Set in small town Mississippi in the late 1950s, Mother of Pearl is populated by wonderfully rich and original characters with themes of identity and the true meaning of family interwoven throughout. The story revolves around 28-year-old Even Grade, a black man who grew up an orphan, and Valuable Komer, a 15-year-old white girl who is the daughter of the town whore and an unknown father. Their paths cross through Joody Two Sun, a seer, who becomes Even's lover. Both Even and Valuable are seeking the family, love, and commitment they never had, and their search ultimately takes both of them to places they never dreamed they'd go.
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"I read this book years ago when it first hit the market. I fell in love with the characters, their dialogue, and the easy-going narration. Melinda Haynes tells a sad tale of racial ambivalence, class order (or disorder), and the mistakes and sins common to mankind--regardless of the era. The story charts the lives of Even Grade, a black man, and Valuable Korner, a fifteen-year-old white girl, the daughter of the town whore. Their lives intersect at points neither could have imagined. Family secrets are dragged out into the midday sunlight for closer examination. Yearnings for human connection, commitment, and love without strings brings this story to it's heart-felt ending. I recommend this gem." — Beem (5 out of 5 stars)
"I read this book years ago when it first hit the market. I fell in love with the characters, their dialogue, and the easy-going narration. Melinda Haynes tells a sad tale of racial ambivalence, class order (or disorder), and the mistakes and sins common to mankind--regardless of the era. The story charts the lives of Even Grade, a black man, and Valuable Korner, a fifteen-year-old white girl, the daughter of the town whore. Their lives intersect at points neither could have imagined. Family secrets are dragged out into the midday sunlight for closer examination. Yearnings for human connection, commitment, and love without strings brings this story to it's heart-felt ending. I recommend this gem."
" I absolutely loved this book. The attention to detail with diction and description add to the discussion of race and society's estimation of "morality". Well written and executed. "
" I read this because it was an Oprah pick. However, after reading several Oprah picks, I've determined that I don't care for the books she likes. She was abused in her youth and she has a pension for books with similar themes. There is an underlying darkness about the novels that I don't relate to. The one thing I noticed about this particular book was the use of similes. There were so many (almost every page) that I started underlining them. This might be fun for a book club or English class assignment. "
" Has potential but is a difficult read. There are several sections that are so random I was having trouble following along. "
" This author entranced me with her descriptive phrases. I frequently stopped to absorb her words. The story was also engrossing. "
" I loved this book. Great Southern magical realism. If Faulkner had been a woman and a much happier writer, he might have written something like this. "
" An interesting story, but a little hard to get into/follow at the beginning. A bit confusing at times, but overall a good read. "
" Couldn't get into, it. Boring. "
" I was very surprised by this book. I didn't think I'd be that into after reading the summary, but it was handed to me as a recommendation, so I felt obliged to read it. Haynes has beautifully descriptive writing style that thoroughly held my attention and made for a very satisfying read. "
" For some reason you want to keep reading it. Not because you're hoping for an explanation or a story or a plot. But because you want to know what in the world possessed the author to write a book that makes no sense. "
" Wow is all I can say. Wow what an awful book. Confusing; the characters are numerous and I feel were never introduced into the plot correctly. Story just jumps all over the place. The language not comprehendible to me. Felt like I needed a "language of the mississippi" dictionary or something. "
" open up our eyes to reality "
" read 400 pages and realized that i didn't even want to finish it. i think the author was going for a toni morrison thing but it didn't work for me. "
" I loved this character study of the South. It reminded me why I love great literature. "
" Fascinating book and a good view of other slices of life than I normally see. I loved the descriptions and writing style. "
" One of the few books that I couldn't bring myself to finish. A disjointed, confusing storyline and totally unrelateable characters. "
" I loved this story about people who came together to creat their own family, of sorts, out of an unexpected assortment of folks. I even love the main characters names - Even Grade and Valuable Korner! "
" So far this has been a SLOW read in that it's like reading poetry in Novel form and you want to savor it... "
" Did not like or finish. A rarity for me. "
" It got an extra star cuz I'm still reading it despite it all "
" Beautifully written. Rich detail. Engaging characters. "
" A very different story for me, I am glad I read it. But, it is on the down side. OPRAH - maybe she is too happy now? LOL!! "
" Really enjoyed this book and can't imagine why it took me so long to pick up and read. "
" I really enjoy this book. "
" This book was excellent! I can see why Oprah picked it for her book club. Fascinating. "
" Left me wondering and searching for more books about the race issue of the 1950 era south. Compelling, hard, and all to true. "
" I liked the writing style,but the story was so dark ,it stayed with me for awhile.Not in a good way ,either.Too sad for me. "
" You know how people say they "couldn't put it down"? Well, I "couldn't pick it up". I don't remember why, because it has been a while, but I do know I tried several times to get into this book...no luck. "
" Feeling a bit confused but liking that feeling "
" I read this based upon a recommendation and because it was part of the Oprah book club. It was average at best. It is not the type of book I typically enjoy. I would not recommend it for a leisurely read. "
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