The Blue Star: A Novel by Tony
Earley
The Blue Star
Tony Earleys first novel was Jim the Boy and The Blue Star is its sequel.
Time has moved forward to the eve of World War II, but everything else is
much the same in the countryside of North Carolina. Jim Glass is now a
senior in high school, living in the peaceful haven of his three uncles and
his mother. Love complicates his otherwise halcyon life, in the person of
one Chrissie Steppe. We cant help whom we love, and Jim h as made a
big mistake by falling for Chrissie. She and her mother are in what
amounts to indentured servitude up on the mountain, living on the property
of the influential Bucklaws. Their son, Bucky, is in the Navy and expects
that Chrissie will wait for him. She has nothing to say about it because she
and her mother have nowhere to go if they are turned off Bucklaws land
because Chrissie has other ideas. Earleys books are charming and
evocative, calling back another time in this country when life was simpler,
except in the realm of human emotions, which do not change with the
times. He has a way of creating a time and place exactly as the people
experiencing it would have felt, putting the reader in the picture. Finishing
this book, the reader wonders what World War II and its aftermath will hold
for Jim the boy, who is now a man. Perhaps Earley will tell us. --Valerie
Ryan
Features:
* ISBN13: 9780316008051
* Condition: NEW
* Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Personal Review: The Blue Star: A Novel by Tony Earley
I have to say it took me a little while to get into this book but when I did I
found it worth it even though this is the type of book that I wouldn't have
normally picked out for myself to read. I am glad, however, that this book
was sent to me because I really did have a great experience reading it.
The time frame is on the eve of World War II and Jim is now a senior in
High School. Jim has broken up with his long time girlfriend Norma, and
has become smitten with a half Indian girl named Chrissie. The problem
with this is the book takes place in Aliceville, North Carolina circa 1941 so
racism and backwards thinking runs deep. Also, Chrissie's grandparent's
also work and live on a prominent family's property which their son has laid
claim to Chrissie to be his fiance, no matter how much Chrissie disagrees
with it. Jim, through twists and turns in the plot line, and family secrets
revealed, pursues Chrissie, having fallen in love with her.
The sexist, bigoted, and downright backward way of the characters is
sometimes hard to see past or even relate to when you are 31 years old
and have no clue on how things really were back then but it's also
interesting if you find that period in American history something you wish to
relive or learn about. Another refreshing thing about this book is it's a book
that if my 13 year old would pick up I honestly wouldn't have any problems
with her reading but it's not a young adult book by any stretch of the
means. I'd recommend this book to a few members of my family and
friends.
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