Stranger Here Below
Joyce Hinnefeld
October 2010
265 pages
Published by Unbridled Books
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FTC disclosure and Unbridled apology: Thank you, Unbridled, for the review copy you gave me at BEA. I’m sorry this post is so crappy and I can’t explain why I loved this book so very, very much.
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I read In Hovering Flight earlier this year and enjoyed it. But Hinnefeld’s latest book…oh, this one is made of awesome. It’s completely different than In Hovering Flight, both in subject matter and setting. Although both books focus on women and identity.
Stranger Here Below tells the stories of multiple generations of women. But it’s not a sweeping saga. Rather, we get glimpses into the lives of Sister Georgia, contemporaries Vista and Sarah who lead radically different lives, and their daughters, Maze and Mary Elizabeth, who are college roommates in the early 1960s.
This book is subtle. There’s a lot going on in these women’s lives, but the author leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination. Events are alluded to, and we see the repurcussions, but there are many things that are not fully explained…mirroring the lives of the women in the book. For example, Sarah is a troubled woman, and we know about a childhood trauma, but she is also physically frail, and this was never fully explained. And her daughter Mary Elizabeth knows nothing of her mother’s childhood. There are other family secrets that Mary Elizabeth is not privy to, although these secrets have a profound impact on her life.
There are a number of themes running through the women’s stories…freedom, race, sexuality, independence, living your own life, happiness. Like I said, there’s a lot going. But at 265 pages, much of it is hinted at.
And I don’t want to tell you too much about the characters, particularly Sister Georgia, because I think it makes for a more touching read if you experience their lives through the pages of the book. The stories of these five women are both ordinary and extraordinary. This could be considered Southern fiction, but it has its own unique bent and will go down as one of my favorites for the year.
This won’t be published until October, but I’m willing to share me ARC with one lucky duck. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll pick a winner later this week.
This sounds like my kind of book! If you’re willing to ship to the UK please enter me in the draw.
L Clare´s last [type] ..Teaser Tuesday
I would love to read this one! I have heard great things about In Hovering Flight, but it’s one that I haven’t tackled yet. This book does indeed sound very curious, and almost oblique in it’s storytelling. Great review!
zibilee´s last [type] ..The Vera Wright Trilogy- My Fathers Moon – Cabin Fever – The Georges Wife by Elizabeth Jolley — 568 pgs
Oh my gosh, this sounds some kind of fabulous! Don’t enter me since you just sent me a book.
this book sounds lovely if you’re willing to ship to Canada, I’d love to be entered into the draw.
I AM SO HAPPY to hear this book is good!!! I can’t wait to read it!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last [type] ..Reading Reflections- Sometimes Less is More
I think that it is ok to read a book and not have to write about it…this book sounds fabulous and I am so glad you loved it…no reason required!!!
Patty´s last [type] ..Steamy Summer Reading
Sometimes the books we love the most are the hardest to write about.
I love the richness of themes you described.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Half of a Yellow Sun
You’ve just put this book on my wishlist (but if you pick me to get the ARC, I won’t have to wait as long
). I don’t mind books that don’t explain everything – it’s nice when the author trusts the reader enough to do that.
Florinda´s last [type] ..Comic-Con Show and Tell- The Pictures
You’ve got me sold on this so I’d love to try to win you’re ARC!
Amused´s last [type] ..Mailbox Monday – July 26th – 31st- 2010
You offer very effective posts that always make me want the book! ENTER ME, please.
Care´s last [type] ..Fingersmith Update & Reminder
I, too, had a hard time explaining exactly what it was that was so good about this book. I really enjoyed it so glad to see that you did too and that you are sharing your copy.
Amy´s last [type] ..Review- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
I would LOVE to win, as I was hoping to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway
bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com
diane´s last [type] ..Waiting on Wednesday Trespass
Sold! And I’m looking at your next three posts (getting to them now) — is there a way you could read for both of us? You are reading everything I want to read and I must, must, must get caught up with work so I follow in your trail.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Weekend Cooking- Review- Fresh Fruit Desserts by Sheryl and Mel London
I just skimmed your review because this one is waiting for me
I’m not going to read it until September…but it is one of my most anticipated reads of the year because I LOVED In Hovering Flight so much…so glad to see you loved this one, Jill…I can’t wait to dive into it 
Wendy´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon – August 8- 2010