Dark Dont Catch Me

by Vin Packer

"The Peyton Place of the deep south. A novel of the sexual and racial passions of a small southern town."

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Marijane Meaker (born May 27, 1927) is an American novelist and short story writer in several genres using different pen names. From 1952 to 1969 she wrote twenty mystery and crime novels as Vin Packer, including Spring Fire which is credited with launching the genre of lesbian pulp fiction (although few of Packer's books address homosexuality or feature gay characters). Using her own observations of lesbians in the 1950s and 1960s, she wrote a series of nonfiction books as Ann Aldrich from 1955 to 1972. In 1972 she switched genres and pen names once more to begin writing for young adults, and became quite successful as M.E. Kerr, producing over 20 novels and winning multiple awards, including the American Library Association's lifetime award for young-adult literature (Edwards Award). She was described by The New York Times Book Review as "one of the grand masters of young adult fiction." As Mary James, she has written four books for younger children.

Regardless of genre or pen name, Meaker's books have in common complex characters that have difficult relationships and complicated problems, who rail against conformity. Meaker said of this approach, "I was a bookworm and a poetry lover. When I think of myself and what I would have liked to have found in books those many years ago, I remember being depressed by all the neatly tied-up, happy-ending stories, the abundance of winners, the themes of winning, solving, finding — when around me it didn't seem that easy. So I write with a different feeling when I write for young adults. I guess I write for myself at that age."

Reviews

[Jayakrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What if somebody put a sound recorder near your breakfast table or in your bedroom? The output would not be all that pleasant. You would probably get arrested. In India, you could get lynched. Every human is a cauldron of thinly veiled fears and jealousies. This author has no illusions about race relations.

This book is a piece of shit! I am not against the spirit of this book! But it sucks! Apparently it was written by a woman! Why? I don't think it is a racist novel. This is how people really are.

It's a reasonably enjoyable book of place! But after the initial shock value wears off, it is tough to get through even though it is only 200 pages long. Why even read this? Don't do it. Listen to the Andrew Schultz podcast or something.

Interracial relationships in a small American town called Paradise. Everyone is getting it on with each other. A black teenager from the city spoils the fragile peace.

I support redneck culture and I hope rednecks put out something better than The Devils Rejects. This book is not good enough. Nothing happens in this book. It is a disappointment.