off notes (the interchangeable brothers, both appalling and comic, are sometimes overdone; Camilla, in her wisdom, occasionally steps into stereotype), this is an absorbing and moving novel.

I'll dispense with the summary of the novel (others have done it justice) and proceed with my impressions. I tend to put fiction works into one of three categories.

There are the greats, the classics. In southern literature, these are typified by the works of William Faulkner and his modern comparable, Cormac McCarthy. These works pierce the heart of human experience and transcend time by painting unforgettable pictures of real people failing and thriving in the face of real hardship. But it is the insights into the soul of humanity that divide the reader's mind distinctly between the time before and after absorbing the works of these masters.

A step down, but only barely, we find authors like John Irving, who offer us brilliant characters in the midst of more plot-driven stories. The prose is more accessible, but not necessarily more pedestrian. We come away from these works as emotionally impacted as entertained. Readers will know of these authors long after they have expired.

And then there's everything else - the works of the Kings, the Grishams, the Clancys, the Koontz, and on and on. Their books are amusement first, literature second. The plot drives the language and the pace. While there is a place for these works in the world of fiction, they are fleeting. There is no point in rereading, for there are countless others to digest. Reading these books is like going to the movies.

So where does Miss Scully's novel fit into this admittedly simplified literary heirarchy? I can confidently say that "In the Hope of Rising Again" is safely exempted from membership in the latter category. Its prose is too pretty, and its characters are too real. The story gives way to the personalities that are revealed skillfully with grace and subtlety. But is it a classic?

It's too soon to tell. I have only recently closed the book without a bookmark, and the impact has yet to fully sink in. My suspicion, however, is that it will not surpass the mark. But this is no cause for concern. That Scully's work is firmly installed alongside the likes of the creator of Owen Meaney is an admirable achievement. That it is the first novel of woman still in her twenties is enviable and enticing at the same time. I have high hopes for her maturity and anxiously await her next offering.

Helen Scully's "Hope" is an epic slice-of-life novel that spans three generations of a family that you get to know and enjoy.

It starts with Colonel Riant, a man so industrious that he (and his resources), will carry the whole family forward almost for the whole novel. His kindness, goodness, and strength (which found their way into his daughter), also help the family face the trials and tribulations of their lives and times.

I can almost forgive the old Confederate for going around with a walking stick that was partially made from the bone of a Yankee because he was such a loyal family man (a true romantic); he was also a friend to everyone, and he was just plain decent. He is the kind of man us guys would all want to be like (except for that walking stick thing).

This is a family that you can really put your arms around. You are saddened by the fact that the strength of the Colonel does not find a path to his sons and the family fortunes wind down as circumstances take their toll. The Colonel's daughter is such a nice person, such a devout practicing Catholic, routinely going to Mass, but not just that, also opening her home to distant relatives, being such a loyal friend, holding everything together, whatever it takes, no matter what happens.

The story takes place during an age of innocence that is delightful for us to escape to, away from our 911 world if only for as long as it takes for us to read a book. But it is also the time of the Great depression, and this book helps us to live through that along with this family, and to watch them cope through economic disaster, heart wrenching losses, and regular calamities. It is realistic too, as you can see how the depression wears down some of the people while others struggle to find better ways to cope.

My Grandparents were "of age" during this period and it was fun for me to get a clear view into that time period.

There is hope in the story, and when it comes to fruition, it comes as a surprise, and yet the surprise is believable because it had been masterfully foreshadowed. And, I won't give it away.

Regina Riant is the apple of her father's eye. Colonel Riant is a Civil War hero (whose war record grows more impressive as time goes by) and a prominent Mobile, Alabama businessman and philanthropist. He treasures his only daughter and indulges her every wish, teaching her to read and ride a bike, taking her out of school for shopping and adventures. Her father's death is but the first in a series of tragedies that come to define Regina's life in this ambitious, if slightly uneven, debut novel by Helen Scully.

As with many Southern Gothic novels, IN THE HOPE OF RISING AGAIN is filled with quirky, larger-than-life characters. In addition to Colonel Riant himself, there's the mysterious Ahlong, the MIT student who is the subject of Regina's first passionate (if somewhat unlikely) romance. There are Regina's four older bachelor brothers, dilettantes who squander the family fortune on harebrained schemes and ill-advised "improvements" to the family home. There's the acerbic Mother Riant (whose given name is also Regina), a formidable presence who rules her sons' lives by imposing endless rules and assigning mindless errands. And then there's Charles, Regina's husband, who grows increasingly unbalanced as he is unable to cope with the tragedies that Regina meets with aplomb.

Two calming influences enable Regina to deal with her family's unpredictable fortunes: her devout Catholicism and her remarkably egalitarian friendship with her black maid, Camilla. Camilla is full of common sense and skepticism about this wealthy family --- although she laughs about Regina behind her back, she also develops a genuine fondness and respect for the woman, especially once Regina becomes a mother herself. Camilla reflects, "Every girl baby needs two mothers, a black one and a white one.... Motherhood is one place where love is free, and the only place between black and white where free things got thrown back and forth in equal amounts."

The introduction of promising, likeable characters like Camilla and Colonel Riant doesn't always hold up as the novel progresses, though --- even Regina's character seems increasingly stiff and flat as time goes on. The plot can also seem like little more than a series of tragedies --- personal, emotional and financial --- that can bog down the reader as much as they torment these unfortunate characters. The unlikely resolution also does little to make the novel seem realistic and multi-dimensional. Despite these weaknesses, though, first-time novelist Scully's prose shows promise, and there are bright spots, such as the moving scene in which Regina, torn by grief, finds solace in preparing a meal alongside Camilla in the servants' kitchen.

Time moves forward quickly and somewhat unevenly in this novel --- with a span that covers the Civil War to the Great Depression, whole years and decades are sometimes lost in the intervals between chapters. Rather than explicitly giving the date, the author gives the reader well placed hints that mark the narrative's passing years. As time passes steadily forward (and sometimes backward), the result is an impressionistic portrait of an early twentieth century Southern woman --- and, by extension, of the South itself.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I gave this book 3 stars but really the second half, from the chapter "Pecan Pie" forward rates only 2.

I enjoyed this book, am glad I read it and will pass it on despite many flaws the editor should have caught and corrected. For example: Cousin Mathilde, in the chapter "Along Comes a Savior" is the same age as Regina but fast forward to "Employment" and she is "five or six years younger " than Regina. Anna and Isabel are 2 years apart in age for the first half of the book and only a year apart in the second half. In the chapter "Pecan Pie" the second paragraph is disjointed to say the least. Time was sometimes confused as was the geography of the houses..front porch, back porch, front bacame back and so forth.

My favorite was reading about the four lazy interchangable brothers but they had little part on the last half of the book; I missed them. Suddenly George had always been in love with Cousin Mathilde?? WHat was that about? There had been no mention of this secret, then suddenly in one sentence this is mentioned and then forgotten.

Some of the writing is excellent: "personality is a trait that makes for rare bursts of color in the long, thin branches of the family tree." Very nice. The religious undercurrent is interestingly woven into the book with clever subtitles. Historical bits about Moblie move the book along for the first half. SInce I like to sew, I enjoyed reading about the fabrics and what items were under construction.

THe many interesting characters should, perhaps, be reworked into some other novels or short stories. MAny are not well developed, especially in the second half of the book.

Readers who know Mobile and New Orleans will be familiar with many names and places.

I would recommend this with reservations...a good choice for those who like the dreamy atmosphere of southern novels about family ups and downs. A poor choice for those who like action, plot twists and in-depth characters.

This is a very stylish and very moving family epic that is of significant historical interest. I found myself thoroughly gripped by the fortunes of Regina Riant as we follow her life from Civil War through the Depression along with a cast of intriguing characters - most notably Regina's feckless brothers. Having never visited the South, I felt that this book evoked a very strong sense of place. Despite the historical range of the book, the reader is always stays close to the central chacarters and their story. There is a lot of depth to this story of love and loss and faith - a powerful and gripping book that I would strongly recommend and one that I believe would have appealed to the grand dame of Southern fiction, Flannery O' Connor.

I came away from this impressive first work reminded of the idea that great men seldom have great sons. _In the Hope of Rising Again_ paints a comical portrait of the idle rich in the main character's four interchangeable brothers (who apparently really existed in the author's family tree). Their formulaic letter-writing, their stale cigarette ashes left around the pool table in mostly empty glasses of whiskey, and their perfunctory late-in-life marriages to older women made them more tangible to me than any of the other characters.

The second theme that stood out was the often-explored role of women in a male-dominated society. Living in a culture that tells women, "You are who you marry," our main character, Regina Riant, is different in that she inherited her station in life, as well as an unusual amount of practical education, from her benevolent father. Predating World War II and Rosie the Riveter, would Regina have been any better at running the family newspaper business than her playboy brothers? We'll never know, but we suspect the answer is yes. At the same time, her hare-brained attempts at earning an income during the Great Depression provide an example of what can happen when an intelligent, educated mind is never put to use in the workplace.

Overall I found the writing pleasant to read but subdued. Certainly it's a credit to the author that I kept turning the pages, thinking that _something_ was about to happen. In fact, quite a bit happened, but each major event read more like a road hump than a crescendo. And Scully leaves us with a few stones still unturned: Why did Regina's mysterious house guest Louisa "glare" at her alleged mother's portrait? And what really became of Regina's Asian suitor? Perhaps these are loose ends to be tied up in another work.

Let's "hope" so :-)

In The Hope of Rising Again details the Riant family, starting with Colonel Riant. After losing his first wife Regina, he marries a second Regina who becomes known as Mother Riant. Several sons later, a daughter is born whom he names Regina the third much to his wife's dismay.

Regina becomes the main character in the Scully's novel. After falling in love with a foreign man, he disappears and Regina starts her life again. She marries Charles and has three lovely children. But after the death of her son Charles, her husband becomes depressed. Charles barely leaves his bed so, just by living, the family spends all of their money. Regina decides to move in with her mother and four brothers. However, most of the money is lost in Wall Street so Regina must work hard for her family's survival.

Helen Scully wrote a captivating novel, though gloomy due to money issues. She brings you into the lives of the Riants. Set in troubled times, readers will be very interested, pulling for Regina who struggles daily to keep her family together. Reading about the hard ships and how Regina manages to keep going will make you glad for our times.

While I didn't love this book, it was a decent first novel. Ms. Scully really is a good writer, but the characters fell a little flat for me. Not flat...just perpetually bored. Even when things around them were happening, such as the death of a child, then a husband, fires, the great depression, Regina and company seemed so lifeless.

Time was also a problem for me. It was difficult to decipher how much time had passed between some chapters. Months to a few years could have passed, I wasn't really sure. Now, I'm not going to summarize the story since others here have, but the idea of it was appealing to me, however in the end I was just in a constant state of boredom with it.

Overall, not a bad read. It's not that I didn't like it, it's just that it feels like nothing really happens, though things do. It was interesting to read about a the rise and fall and semi-rise again of a southern family in the early 1900's, but there was a blandness about it. I don't recommend this, nor do I think people should abstain from it...it's just one of those books that you read solely to pass the time.

Regina Raint Morrow is the only daughter in a wealthy southern family. The book spans several decades, following her through tragedy and triumph.

Scully does have a talent for prose but it can't save this limp novel. There is hardly any characterization to speak of, everyone is bland and boring. The tone throughout is flat and detached; even the exciting moments feel very washed out. It was a struggle to stay awake while reading it and I fell asleep more than once. The author uses lots of flashbacks and skips around so much it is sometimes hard to remember where you are or even what decade you're in.

There is no sense of purpose in the text, no vibrancy in the language, no passion in the characters. It left me wondering why Scully even bothered to tell this story that certainly didn't seem worth telling.