Customer Reviews

Quakertown

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

 

 

This book is great....
Reviewer: Elizabeth Tyler from Overland Park, KS USA
... for anyone who is interested in the true story of segregation in the 1920's. Althought the book is ficiton, Lee Martin creates the charaters as real as ever. From the father who knows all, to the daughter who is lovestruck and always in trouble, the book tells the magnificent story of a town in trouble. Quakertown is an all black neighborhood located in Texas. the whitefolks who reside in the town next to Quakertown have heard about the riots that are breaking out in other neighborhoods like Quakertown. The whites believe that they are the better men, their town is extremely segregated. The owners of businesses won't let black people try on clothes, drink from tehir water fountains, etc. Because of the riot rumors, the white folks decide that they are going to move Quakertown, houses and all to a patch of land further away. The black man who will help them accomplish this is Little Jones, the father of Camellia Jones. Little is the gardener of the town, and though he is black, has gained somewhat respect from the whitefolk. Camellia, who has fallen in love with the son of the town's bank president, becomes pregnant even though she is engaged to Ike Mattoon. All in all the book is a wonderful display of the segregated south and the attitudes the city and state had towards racial discrimination.

... for anyone who is interested in the true story of segregation in the 1920's. Althought the book is ficiton, Lee Martin creates the charaters as real as ever. From the father who knows all, to the daughter who is lovestruck and always in trouble, the book tells the magnificent story of a town in trouble. Quakertown is an all black neighborhood located in Texas. the whitefolks who reside in the town next to Quakertown have heard about the riots that are breaking out in other neighborhoods like Quakertown. The whites believe that they are the better men, their town is extremely segregated. The owners of businesses won't let black people try on clothes, drink from tehir water fountains, etc. Because of the riot rumors, the white folks decide that they are going to move Quakertown, houses and all to a patch of land further away. The black man who will help them accomplish this is Little Jones, the father of Camellia Jones. Little is the gardener of the town, and though he is black, has gained somewhat respect from the whitefolk. Camellia, who has fallen in love with the son of the town's bank president, becomes pregnant even though she is engaged to Ike Mattoon. All in all the book is a wonderful display of the segregated south and the attitudes the city and state had towards racial discrimination.

This is a great story, that will carry you away back to a time when everything appears black and white. But in this book he shows you how grey life really is. His characters are involving and easy to get to know. It certainly is war and peace. But you won't put it down until the end.

Lee Martin has written characters that almost everyone can relate to. I had never heard of Quakertown despite living near Denton for most of my life. I looked up info on the web, and sure enough it did exist. (My mom hadn't heard of the town either.) But I am sure that there are many other towns that the same (or similar) thing happened.

A wonderful story and an excellent read. Mr. Martin has gained me as a fan for life! I am honored to be sharing shelf space with him.