The View From Here by Brian Keith Jackson

by Brian Keith Jackson

In the tradition of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, this heartwrenching novel of black family life in the rural South surges with raw emotional power and deeply felt truth. Against a backdrop of casual prejudice and commonplace poverty, a gentle, hardworking wife and mother faces a challenge that could destroy the family she's fought so hard to keep together.

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Book Club, African American

Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

Reviews

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told largely in part by the unborn child, this is a story of self-discovery, strength, and family love. The View From Here is excellent! It goes deep into the soul and deep into the impoverished rural South into the home of Anna and J.T. where years of depression, predjudice, mental and physical abuse has taken its toll on the family. An unplanned pregnancy throws the family into crisis and the loss of employment makes a bad situation worse. J.T. "fixes" things by offering the unborn child to his older sister/surrogate mother, Clairese, the preacher's wife, and turns to corn liquor as console for his idle time. Anna eventually saves her family by (a) pulling on inspiration of her best friend, Ida Mae, who has "gone up North" in search of freedom and a better life and (b) her mother's strength to preservere and do the right thing. This book is a quick read, a real winner...I was really intrigued to see that it was written by a man! I give this body of work 5 stars and two thumbs up!

[Lizzy Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

COMMENTS CONTAIN SPOILERS!!



This was a compelling read, very hard to put down. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was Anna's speech at the end, where she finally stands up to J.T. and his awful sister. I suppose Anna's outpouring of frustration could be viewed as something she'd rehearsed in her head, but it was too long. She said more than she needed to say to make her point.

If there were a movie version, at the end the audience would applaud Anna's first words to Claerice, but that would fade to an embarrassed quiet -- embarrassed for the writer, who should have given Anna fewer words. Really, all she needed to do was tell Claerice to shut the f*** up, and then tell J.T. he could remain with the family if he'd man up.

I liked that Anna didn't find her voice until she lost the voice in her head -- the voice of Ida Mae. However, it was frustrating that it took her so long to stand up for her family, considering her two strong role models -- her mother and Ida Mae.

EDIT after thinking some more about Jackson's portrayal of the women. Does he like women? The only sympathetic woman in the book is Anna's mother, Missus Anderson. Anna was a martyr, at great cost to her children. It took the torture of one of her sons and the near-loss of her baby before she found the courage to stand up to J.T., and when she did finally stand up to him, she took what little pride he had left. Ida Mae paid for her independence with her life. Claerice was a stone cold psycho bitch with no redeeming qualities.

The trouble is, all these characters ring true -- they were very compelling and believable. Maybe I'm trying to apply 21st century standards to a 1940's (?) setting. But I'm left wondering what Mr. Jackson really thinks about women.

[Michael- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Keith Jackson uses a unique point of view to tell this story about a poor rural black family expecting yet another child--one they cannot afford. The mother fights with all her might to keep what she feels will be her only girl-child, but her husband insists other arrangements be made.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I read it twice. I knew I'd heard this story before.

[Deb Tietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my church library while killing time between services. I fell in love with the unborn baby narrating the story and her mother who is doing her best to raise her children in the Deep South to be strong, kind people. You will love the writing. Well worth searching for since it is 1997 copyright.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice writing. A bit predictable, cliche, and repetitive, especially toward the end. It's a pretty short read, but I found myself wishing it were even shorter due to the repetition.

Decent read.

[Valerie Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. I felt like someone was pressing their hand on my chest. It's a difficult read on some parts to get through. Aunt Clariece is a dick and she can go to hell for everything she did.

[Nancy Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s told from a very different perspective than I have seen before. The setting, the characters and the culture felt true to life. One gets all the emotions from this story.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of a family told through an infant still in the womb. a little slow in some parts, otherwise an ok read.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and sensitively written.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I found it hard to get into this book and can admit I got confused who was "talking". It is through the eyes of Anna's unborn child but is interrupted by other outside sources. Once I got further along into the book though, I got "into the rhythm " and had a hard time putting it down. I loved the fact that at the very end, Anna was able to find her own voice and stood up for herself and her boys.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book kind of makes you think of lack of womens rights and that sort of thing or of the over bearing husband who controls you but is only and asshole because his parents were sick in the head . But either way man or woman you will feel liberated when reading this book .Its from the point of view of and unborn child inside the wifes stomach who I guess the child would be the main character and you see or well hear and see what it sees and hears and its small but very big opinion on things . I would recommend this book if you want a book with bold characters a strong story line and just a well thought out book from start to finish.

[Chivon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about family, a momma and her kids, a momma who often lives in the past and longs for better times. I love the unique perspective of the book. It is intersting to me that a male author can capture the thoughts and feelings of a woman so well in this book. I really liked the story.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up from our Director's free book table and it's not bad. Felt a lot like it was trying to be Toni Morrison but fell short. Very slow in the middle, but the ending makes up for it. Just be willing to push through the repetitiveness.

[Margaret]

This book had an interesting angle - it's the story of the events that take place in a poor family in rural Mississippi as told by the mother of the family's unborn baby who can not only see and hear what's going on but understands a lot about life already as well.

[Rissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling. I read it straight through almost without stopping. (A transatlantic flight helped.) The end was kind of predictable and the characters were rather two-dimensional, but it was still an interesting read. I would recommend it as a good vacation book.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book I would recommend anyone doubting the struggles of any woman but especially black women to read this book. It gives a heart wrenching view into the struggles of a poor black family faced with tough choices.

[Sherrida · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is easy to read and the story kept my interest. The story is told through the voice of an unborn child; that child is telling the story as she is hearing and feeling it through her mother. The male author captured the voice perfectly.

[Reuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel of rural Mississippi.

[Heather Truett]

Beautiful prose.

[BowbytheBay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. Well-written "woman's" book written by a yoing man. Sometimes a little confusing who is "talking".

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The view begins while Lisa is in the womb. The mother Anna wrote letters and talked to the unborn child and gave the letters to Lisa when Lisa was pregnant herself. The author is male.

[Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, family and friendship. I enjoyed this book and the unique way it was narrated. The author did a good job of telling the story and the ending was great!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It was an easy read but had enough depth to suck you in. It's also the first book I've read from an unborn child's view which was very cool.

[Walleye23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning! Brian Keith Jackson understands far beyond his age and his gender!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling story from an unexpected perspective. I was instantly drawn into the story.

[Jennie-Lynn Knox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women...the bearers of life...also the providers of strength that make life worth living. Bless you Anna!!! A great read!!!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. About two best friends that drift apart by life's events. I really enjoy the character Ana.