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My Sweet Charlie
"They were born enemies -- the seventeen year old Southern white girl fleeing trouble... the Northern Negro, hunted and on the run. But since they were both fugitives -- since they were forced to share daily bread, shelter and fear -- they were forced to do one other thing. To take a new, close look at one another. At the face of the enemy.
MY SWEET CHARLIE -- an unconventional, unsparing story about two people from hostile worlds who are thrown into a strange intimacy."
~ from back cover of 1965 Signet Paperback edition
MY SWEET CHARLIE -- an unconventional, unsparing story about two people from hostile worlds who are thrown into a strange intimacy."
~ from back cover of 1965 Signet Paperback edition
223 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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70 people want to read
About the author
David Westheimer
57 books7 followersDavid Westheimer was a novelist best-known for his for his 1964 novel Von Ryan's Express, which was based in part upon his experiences as a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany during World War II.
Ironically, one of his most popular novels, and perhaps his most enduring, was not credited to him for much of its shelf life: In its original printing, he was by-lined as the author of the novelization of Days of Wine and Roses based on the screenplay by his friend J.P. Miller. However the book proved hugely popular and the story had become so iconic that its publisher Bantam Books (and one supposes the authors, by mutual arrangement) took Westheimer's name off the book to move it into the "literature" category and keep it in print (which they did, for decades). Subsequent printings were branded only J.P. Miller's Days of Wine and Roses without an explicit by-line for the novel.
Westheimer, a Rice University graduate, worked as an assistant editor for the Houston Post from 1939 to 1946 except for those years spent with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. As a navigator in a B-24 he was shot down over Italy on December 11, 1942 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III.
Ironically, one of his most popular novels, and perhaps his most enduring, was not credited to him for much of its shelf life: In its original printing, he was by-lined as the author of the novelization of Days of Wine and Roses based on the screenplay by his friend J.P. Miller. However the book proved hugely popular and the story had become so iconic that its publisher Bantam Books (and one supposes the authors, by mutual arrangement) took Westheimer's name off the book to move it into the "literature" category and keep it in print (which they did, for decades). Subsequent printings were branded only J.P. Miller's Days of Wine and Roses without an explicit by-line for the novel.
Westheimer, a Rice University graduate, worked as an assistant editor for the Houston Post from 1939 to 1946 except for those years spent with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. As a navigator in a B-24 he was shot down over Italy on December 11, 1942 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 19, 2022
I am reviewing the “drama in three acts”
This is a play about a “cat and a dog together in a box.”
I don’t want to spoil any of the tension that Westheimer creates in this 1960s drama about:
Rural and Urban
Poor and “Well-to-Do”
Very young and not so young
Woman and Man, but mostly about contemporary stereotypes of
White and Black
Its power is somewhat diminished by its age. Yet it gains enough momentum to leave an impact.
The play was originally performed with the lead actors being Bonnie Bedalia and Louis Gossett
This is a play about a “cat and a dog together in a box.”
I don’t want to spoil any of the tension that Westheimer creates in this 1960s drama about:
Rural and Urban
Poor and “Well-to-Do”
Very young and not so young
Woman and Man, but mostly about contemporary stereotypes of
White and Black
Its power is somewhat diminished by its age. Yet it gains enough momentum to leave an impact.
The play was originally performed with the lead actors being Bonnie Bedalia and Louis Gossett
December 1, 2020
If this had not been a local book club choice I would never have read it. I have never heard of it. It was not an easy read. A lot fo N-bombs, a lot of racism we don't see quite so much of (but do we?)
A 17-year-old pregnant girl is kicked out of her home after her father finds out she is pregnant. Her mother gives her all the cash she has, just $14.00, and sends her on her way to find her aunt to go live with; it is not safe to be at home. She ends up finding a refuge of sorts in a vacation home that is left vacant for the summer off the Gulf Coast. She thinks she will only stay one night but it is so safe and peaceful she stays just one more night over and over until one night a black man breaks in has the same plan...to stay there til things are safe....bc he is running from something too.
The dialogue here is very hard to read. There is a lot of language, the language of hate and racism. She calls him black nigger, and he calls her white trash. Charlie is an educated man running from being accused of murder. Marlene is outraged he plans on living there too. There is a lot of hate for a good portion of the book, but they do find they must make peace with one another, for each needs the other.
What a novel! I highly recommend it! I will be thinking about this for a really long time. I am grateful our book club picked it. Still relevant today.
A 17-year-old pregnant girl is kicked out of her home after her father finds out she is pregnant. Her mother gives her all the cash she has, just $14.00, and sends her on her way to find her aunt to go live with; it is not safe to be at home. She ends up finding a refuge of sorts in a vacation home that is left vacant for the summer off the Gulf Coast. She thinks she will only stay one night but it is so safe and peaceful she stays just one more night over and over until one night a black man breaks in has the same plan...to stay there til things are safe....bc he is running from something too.
The dialogue here is very hard to read. There is a lot of language, the language of hate and racism. She calls him black nigger, and he calls her white trash. Charlie is an educated man running from being accused of murder. Marlene is outraged he plans on living there too. There is a lot of hate for a good portion of the book, but they do find they must make peace with one another, for each needs the other.
What a novel! I highly recommend it! I will be thinking about this for a really long time. I am grateful our book club picked it. Still relevant today.
October 24, 2012
The book My Sweet Charlie by David Westheimer is about the relationship between a white teen girl and a adult black man and how they find themselves in situations they need to face.
This book made me understand more about the times when blacks were not slaves but were treated differently than whites. When a young girl gets pregnant by a boy she likes her father and mother kick her out of the house to go live with her aunt but she doesn’t want to live there so she wanders about and when she finds a house she leads herself into new problems.
The main conflict is that the girl and man are running into more problems when they are trying to escape their old problems. The theme of this book is that you can’t judge a person by the color of their skin. I think this book teaches people a really good rule.
The genre is drama because the characters have to face hardships and sometimes it cause drama. The drama and romance mixes together well to put together a great book.
I like the way the author writes because it shows in your mind the setting and it really describes what’s going on. It’s like you’re I the book that how good he writes. When he describes the way the house is put together it makes me really think about it and I basically can imagine the house.
This book is a really good book because David Westheimer really makes you feel like you’re in the time or you’re watching it happen. He really expresses the feelings and thoughts of the character he writes about in My Sweet Charlie. When he writes about what the girl is thinking about the baby he really shows that she is nervous and upset about it.
I would recommend this book to anybody who likes romance or drama novels. If you like romance books that have drama in them then you would love this book. If you hate drama and love stories you would not like this book. I think this book is for both girls and guys.
This book made me understand more about the times when blacks were not slaves but were treated differently than whites. When a young girl gets pregnant by a boy she likes her father and mother kick her out of the house to go live with her aunt but she doesn’t want to live there so she wanders about and when she finds a house she leads herself into new problems.
The main conflict is that the girl and man are running into more problems when they are trying to escape their old problems. The theme of this book is that you can’t judge a person by the color of their skin. I think this book teaches people a really good rule.
The genre is drama because the characters have to face hardships and sometimes it cause drama. The drama and romance mixes together well to put together a great book.
I like the way the author writes because it shows in your mind the setting and it really describes what’s going on. It’s like you’re I the book that how good he writes. When he describes the way the house is put together it makes me really think about it and I basically can imagine the house.
This book is a really good book because David Westheimer really makes you feel like you’re in the time or you’re watching it happen. He really expresses the feelings and thoughts of the character he writes about in My Sweet Charlie. When he writes about what the girl is thinking about the baby he really shows that she is nervous and upset about it.
I would recommend this book to anybody who likes romance or drama novels. If you like romance books that have drama in them then you would love this book. If you hate drama and love stories you would not like this book. I think this book is for both girls and guys.
January 2, 2010
Read this soon after publication (according to my diary for 1966). I noted "This was really a good book although I didn't much care for the ending". I still think about this book occasionally as one with which I felt a real emotional involvement. Those were the days of the civil rights movement and the topic of this book was still rather controversial for its time. There was also a movie or a TV movie made of this but I don't think it had the impact of the book.
March 26, 2023
I absolutely love this book. The first time I read it, IOno was a preteen. This book influenced the way I saw myself racism within the white Bible belt. I personally believe that this book should be used as a teaching tool in schools. People need to know that racism exists even in today's times and that's needs to stop.
May 17, 2012
read this book when I was about 15 and it made a great impression on me - never forgot it
November 6, 2020
Book club selection read. 1960s social issues Southern Gothic coming-of-age. The heavy use of racial slurs made me wince, but otherwise a good read.
June 29, 2017
I read this book in high school around 1966. It was a must read at the time. It sure left an impression me. It is one of all time favorite books.
February 11, 2019
3.5 Stars
In 1960s Deep South (Louisiana maybe? Can't remember if a specific location was named), pregnant teenager Marlene runs away from home following a big fight with her father. She eventually comes upon an unlocked and conveniently unoccupied beach residence near an old lighthouse. Marlene takes a tour of the place and has a bit of a Goldilocks session (the fairytale is even referenced) before settling in. She initially only plans to stay one night. But each day she makes plans to head out somewhere else, only to find some reason to stay put just a little longer.
One day brings the arrival of Charlie. He rushes into the house, needing a place to get warm (this scene doesn't take place til about 45 pages in, btw). This scares Marlene so much she screams and bites him...which leads him to smack her. Frustrated with his situation, he quickly apologizes, but that first impression has been made and it takes the rest of the novel for them to come back around to a good place.
Hindering this journey further is Marlene's own racism. Fear and stress end up bringing racial biases to the surface for both Marlene and Charlie. Marlene is surprised to find Charlie a well spoken, highly educated black man. The racist views Marlene thinks and voices in this story are just jaw dropping! Heads up, n-bombs get dropped A LOT in this little book. For the early part of the story, Marlene keeps calling Charlie "boy", but later decks him and calls him insolent when he deems her "white trash".
These two try their darndest -- at least for the early chapters -- not to like each other. But situational survival has a tendency to override prejudice previously instilled by family or community. But if you've seen the screen adaptation of this novel, you might remember a scene where it's addressed there: Charlie and Marlene acknowledging similarities between them, seemingly making progress, yet commenting on what their families might have to say should they see them talking.... giving the impression that they still feel guilty of something, though all they do is the simple act of conversing. Charlie also implies that Marlene is safe from any danger, as he doesn't generally find white women attractive and has an overall low sex drive as is. Might seem a weird convo to go down between a teenager and a slightly older man, but contextually it comes off as Charlie just trying to reassure her he has no ill intent toward her. Like her, he's just trying to survive.
Them being in hiding in this house together also brings up conversations regarding domestic roles -- men's work vs women's perceived duties. A simple dinner prep illustrates this: "Peeling potatoes is womens' work." "Well, I guess you better learn then!" But this dinner of potatoes proves one of the most important scenes of the whole novel, as Charlie uses the dinner to educate Marlene on the ridiculousness of racism.
Charlie and Marlene certainly exasperate each other, but they're not necessarily terrible people at heart, merely people who've been influenced by previous environments. Over time, each finds some of their more biased beliefs being altered by the growing friendship between them. With that grows a trust and appreciation for each other, though they never QUITE escape the constraints of the era they live in -- that of a heavily racist South ready to crucify anyone openly involved in interracial friendships (or relationships otherwise).
I feel like this novel has been largely forgotten over the years, but if you happen to stumble upon a copy I'd definitely recommend trying it out. Thought provoking for sure!
In 1960s Deep South (Louisiana maybe? Can't remember if a specific location was named), pregnant teenager Marlene runs away from home following a big fight with her father. She eventually comes upon an unlocked and conveniently unoccupied beach residence near an old lighthouse. Marlene takes a tour of the place and has a bit of a Goldilocks session (the fairytale is even referenced) before settling in. She initially only plans to stay one night. But each day she makes plans to head out somewhere else, only to find some reason to stay put just a little longer.
One day brings the arrival of Charlie. He rushes into the house, needing a place to get warm (this scene doesn't take place til about 45 pages in, btw). This scares Marlene so much she screams and bites him...which leads him to smack her. Frustrated with his situation, he quickly apologizes, but that first impression has been made and it takes the rest of the novel for them to come back around to a good place.
Hindering this journey further is Marlene's own racism. Fear and stress end up bringing racial biases to the surface for both Marlene and Charlie. Marlene is surprised to find Charlie a well spoken, highly educated black man. The racist views Marlene thinks and voices in this story are just jaw dropping! Heads up, n-bombs get dropped A LOT in this little book. For the early part of the story, Marlene keeps calling Charlie "boy", but later decks him and calls him insolent when he deems her "white trash".
These two try their darndest -- at least for the early chapters -- not to like each other. But situational survival has a tendency to override prejudice previously instilled by family or community. But if you've seen the screen adaptation of this novel, you might remember a scene where it's addressed there: Charlie and Marlene acknowledging similarities between them, seemingly making progress, yet commenting on what their families might have to say should they see them talking.... giving the impression that they still feel guilty of something, though all they do is the simple act of conversing. Charlie also implies that Marlene is safe from any danger, as he doesn't generally find white women attractive and has an overall low sex drive as is. Might seem a weird convo to go down between a teenager and a slightly older man, but contextually it comes off as Charlie just trying to reassure her he has no ill intent toward her. Like her, he's just trying to survive.
Them being in hiding in this house together also brings up conversations regarding domestic roles -- men's work vs women's perceived duties. A simple dinner prep illustrates this: "Peeling potatoes is womens' work." "Well, I guess you better learn then!" But this dinner of potatoes proves one of the most important scenes of the whole novel, as Charlie uses the dinner to educate Marlene on the ridiculousness of racism.
Charlie and Marlene certainly exasperate each other, but they're not necessarily terrible people at heart, merely people who've been influenced by previous environments. Over time, each finds some of their more biased beliefs being altered by the growing friendship between them. With that grows a trust and appreciation for each other, though they never QUITE escape the constraints of the era they live in -- that of a heavily racist South ready to crucify anyone openly involved in interracial friendships (or relationships otherwise).
I feel like this novel has been largely forgotten over the years, but if you happen to stumble upon a copy I'd definitely recommend trying it out. Thought provoking for sure!
January 2, 2020
I really loved the 1970 TV movie version I found on YouTube a few years ago. But I'm so glad I finally read the book. It goes into so much more personal feelings each character is thinking and helps the reader sympathize with both of them on multiple levels.
This should be required reading for Junior high or high schoolers. It is up there with Huckleberry Finn.
I think it's strange some people refer to it as a romance as there is really no romance here at all. It's a great story about a young girl finally finding a caring parental figure whom she can trust and also teaches her so much more about being human. Charlie spent his life trying to facilitate racial harmony and educate people, and he accomplishes this when meeting Marlene.
I also think it's very realistic about how black people were treated during this time especially in a remote area of Texas. I grew up with a girl like Marlene. Racist parents who raised her to be ashamed of herself. Thankfully Marlene is a lot gutsier.
Heartbreaking ending but inspiring and heartwarming at the same time.
This should be required reading for Junior high or high schoolers. It is up there with Huckleberry Finn.
I think it's strange some people refer to it as a romance as there is really no romance here at all. It's a great story about a young girl finally finding a caring parental figure whom she can trust and also teaches her so much more about being human. Charlie spent his life trying to facilitate racial harmony and educate people, and he accomplishes this when meeting Marlene.
I also think it's very realistic about how black people were treated during this time especially in a remote area of Texas. I grew up with a girl like Marlene. Racist parents who raised her to be ashamed of herself. Thankfully Marlene is a lot gutsier.
Heartbreaking ending but inspiring and heartwarming at the same time.
September 21, 2019
Thought provoking book about a young pregnant girl hiding out in a cabin her life changes even more when the cabin is broken into by a black man. The despise each other and are both full of racism (mostly I believe brought on by what society has planted in their minds). She is an uneducated white girl and he is a college educated black man which complicates maters as well. She calls him the N word and he calls he a white bitch, and they go back and forth like this for a long time. Eventually they form a bond and are able to see beyond color and culture, not black and white, but instead as a girl and a man. Real people with real problems. They are able to help each other when least expected.
Eye opening, sad at times, but uplifting at others.
I have read it a couple of times years ago, but It is still one I love. I just finished it again, and I will probably re-read it in the future.
Eye opening, sad at times, but uplifting at others.
I have read it a couple of times years ago, but It is still one I love. I just finished it again, and I will probably re-read it in the future.
September 5, 2020
Libro apparentemente semplice ma travolgente allo stesso tempo. Lettura oltretutto molto introspettiva, facendo vedere come in tempi passati vi erano diverse concezioni su diversi argomenti che ad oggi ci sembrano una banalità. Finale inaspettato intenso.
January 16, 2023
The story definitely caught me. And the ending surprised me.
September 26, 2015
This novel raises issues of racism, ignorance, education, unwanted pregnancy, poverty. It does not end up where one expects, and I wonder if the climax satisfies most readers. One of the themes is what it means to be a "good Negro" (translate: shuffling, subservient) while feeling internal anger, even rage. Yet Charlie, of course, is good, though his goodness is not rewarded. "No good deed goes unpunished," especially if one is black during the early 60s.
On another note, the dialect troubled me. Not having grown up Northern Black or Southern White generations ago, I could not determine if it was realistic, though at least one linguistic reflection struck me with its specificity and authenticity:
[Marlene] walked ahead of him toward the kitchen, not thinking of what he might intend...but instead considering and exploring the "Aren't I." Her English teacher in high school said, "Am I not?" and every time she did it, half the class giggled and the teacher would look puzzled and wonder what she had said that was so funny.
Strong black hands pushed her down into a kitchen chair and the bruised black face looked into hers.
"Are you all right?"
She heard sounds but no words. Her senses were shut off except for the ludicrous ticking of "Aren't I," "Aren't I," "Aren't I" in a remote corner of her mind. What a silly, stuck-up way to talk.
"Aren't I?" is a subjunctive. I'd never considered it. Ain't that funny?
P.S. I watched a sliver of the TV movie on YouTube. Almost unwatchable.
On another note, the dialect troubled me. Not having grown up Northern Black or Southern White generations ago, I could not determine if it was realistic, though at least one linguistic reflection struck me with its specificity and authenticity:
[Marlene] walked ahead of him toward the kitchen, not thinking of what he might intend...but instead considering and exploring the "Aren't I." Her English teacher in high school said, "Am I not?" and every time she did it, half the class giggled and the teacher would look puzzled and wonder what she had said that was so funny.
Strong black hands pushed her down into a kitchen chair and the bruised black face looked into hers.
"Are you all right?"
She heard sounds but no words. Her senses were shut off except for the ludicrous ticking of "Aren't I," "Aren't I," "Aren't I" in a remote corner of her mind. What a silly, stuck-up way to talk.
"Aren't I?" is a subjunctive. I'd never considered it. Ain't that funny?
P.S. I watched a sliver of the TV movie on YouTube. Almost unwatchable.
May 1, 2015
The basic premise of My Sweet Charlie, written in the 60's, is that an uneducated, unmarried, white southern teenager and an educated but on-the-run northern black fugitive end up hiding out together in an empty beach house on the gulf coast. Their hatred for each other when they meet is so strong that I couldn't imagine how the author would ever bring them together peacefully, but their (father/daughter) relationship develops so gradually that the writing seems both effortless and carefully planned. Unfortunately, the book is still relevant as social commentary today and not just as a window into the past.
September 6, 2009
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The useage of the "n word" constantly bothered me, but I don't know if it could be removed. You truly can't say much in a review about this novel without spoiling the story, but one question remains: Who is the reader supposed to sympathize with? The educated black man, or the uneducated white girl--both racist in their own rights.
This was the selection for September for my book club. I have a feeling there will be a animated discussion about this one.
This was the selection for September for my book club. I have a feeling there will be a animated discussion about this one.
September 10, 2009
This is the current book that my Book Club is reading. It was written in 1965 and deals with racism in the south from the point of view of a poor, uneducated white southern girl and an educated black northern man. The themes are important, but the presentation is very dated when compared to a book like "To Kill a Mockingbird" which is a timeless classic. I also felt very uncomfortable with the number of times the "n" word is used. I think the impact could be there without such overuse.
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