The narrator (that I believe is the neighborhood itself, collectively, and not an individual person) tells readers: It's in the telling of a tragedy that we sow the seeds --we hope -- of prevention of future sorrows.
And thus they unwrap this tragedy that happened in their supposedly "good" neighborhood in South Carolina. A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD tells many stories of different characters, including the story of Valerie Alston-Holt, an ecology professor and black single mother whose love of trees eventually leads her on an unprecedented path. Brad Whitman, a cunning newbie to the neighborhood and local celebrity who will go to any extent to get what he desires. There's also a tragic love story of Juniper Whitman and Xavier Alston-Holt, who find each other at opposite ends of a hostile situation between their parents. None of their lives will ever be the same.
A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD smoothly discusses many social and behavioral issues that stigmatized current society, including racism, religion, class, womanhood, adultery, alcoholism, and much more. Each character's involvement with different issues will resonate with readers, making it easy to empathize with their decisions and difficult situations. The intricate backstories of the characters change how they all deal with their storylines, and Therese Anne Fowler's writing shines and stands apart from other "domestic fiction" titles in this regard.
The writing is tender and thoughtful but doesn’t shy away from showing current societal norms and how alarming certain groups of people can be even in the 21st century. We have a long way ahead of us before we call ourselves "civilized." There is a scene where a mother is lamenting because the only crime that her son is guilty of is being born as a black man in America. It rings so many bells with what has recently happened and makes A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD a poignant read. The ending might come across a little hasty and abrupt but when I think about it, that’s how life is most of the time. One unknowing turn might be the catalyst for an avalanche of sorrowful incidents.
A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD is perfect for the fans of Ask Again, Yes, Little Fires Everywhere, and the TV show This Is Us. Grab a box of tissues and become a fly on the wall in this neighborhood and watch this beautiful story unfold.
In Oak Knoll, a verdant, tight-knit North Carolina neighborhood, professor of forestry and ecology Valerie Alston-Holt is raising her bright and talented biracial son, Xavier, who’s headed to college in the fall. All is well until the Whitmans—a family with new money and a secretly troubled teenage daughter—raze the house and trees next door to build themselves a showplace.
With little in common except a property line, these two families quickly find themselves at odds: first, over an historic oak tree in Valerie's yard, and soon after, the blossoming romance between their two teenagers.
A Good Neighborhood asks big questions about life in America today—what does it mean to be a good neighbor? How do we live alongside each other when we don't see eye to eye?—as it explores the effects of class, race, and heartrending love in a story that’s as provocative as it is powerful.
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