Such Was the Season (Voices of the South) [Paperback]

Clarence Major (Author)

Book Description

Series: Voices of the South | Publication Date: April 2003

Such Was the Season is the story of an eventful week in the life of an elderly matriarch of a large black family in Atlanta. Annie Eliza narrates the story of "a killer diller" week, with the homecoming of her nephew, Adam "Juneboy" North, a doctor at Yale who has been gone for more than twenty-five years. Following her nephew's arrival Annie Eliza's daughter-in-law declares her intention to run for a seat in the state senate, which is soon disrupted by the threat of scandal involving someone close to her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This comic novel about a black Atlanta family is narrated by Annie Eliza, the clan's matriarch. Shrewd, earthy, full of street smarts, Annie Eliza provides a running commentary not only on her own brood but also on behind-the-scenes city politicking. Her son Jeremiah is a respected minister, her daughter-in-law Renee is preparing to run for the state senate, and Annie Eliza knows everybody. The narrative deftly intertwines two story lines: in the first, Juneboy, a successful physician, returns to Atlanta to deliver a scholarly paper and in the process discover his roots; the second concerns Renee's disastrous candidacy, torpedoed when her vow to stamp out corruption unwittingly discloses scandal in her own back yard. Annie Eliza is an endearing character whose voice rings true. Major, who won the Western States Book Award for My Amputations, presents his narrative with wit and style.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The title of this novel comes from "November Cotton Flower," a poem by Jean Toomer about a time filled with strange happenings. Similarly, Major focuses on one trouble-filled week in the lives of a black family in Atlanta. Annie Eliza, family matriarch and narrator, finds the happenings around her as fantastic as those on the television soaps she watches religiously. Her memories of black aspirations and suffering in earlier days are moving, but the present goings-on (e.g., a feminist political campaign, a melodramatic illness, a conspiracy to rig tomato prices) are sometimes silly and unconvincing. Annie Eliza displays strength and humor, but many characters and tedious details in the book appear superfluous. Albert E. Wilhelm, English Dept., Tennessee Technological Univ., Cookeville
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Louisiana State University Press; LSU Press Ed edition (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807128651
• ISBN-13: 978-0807128657
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,115,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars The Prodigal Nephew, May 26, 2003

By 

J.C. Wallington "jnettefrommi" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Such Was The Season (Hardcover)

Such Was The Season by Clarence Major is a part of the Voices of the South collection. It features Aunt Annie Eliza who tells the story about what happened the week her nephew Junebug, now Dr. Adam North, came to visit. He had not been to Atlanta since he was a teenager and Annie Eliza proudly lets everyone know he is now a doctor. Not only has he come to Atlanta to lecture at Emory College about his Sickle Cell research but to learn about his roots and to reacquaint himself with family members. During the week, all sort of things are happening. Annie Eliza's children are having problems, there is a big shakeup in Atlanta politics, a mysterious illness and a suicide. Annie Eliza finds herself in the middle of all this while Junebug appears to be oblivious to it all but just goes along on the adventures to make his aunt happy.

This story is narrated by Annie Eliza and has a folksy feel to it. It is just like she invited you in for a cup of coffee while she tells you what happened during the week Junebug stayed at her house. Annie Eliza remembers every detail of that week, down to what TV show she was watching, what commercial was showing to what outfit she wore to whatever event. If you ever sat and listened to stories told by your elders, you know when they get on a roll; they tell you a present tense story but have to go back into the past for it to make sense. Imagine getting all this information, pertinent or not, in a narrative; it makes for some intense reading. The characterizations were sometimes funny and usually right on point. By the time Annie Eliza finished with their story, you knew all about everyone, at least Annie Eliza's opinion of them. Hidden in all the narrative about the family is a mystery of which Annie Eliza vows to get to the bottom of. Overall, this was a good read.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub