Swan Place [Mass Market Paperback]

Augusta Trobaugh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2004

The author of Sophie and the Rising Sun "streamlines her rich Southern style and creates a narrative as delicate as a line drawing" (USA Today)

A series of family tragedies leaves fourteen-year-old Dove, her younger sister, Molly, and their baby brother, Little Ellis, in the care of their stepmother, seventeen-year-old Crystal. Born into a hardscrabble world of poverty and abandonment, Dove must take on much of the responsibility for her siblings after Crystal turns to their Bible-thumping Aunt Bett for help.

When Molly's deadbeat blood father threatens to bring a custody suit, Crystal and Dove flee with the children to a secret refuge called Swan Place, where they meet a group of devout Black women who transform their lives in unusual and profound ways.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Trobaugh delivers another solid novel of smalltown life below the Mason-Dixon line (after Sophie and the Rising Sun). As in past fictions, Trobaugh's supreme skill is her command of character. Dove, her 14-year-old heroine, is younger than previous Trobaugh women but no less richly drawn. Life in the smalltown South throws a lot of hardships her way. The death of Dove's sweet and fun-loving Mama (who leaves their dry county to go "honky-tonking" with her husband every Saturday night) is followed by a rapid succession of upheavals-from her stepfather's grim car accident to a visit from her deadbeat father to revelations about her real parentage-that threaten to pull the plot toward schmaltzville. Dove refuses to crumble, taking care of herself and her younger siblings-and rescuing the story from melodrama. With touching dignity, she is determined to keep together her evolving family, which includes at various points not only her siblings but a stepmother young enough to be her sister, her stepmother's baby and a devoutly Christian aunt. Dove's perseverance is believable: she voices fears and insecurities while clinging to her pride, learning to accept the support offered by other women and awakening to the fulfillment that reading and writing can bring. Though her prose is a little syrupy in places, Trobaugh manages to make her characters both inspirational and down-to-earth.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Set in rural Georgia, Trobaugh's latest novel follows 14-year-old Dove over a pivotal year as she struggles with the death of her mother, closely followed by the arrival of a 17-year-old stepmother. Among Dove's other challenges are poverty and the care of younger siblings. As in Trobaugh's previous books, the powers of religion, family, and love work together to combat racism while offering hope. Strong women also continue as a major presence, but not even they can bring alive the story. With so many other coming of age novels around and limited book budgets, purchase where Trobaugh (Sophie and the Rising Sun) has built a following or where strong regional interest exists. Rebecca Kelm, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Plume (January 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452284147
• ISBN-13: 978-0452284142
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,474,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a treasure, September 30, 2002

By 

Annie "bookwishes4" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Swan Place (Hardcover)

I picked up Swan Place without ever hearing of Augusta Trobough before and I have to tell you I fell in love with the writing stlyle and the main charactor Dove right from page one. Swan Place is the story of Dove, an almost 14 year old girl who has a tough road ahead of her. Doves loving Mamas death causes her to be the one left to take care of her two younger siblings, Molly and Little Ellis while her step-father is out working double shifts and clubbing at the local honky tonk. Dove was raised right by her mama and stands up to the challenges ahead of her including having a new step-mother who is only a few years older than Dove herself, children making fun of her at school for wearing second hand clothes, and a secret about her true parentage.
Trombough has a wonderful flow to her writing that just draws you into this story and doesn't let go even once you are finished. This is a must read for all the southern fiction and coming of age readers out there.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasurable Read, June 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Swan Place (Hardcover)

Completely fascinating, this book was full of surprises and wonderful displays of genuine family love. The strength of 14-year-old Dove is remarkable and the caring nature of so many of the characters is something I found pleasing. I reccommend it to anyone looking for some insight into Southern traditions and the true power of prayer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, April 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Swan Place (Hardcover)

I loved this book. It was so refreshing to find another work of original southen fiction. This book was different from the Secret Life of Bees. Yes, there are a few similarities but it's a stretch to say they are alike in plot.