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The Dry Grass of August Anna Jean Mayhew Books

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The Dry Grass of August Anna Jean Mayhew Books

Having grown up in North Carolina in the 1950s, I found this book so authentic that it took my breath away. What a portrait of the relationship of a white child and the black woman who takes care of her -- the intimacies, the complexities, and the child's early understanding that something is very wrong about the way the caregiver is treated. The close observation not only of the relationships and the family dynamics, but of the many forms racism took, makes for an absolutely gripping read. The characters are as compelling as the plot, particularly the way the mother/daughter and sister/sister relationships are rendered. I was so enthralled that I had to buy a second copy on Kindle so I wouldn't have to put the book down as I travelled! Thank you, A.J. Mayhew, for re-creating a world that has only partially disappeared, and bringing both the nobility and the suffering of these remarkable people to light.


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The Dry Grass of August Anna Jean Mayhew Books Reviews

I bought this book as a gift for my wife, but she told me how much she really enjoyed it, so I thought that I would read it myself. I'm very happy that I did, for it is a wonderful, well-written book about people and attitudes about race in the deep South in 1954.

The story is told by a precocious 13 year old girl, one of four children, whose family has a "girl", euphemistic talk for a black maid. Mary, the "girl", does all of the heavy lifting and other work around the house, even taking care of the children, while the mistress of the house can just be one of the "ladies who lunch". There is genuine affection between the narrator and Mary, but there tends to be a problem when the family drives from North Carolina to the Florida panhandle, and then back through Georgia.

Remember, this was 1954, when segregation was the rule and way of life in the South. Even those folks who were not overt racists didn't even consider the feelings of their black employees meals at separate tables, separate bathrooms, etc.. It was a difficult way for the blacks to live, but they seemed to have no choice in the matter.

The plot gets into serious territory when the narrator, her older sister, and Mary attend a black revival meeting, and then walk back to their motel through the "white neighborhood". Violence and tragedy ensue, and the narrator does some very brave things, and proves that the attitudes of her time do not lie heavy on her head. In addition to the main plot, there are intimations that all is not well in the family between the parents, and some unusual misdealing in the father's business.

Having traveled through the South in the early `60s I saw some of the signs of overt racism written about in the book (in addition to roadside signs saying "Impeach Earl Warren").
This was a sad time in our history, and the author deals with the situation quite well. This is a book which should be read (along with "To Kill A Mockingbird") by those who were either too young, or were not yet born during these troubles times in our history. Hopefully we have grown beyond these parochial attitudes concerning race, but there are times when I'm not quite sure about it. Read the book, and learn.
The Dry Grass of August is a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has become the law. It is told by June a young teen who is becoming aware of the world around her. June's family maid was a loving, caring woman and very proper. It is with surprise that June realizes that people of color are barred from swimming with whites, that they can't stay inside the motels with them, and that the maid must use the outhouse instead of indoor facilites as they travel from Charlotte to Florida.
When their car breaks down in Georgia on their return June and her sister ask their maid to take them to attend a Black spiritual meeting at night. Walking back to their motel, they are attacked by white men that grab their maid Mary and while they rough up the girls, they let them go, and kidnap Mary. When Mary's body is found, the mother sends it on ahead to Charlotte, but the family stays to vacation. June steals the car and although hardly having driven at all, makes it back to Charlotte to attend the funeral. June is loving, caring and acts on principle not what others think. You'll come to love this young girl and possibly gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by people in the southern states during that era.
Having lived in the midwest all my life, when I read a books like "The Help", and this one "The Dry Grass of August", it breaks my heart and it amazes me that people have been so cruel based on skin color. While this book is fiction, I am sure many similar stories that were not fiction actually happened. Mary, the Family's "maid" or "their girl", had more of a hand in raising the children then their Mother. Mary was kind, compassionate, but she also disciplined when necessary and helped the girls work through their problems with a steady wisdom. Mary's arms were open to comfort them, and she loved them, especially Jubie who was often at odds with a distant Mother and an abusive, arrogant Father. What happens during their vacation is shocking and heartbreaking. The aftermath shows how deeply Jubie loved Mary, and to what lengths she would go to, the risks she took to do the right thing for Mary. I thought this book was very well written, very engaging, and the characters were well developed. I wish the ending had been better, however, it seems to be rare to find a good ending--perhaps it's because I don't want to see a good book end. Excellent book, and I do recommend.
The Dry Grass of August is a moving and insightful recalling of a traumatic childhood incident by a young protagonist, Jubie Watts. Beautifully written, the language is deceptively straightforward, while the narrative and the protagonist's insights are deep and complex. We are drawn into the events of this hot summer in the South by Jubie's honest telling, her bewilderment and finally, her understanding.
Having grown up in North Carolina in the 1950s, I found this book so authentic that it took my breath away. What a portrait of the relationship of a white child and the black woman who takes care of her -- the intimacies, the complexities, and the child's early understanding that something is very wrong about the way the caregiver is treated. The close observation not only of the relationships and the family dynamics, but of the many forms racism took, makes for an absolutely gripping read. The characters are as compelling as the plot, particularly the way the mother/daughter and sister/sister relationships are rendered. I was so enthralled that I had to buy a second copy on so I wouldn't have to put the book down as I travelled! Thank you, A.J. Mayhew, for re-creating a world that has only partially disappeared, and bringing both the nobility and the suffering of these remarkable people to light.