Mudbound

by Hillary Jordan
         
           This novel is about the racial tension between white people and black people in the Mississipi Delta and how it affects them all in different ways. This story consists of six narrators, whose voices are woven together to share the events of this tale. Each narrator brings a different perspective, as half of them are white, half of them are black.  Three of the voices are the white McAllan family. The narrators from this family are Laura, Henry, and Jamie. The other family of narrators are the (black) Jackson's. The Jackson's consist of Hap, Florence, and Ronsel. Each person touches on the same events, but have their own personal voice that comes through. This story is centered around the racial tension in the south so as one can imagine, this story and it's narrators help to build a dramatic and unique novel.
            The story is set in the years 1946 and 1947 just as the turmoil of WWII is coming to an end. The readers are first introduced to the McAllan family. Laura is a woman who had considered herself condemned to spinsterhood until her brother brings his new boss, Henry McAllan to dinner. Henry soon begins to woo Laura and after a shaky courtship, he proposes. She convinces herself that despite his being unromantic, plain, and having a matter of fact personality, he would provide for her. Laura is content to live within the city of Memphis until Henry's dream of owning a cotton farm uproot the family (including Pappy, Henry's hateful father) to the Mississippi Delta. Laura's distaste for the new farm is simply illustrated by her suggestion of it's name "Mudbound". Jamie, Henry's younger, energetic, and handsome brother visits the farm after he returns from serving as a pilot in the war. His return creates two problems. His vitality and warm nature makes Laura question her marriage and Jamie's new drinking problem causes rifts among the family.  On this farm the McAllan's are secluded from visitations and all socialization except for the black sharecroppers, the Jackson's.
           Hap Jackson is the tenant farmer whose voice enlightens readers to the hope of Southern black people during this time period. His wife Florence is a midwife who is observant and intelligent. She helps the McAllan's after Laura's daughters get sick, and puts up with Pappy's racist comments. Despite the negativity and racism around her, the love her family has for one another cannot be dampened. Then there is their son Ronsel, who has experienced racial acceptance in Europe and finds the racial divide in the Delta hard to cope with upon returning from the war. Being a well decorated soldier means next to nothing to the racist white men in town. They view Ronsel as an overconfident problem, and Ronsel soon realizes the danger he is in if he stays in the Delta. During his return, he creates an unlikely friendship with Jamie McAllan which causes even more unrest among many angry town members and continues to create many dangers for the two young men.  
             All of these voices come together to tell a story about heartbreak, hope, and injustice. The racial tension in this book provides a roller coaster of emotions for readers. This novel was Hillary Jordan's debut and it was exceptionally written. Her descriptions of the scenery and the characters feelings were exquisite.  Although at times it was hard to read, due to the emotional impact of the content she wrote about, I loved this book. Pick up this book and enjoy the journey.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Up Next: A Time to Kill by John Grisham