BOUND SOUTH by Susan Rebecca White
Susan Rebecca White of Atlanta is a new voice for the South. Her debut novel BOUND SOUTH takes us into a world she knows intimately, the world of the well to do Atlantans who live in the Ansley Park area of the city. It is a rarified view but one that engages readers and makes them aware of the boundaries society still casts.
Louise and her husband John Henry live here along with their two children Caroline and Charles. They have a cleaning woman, Faye, who works for them and brings along her daughter Missy to help out from time to time. The lives of all these people are interwoven throughout the story and the reason for the connections are sometimes part of the mysteries of the book.
Louise is the main character. As the pages progress the story of Louise's life is unwrapped. We learn the true story of how she and John Henry came to be married, the aspirations Louise has for her life, and the importance of her friendship with Tiny ? her best friend in childhood and adult life.
The chapters dedicated to Missy are a counter point to Louise's life. Missy is a child raised without a father, and this loss is constantly prodding her to search for him. She also feels strongly about the differences between her life as the cleaning
woman's daughter and the lives Louise's children live.
Missy seeks solace in her religion. It is there that she can feel a little bit better about herself.. She pities Louise and her family because they do not share her faith. Still it will take all of
Missy's faith to keep her strong after she and Charles share an adventure to find her father.
With each turned page of this story White reveals to us some new facet of personality in her characters. Some of their actions are consistent and some are completely off the wall but they are always interesting. Plus White creates clever conversations for them to have that amuse the readers while keeping them informed.
The mark of a gifted writer is in leaving the reader wanting more. White definitely does this. When the last page of BOUND SOUTH has been read, it is a definite letdown. You
don't want to turn these people loose. They have become a part of your life and you want to know more, more, more about them. Hopefully White will give us more in the future.
Reading BOUND SOUTH is an adventure in ?wonderland.? Let Susan Rebecca White take you down the rabbit hole and into the world of Atlanta. It is a world of mad hatters and tardy rabbits dressed up in the finery of the well to do. You will get a glimpse of their shallowness, but also a peek into the depths of their souls.
BOUND SOUTH is well worth your interest. It is a first novel from a woman who promises to deliver many more interesting stories in the days to come.
BOUND SOUTH is published by Simon and Schuster. It contains 368 pages and sells for $14.99.