Customer Reviews

October Suite: A Novel

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read "Rattlebone" in 1995 and have been waiting for six years for Maxine Clair's next novel. "October Suite" was well worth the wait. It is not hyperbole to for me to say that this is the best novel I have read in years. Since I started armature writing myself, I have had problems entering a book in any emotional sense. "October Suite" changed this. The story does not really fill in a blank part of Irene's (the main character from "Rattlebone") life. Rather it takes one robust but minor character and tangentially tells the story of her life and struggles. This struggle is partially revealed in "Rattlebone" but takes on a full life in "October Suite".

This is in many ways a modern epic. It has a tragic hero in October Brown, fighting to regain her life from a youthful indiscretion that cost more than she could have foreseen. It has villains. James is the archetype of evil married men who destroy the lives of young women to satisfy his needs. Vergie, perhaps the character in any book that I have hated the most, is driven by a Nixonian paranoia to keep the hero in misery but finds redemption at the end. In all, the characters become the family down the street that always seems to have a new challenge. We do not know everything about them--just enough to feel for them.

The book only has two weaknesses as I see it. First there is a major contradiction with "Rattlebone". Second, some parts of the book do not really make sense outside of context of Dr. Clair's previous book. This is not to discourage those who have not read that book yet, since after reading "October Suite" they undoubtedly will want to read it.

They call October Suite a literary novel. All I know is that I enjoyed this story. It was written so vividly descriptive and lyrically that I felt as if I could see the scenes unfolding in front of me.

Imagine you are a "colored" teacher in the 1950's in Kansas. You are held to a high standard and your every move is being scrutinzed. Then, imagine you meet a man only to find out he's married. He gives you the line of leaving his wife. Then imagine you find yourself pregnant and alone. You have to return to Ohio to your family to have a baby. You can't not bond with him and you give him to your sister. Imagine, a little later you decide you want him back, but you made a promise. What do you do? Once you pick up October Suite, you will see how Ms October Brown copes with her decisions. You will also find how events of her life early on effects her life later.

I found this book to be a interesting story in a time period that has always interested me. It's a slow read, but one you will want to savor because the story is so good.

This was a wonderful and heartbreaking story of family loyalty and hardship. It was emotional without being sappy. It was one of those "quiet" books that will stay with you for a long time. I highly recommend, and since I agree with the reviewers who said it started out slowly - stick with it... it's well worth it.

This novel is a lovely piece of work. A naive woman name October Brown finds out what life serves up when you get involved with a married man and have a child. She also learns that a child needs more than what she is initially willing to give. Through time she discovers that she loves and wants her son,(she gave him up to her sister). She learns the truth about her mother and father, and discovers that no one in this life can go on without their family.

Included in this little tale of words are history and music. This book is a light read, nothing truly indepth, but sparkling with warmth. It is a breath of fresh air, and if you like to read about human nature, this is the perfect addition.

Joy.

Maxine Claire's debut novel is a beautifully written coming-of-age story about a young woman who struggles to overcome her past while enduring the decisions that she must live with in the present and moving forward to shape a better future.

October Suite is primarily the tale of October Brown and her relationship with her sister, Vergie and the two elderly aunts who raised the girls after their father murdered their mother. October has always been independent, smart and strong-willed, in fact she renamed herself October simply because she liked the name. The story begins in 1950 where we meet October Brown as a twenty-three-year old who's living away from home for the first time. She's a Negro(we were Negroes then) living as a single, first-year teacher, in Kansas. Times were different then. Negro Female Teachers couldn't marry and they definitely couldn't have children out-of-wedlock. So when October is abandoned by her married lover after he discovers that she's pregnant, in order to get her life back on track, she has no choice but to move back home to Ohio with her aunts and her older sister. After the birth of her son, she's numb and suffering post-partum depression. Believing that she wouldn't be a good mother and knowing that her sister has always wanted a child, October decides to give her son to her sister Vergie and her husband. October moves back to Kansas for breathing room and to start over; eventually her broken heart mends and she moves on and starts dating again. But as the years move along she realizes that something is missing and decides that she wants her son back. The resulting conflict that arises threatens to tear apart the two sisters as they both search for what is right for October's son, David.

As October struggles with her sister, her life is further complicated as a sub-plot is brewing which involves a confrontation with her parent's violent past. Set against the backdrop of life in the 50s, segregation and midwestern values, October Suite is a complex-yet easy to read and understandable storyline as well as a lyrical and eloquently written story. It's a timeless tale that has universal appeal that moves at a slow but powerful pace. The beginning was a little slow and it took me awhile to adjust to the author's writing style but once I did I was in for a wonderful read. Interspersed with a spiritual, although not a preachy flair, October Suite is a story about family, love, sisters, forgiveness and redemption. October Suite is a stellar debut novel from Maxine Clair; it's a timeless literary read that would make for a wonderful book group selection.

I read to learn and to imagine. This books do let you experience this with every turn of the page. October Brown is the main character in this novel. She is young and naive, but she is patient and sweet. Family is an important part of this book, and sometimes when reading, you feel like the main character should be more stronger especially when it came to her sister and the rest of her family.

In order to appreciate this book, you must be open to learning a little history and being open to the opinions of music that is strategicly placed through out. It is a page turner, but not a quick turn. I do recommend this book for reading on a bright day with a glass of iced tea.

October Suite is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who struggles to deal with her family and relationship issues. Lillian "October" Brown and her sister, Vergie, are sheltered orphans raised by their two aunts because their father murdered their mother in their presence. The novel begins when October leaves home in 1950 for the first time to begin her life as an educator. Her naivety gets her into "trouble" and she returns home to give birth to her son by a married man. She allows her married, childless sister, Vergie, and her husband to adopt the child and tries to resume her life. Along the way, she deals with her curiosity and details surrounding her mother's death, the loss of her Aunts, the upbringing of her son, her career, her relationship with men and her sister.
The novel starts slowly but we see October as she matures, grows, and develops into a caring and smarter woman. The novel wraps up a little too quickly in my opinion with the door open for a sequel. I would have rated it a 3.5 if allowed, but feel comfortable bumping it up to a four.

I LOVED this novel and read it in three days! For the literary gurus, there is an incredible use of language, you feel as though you are October Brown herself and are lost in each of her emotions. For everyone else - ditto! I cried each time October cried and spent the entire book guessing what the outcome would be.

I was already a fan of Maxine Clair after meeting her in American University's MFA Creative Writing program and after reading Rattlebone. Despite being familiar with her fine craftsmanship, I was not prepared for being knocked out by October Suite. First, she brought to life original characters and put them in a story hardly-ever told. Clair maintained control of a fairly complicated narrative over the course of a long novel; as a reader, I always felt that I was in good hands as the novelist wove historical, musical, and Midwestern references adeptly. Finally, the beauty or the lyricism of the prose was sustained throughout. This gem deserves a long literary life. It is simply marvelous.

This book is a page turner. Once I got into October's story, I could not put the book down. Recommend it for an enjoyable read and a refreshing look at how things have a way of working out.