Dollbaby: a novel by Laura Lane McNeal

I just finished a debut novel which has been compared to Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and The Help. It is a coming of age story about Ibby Bell who, after her father dies suddenly, is left at at her paternal grandmother's home in New Orleans in 1964. On the author's extensive web site, Laura Lane McNeal says: Dollbaby is … "a story of a way of life that no longer exists but needs to be told…. It is the story of New Orleans, where you learn to dance, even when there is no music."

The author goes on to extol the "shared culture" that she says is unique to New Orleans, implying that people of many races have long blended together. However, I was troubled by the dialogue in Dollbaby, especially the emphasis on speech patterns for the African American characters, but not so much for other (white) Southerners who were featured in the novel.  Maybe this was done for a purpose – after all, there was quite a bit of scholarly research on this vernacular English, beginning in the 1960's and continuing with the "Ebonics" debate in the 1990's.   It is one thing to read dialogue by Lorraine Hansberry or Zora Neale Hurston or works by Langston Hughes or August Wilson, but in this novel, I thought that comments by Queenie, Dollbaby and Birdelia felt awkward and unnatural -- at least as contrasted with dialogue from other characters. 

I did, though, definitely appreciate the attempts at weaving in historical facts such as Johnson's speech about the Civil Rights Act of 1964:

 

I would encourage any students reading Dollbaby to read or watch the speech (another excerpt is available here), especially since we are celebrating its 50th anniversary as this novel is being published.   In order to further appreciate the times, they should look at the photo montage from that era recently uploaded by the Kansas City Star. It would also be really interesting to explore the archives at Tulane University (where some of the novel is set) for local newspaper coverage from the time. Dollbaby refers to other national events occurring in 1968 and 1972, although in less detail. In her online book group guide, Laura Lane McNeal raises questions about the "political realities [that] trickle down to the personal ones." I wish that idea had been developed even more deeply in her novel and will be curious to see what other readers think.

If you read Dollbaby and are interested in learning more, the Civil Rights Digital Archive has compiled information from numerous Universities about Freedom Summer.  See especially http://crdl.usg.edu/events/civil_rights_act_1964/?Welcome&Welcome and http://crdl.usg.edu/events/freedom_summer/

Here are several more links related to Freedom Summer (1964) and the Civil Right Movement:

• Library of Congress:  http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/civilrights/external.html

• PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/further-reading/freedomsummer-furtherreading/   OR http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/lbj-civilrights/

• UVA’s Miller Center: http://millercenter.org/presidentialclassroom/exhibits/civil-rights-act with full text of Johnson’s speech: http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/3525

Post script added August 4th: I just finished Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson and will be recommending it to others. The writing is truly lyrical - there is a sense of magic throughout the book and an understanding of Mississippi in the mid-1940s.  Like Jordan's Mudbound, this deals with prejudice and struggles for returning soldiers and their families. However, it also weaves in a children's book and tales of an earlier murder, all of which are explored by a new associate of Thurgood Marshall, Miss Regina Robichard and the fledgling NAACP.

One Plus One by JoJo Moyes

I have been actively promoting One Plus One by JoJo Moyes because I know that faculty and staff  have greatly enjoyed (and recommended to me) several other titles by her. This novel, set in England and Scotland, was so much fun that it had me laughing out loud.  The antics of a large, drooling dog, 2 children (an adolescent boy who chooses to wear mascara and his younger sister, the math genius), plus their single Mum and her employer were hilarious, yet heart-wrenching at times. Tales of their travels across the countryside are worth the read alone. 

But I also very much liked how JoJo Moyes developed each character and used each one’s situation to examine how we are often misunderstood. She stressed how cruel youth can be to anyone who is different, and how those insecurities sometimes transfer to adult situations and the poor choices that are then made. Moyes interwove questions about ethics, adult relationships, and the possibility of romance while also exploring class differences and the many difficulties faced by a family living from one paycheck to the next. Not all of the issues were resolved, but most were; and that contributed to the warmth and enjoyment of this story.  I am certainly looking forward to reading more (starting with Me Before You) by this highly entertaining author. Comparisons to Irish author Maeve Binchy are often made so look for titles by her, too!

Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons

I know that faculty and staff will be checking the blog this summer so I am posting a few reviews for them.  Looking for a perfect beach read? Try the newly released (due 7/8/14) Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons.  Faculty and staff will really enjoy this quick, light read about fitting in, self-discovery, and long-term friendships. Girls of August tells the story of four women who have been vacationing together in early August for 15 years. Beach, sunshine, and good food and drinks all contribute to a “feel good” tone, although the novel touches on some heavier life issues, including marriages, new and broken.  The ability of longtime friends to share anything with each other and to help each other see situations from a perspective that differs from the day-to-day is a key element. Siddons’ novel explores the ideas of aging and life changes, plus insecurity and maturing for a new member of the group, a pampered trophy wife who is half the age of the other women.

If you like the South Carolina setting, look for more by Anne Rivers Siddons and consider exploring these others: Hurricane Sisters by Dorothea Benton Frank and Mary Alice Monroe’s The Summer Girls and Summer Wind.

No Requiem for the Space Age by Matthew W. Tribbe

I vividly remember talking to another teacher about the 1969 moon landing and how memorable it was -- that's when she told me that she had not even been born at that time! The conversation was an eye-opener for me and helped me to see the ways in which different generations have experienced and viewed the moon landings and other NASA programs.  These ideas are explored in-depth in a scholarly fashion in No Requiem for the Space Age by Matthew W. Tribbe.  This book will be a helpful resource for those students who are interested in space exploration, in public opinion towards NASA, and in the influence of the media. With many references to astronaut heroes, to funding battles over Apollo and shuttle programs, to Walter Cronkite and surveys and polls, the author provides a detailed chronology and analyzes the shifting attitudes towards the space program.

Readers looking to match No Requiem for the Space Age with a fiction title should consider The Right Stuff  by Wolfe (referenced in this book) or Rocket Boys by Hickam, both of which have been made into movies and have, in turn, impacted public perspective regarding NASA and America's role in the space race.