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Clothesline Blues
Bloody Sunday was an event in history that rocked the world as black people fought for the right to vote in America on the fringes of the Jim Crow Era.
Hilda and Frank lived together in a small New England town. The couple had been relatively happy for many years, but when Frank’s discontentment caused him to become mean and abusive, Hilda knew it was time to make a major change in her life. She yielded to the advances of a younger man who was head of a chapter of the Black Movement Coalition. Hilda was determined to be with him and after many sleepless nights, she came up with a solution – she would get rid of Frank. She enlisted the help of Pearl, her best friend and neighbor. Although Pearl battled her own demons, she vowed to stick by her friend…no matter what.
Bonded by secrets, lies and murder, it’s hard to imagine two women will find the peace and happiness they so desperately seek...or is it?
Hilda and Frank lived together in a small New England town. The couple had been relatively happy for many years, but when Frank’s discontentment caused him to become mean and abusive, Hilda knew it was time to make a major change in her life. She yielded to the advances of a younger man who was head of a chapter of the Black Movement Coalition. Hilda was determined to be with him and after many sleepless nights, she came up with a solution – she would get rid of Frank. She enlisted the help of Pearl, her best friend and neighbor. Although Pearl battled her own demons, she vowed to stick by her friend…no matter what.
Bonded by secrets, lies and murder, it’s hard to imagine two women will find the peace and happiness they so desperately seek...or is it?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2013
12 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 10, 2014
A riveting read by a great author, B. Berry.
The story takes place in 1965, a time of civil upheaval in the United States. Through the eyes of two women and their families we live these days of fear and anger. Abusive husbands, as well as white racists, are the enemy. This book is not only about the fight for racial equality, it is also about survival by any means possible.
At a Canadian university I saw the riots on television, read daily about Black Power and the Black Liberation Movement. Posters of Angela Davis, member of the Black Panthers, rivaled those of Che Guevara, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. I took part in protests, sit-ins and experienced the fear of being in a crowd that was ridden through by police on horseback. The author brought me back to that period that was a ticking time bomb of unrest and uncertainty.
I recommend this book to everyone. It is an emotional roller coaster of abuse, violence, sorrow, love and romance. I look forward to reading other books by B.Berry.
The story takes place in 1965, a time of civil upheaval in the United States. Through the eyes of two women and their families we live these days of fear and anger. Abusive husbands, as well as white racists, are the enemy. This book is not only about the fight for racial equality, it is also about survival by any means possible.
At a Canadian university I saw the riots on television, read daily about Black Power and the Black Liberation Movement. Posters of Angela Davis, member of the Black Panthers, rivaled those of Che Guevara, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. I took part in protests, sit-ins and experienced the fear of being in a crowd that was ridden through by police on horseback. The author brought me back to that period that was a ticking time bomb of unrest and uncertainty.
I recommend this book to everyone. It is an emotional roller coaster of abuse, violence, sorrow, love and romance. I look forward to reading other books by B.Berry.
July 18, 2014
Clothesline Blues by B. Berry is a story that centers on how far two women are willing to go to find their versions of happiness. There are also circumstances that land the two of them right in the middle of a conflict going on between the blacks and whites in the south during the turbulent era of the sixties.
Hilda’s life seemed perfect. She is well-educated, an elementary school teacher, owns her own home and was madly in love. But with all things time has a way of putting things into perspective and causing people to show their true colors. After twelve years of living with her common law husband Frank, Hilda comes to realize that the man she fell in love with has changed, for the worse. Frank barely acknowledges her anymore unless it is to raise his hand at her or to boss her around. Hilda then turns to a lover, Claude. Claude is there to fill the void left in her heart, he promises Hilda the moon and the stars and wants her all to himself, but how can this happen when she is still involved with Frank?
Hilda confides in her best friend Pearl during their secret rendezvous at the clothesline that separates both their houses. Hilda and Pearl are both unhappy with their current lot in life and use their time together to plan their next moves. These meetings cause Hilda and Pearl to become fast friends and loyal to the very end. Especially when things start to spiral out of control and their families are threatened, their friendship becomes even stronger and nothing or no one will get in their way!
Clothesline by B. Berry All was an enjoyable read that had me guessing about the outcome until the very end. It left me sitting with my mouth hanging wide open in shock when I finally did finish. Hilda and Pearl were my favorite characters because they were so loyal to each other,the situations they got themselves into were not ideal and were downright criminal, but the reader still has the urge to root them on and hope for the best. I really liked the fact that the story ties in with the civil rights era and offers up some historical facts that some people may not of heard about. I would recommend this book as a must read!
Hilda’s life seemed perfect. She is well-educated, an elementary school teacher, owns her own home and was madly in love. But with all things time has a way of putting things into perspective and causing people to show their true colors. After twelve years of living with her common law husband Frank, Hilda comes to realize that the man she fell in love with has changed, for the worse. Frank barely acknowledges her anymore unless it is to raise his hand at her or to boss her around. Hilda then turns to a lover, Claude. Claude is there to fill the void left in her heart, he promises Hilda the moon and the stars and wants her all to himself, but how can this happen when she is still involved with Frank?
Hilda confides in her best friend Pearl during their secret rendezvous at the clothesline that separates both their houses. Hilda and Pearl are both unhappy with their current lot in life and use their time together to plan their next moves. These meetings cause Hilda and Pearl to become fast friends and loyal to the very end. Especially when things start to spiral out of control and their families are threatened, their friendship becomes even stronger and nothing or no one will get in their way!
Clothesline by B. Berry All was an enjoyable read that had me guessing about the outcome until the very end. It left me sitting with my mouth hanging wide open in shock when I finally did finish. Hilda and Pearl were my favorite characters because they were so loyal to each other,the situations they got themselves into were not ideal and were downright criminal, but the reader still has the urge to root them on and hope for the best. I really liked the fact that the story ties in with the civil rights era and offers up some historical facts that some people may not of heard about. I would recommend this book as a must read!
January 3, 2015
Insightful, Captivating, Emotional Page Turner!
August 8, 2015
This book was hard to put down, after I started. It was so easy to read, and had me right there in the story. The writer has done a great job pulling me into the story.
November 15, 2019
Title: Clothesline Blues
Author: B. Berry
Publisher: B.B.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Clothesline Blues" by B. Berry
My Rationalization:
This is definitely one of those reads that will keep you turning the pages to see what was going to happen next in this salty town. Now, I will say up front that this story speaks upon the 'Civil Rights Movement, the Jim Crow Era, that leads up to Bloody Sunday' that leads up to horrible tensions of the Black struggle that was going on at that time in the 1950s - 1960s. Yes, it is how many people were treated and yes, in our world as even today a lot of this still is going on. I definitely saw this as so very sad. This was quite an intriguing story of how this author was able to interweave this story together. Yes, this story is about 'love and war between black and whites in the South during the Jim Crow Era.' I will say this was a hard read for me but I am glad I was given the opportunity to read this novel even though it was a fictional read I know a lots of it was true in one form or another.
The story brings in two people Hilda and Pearl who just happened to be the best of friends who bonded well together as they trusted each other. It was really something in what these two went through in this story that incorporated 'friendship, love, hate, abusive husbands, secrets, sadness, domestic violence, rape, passion, pain, anger, murder, revenge, sorrow, survival, romance and yes even more.
Now as the story continues there will be a lot of mystery, suspense with some history as the story will take on its form of twist and turns to form its own with some very interesting well-developed characters that will add to this interesting read that was so very 'realistic, and captivating.' To get it all you will have to pick up "Clothesline Blues" to see how it all comes out in the end. Definitely, the title tells a part of the story.
Author: B. Berry
Publisher: B.B.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Clothesline Blues" by B. Berry
My Rationalization:
This is definitely one of those reads that will keep you turning the pages to see what was going to happen next in this salty town. Now, I will say up front that this story speaks upon the 'Civil Rights Movement, the Jim Crow Era, that leads up to Bloody Sunday' that leads up to horrible tensions of the Black struggle that was going on at that time in the 1950s - 1960s. Yes, it is how many people were treated and yes, in our world as even today a lot of this still is going on. I definitely saw this as so very sad. This was quite an intriguing story of how this author was able to interweave this story together. Yes, this story is about 'love and war between black and whites in the South during the Jim Crow Era.' I will say this was a hard read for me but I am glad I was given the opportunity to read this novel even though it was a fictional read I know a lots of it was true in one form or another.
The story brings in two people Hilda and Pearl who just happened to be the best of friends who bonded well together as they trusted each other. It was really something in what these two went through in this story that incorporated 'friendship, love, hate, abusive husbands, secrets, sadness, domestic violence, rape, passion, pain, anger, murder, revenge, sorrow, survival, romance and yes even more.
Now as the story continues there will be a lot of mystery, suspense with some history as the story will take on its form of twist and turns to form its own with some very interesting well-developed characters that will add to this interesting read that was so very 'realistic, and captivating.' To get it all you will have to pick up "Clothesline Blues" to see how it all comes out in the end. Definitely, the title tells a part of the story.
January 5, 2019
Great Read
This is my first time reading a book by this author. I must say it was really a page turner from the very beginning until the end, which left me wanting more along with feeling emotional for the characters.
The characters were well developed and I could see and feei in my imagination who they are. Even though the storyline takes place in tbe south during the Civil rights movement in the 1960's, I love how the author incorporated domestic violence, rape, murders, mystery and suspense in the storyline also.
At times my emotions of the characters of what was happening to them was happiness, sad, angry, sisterhood bond and glad for vengeance.
I highly recommend this book to read, you will not be disappointed. I am looking forward to reading more by this Author by reading her other books she has released before this one.
Cassandra H.
This is my first time reading a book by this author. I must say it was really a page turner from the very beginning until the end, which left me wanting more along with feeling emotional for the characters.
The characters were well developed and I could see and feei in my imagination who they are. Even though the storyline takes place in tbe south during the Civil rights movement in the 1960's, I love how the author incorporated domestic violence, rape, murders, mystery and suspense in the storyline also.
At times my emotions of the characters of what was happening to them was happiness, sad, angry, sisterhood bond and glad for vengeance.
I highly recommend this book to read, you will not be disappointed. I am looking forward to reading more by this Author by reading her other books she has released before this one.
Cassandra H.
March 7, 2023
Worth Reading
There are so many plots going on with the three main characters during the Jim Crow era. If you read this story you may be able to relate to it and get a history lesson as well. The title can be deceiving; it's not about your mother's gossip while hanging out clothes
There are so many plots going on with the three main characters during the Jim Crow era. If you read this story you may be able to relate to it and get a history lesson as well. The title can be deceiving; it's not about your mother's gossip while hanging out clothes
December 25, 2018
two women, friends and neighbors during the south in the 60's and they seem to have a Thelma and Louise kind of relationship. good story.
February 28, 2015
Clothesline Blues, by B. Berry, is set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the Jim Crow Era, and the events leading to Bloody Sunday. The mounting tensions of the Black struggle effectively parallel those of the two main characters, Hilda and Pearl. They are friends who have secretive conversations while hanging their wash on the shared clothesline between their backyards—conversations that lead to egregious acts that eventually intertwine their lives forever. Hilda, whose father left her financially secure before his death, lives with her boyfriend whom she initially loved, but has come to despise because of his abuse, disrespect, and lack of desire to marry her. As she sinks into the blues, she meets and falls in love with Claude, gains a new attitude and strength, and devises a plan to rid herself of Frank. She seeks assistance from Pearl, who has her own blues as she struggles to make ends meet, and seeks to remedy the financial shortages through paid liaisons with married men. As she struggles with her actions, the impact on her daughter, and a longtime secret regarding her late husband, she seeks comfort from Hilda.
The result is a complex series of plots and sub-plots that moves the book to several climactic scenes that left me open-mouthed yet strangely understanding of the importance of cause, effect, and the times. While I grappled with the lack of consequences, when taken in context of the times and the racial divide, I understood the author’s implications. It did not take long for me to be drawn into the story and to become swept up by the ever-building current of turmoil, anger, and desperation that unfolded in this beautifully-written historical fiction book. Ms. Berry has masterfully crafted a suspenseful story with well-developed major and minor characters and plots; however, there were quite a few distracting grammatical errors which should have been caught by the editor. Despite this detraction, I recommend the book, and will read others by this author.
Review by Edwina Putney, booklady
3.5 Stars
The result is a complex series of plots and sub-plots that moves the book to several climactic scenes that left me open-mouthed yet strangely understanding of the importance of cause, effect, and the times. While I grappled with the lack of consequences, when taken in context of the times and the racial divide, I understood the author’s implications. It did not take long for me to be drawn into the story and to become swept up by the ever-building current of turmoil, anger, and desperation that unfolded in this beautifully-written historical fiction book. Ms. Berry has masterfully crafted a suspenseful story with well-developed major and minor characters and plots; however, there were quite a few distracting grammatical errors which should have been caught by the editor. Despite this detraction, I recommend the book, and will read others by this author.
Review by Edwina Putney, booklady
3.5 Stars
August 24, 2014
Have you ever had the blues? Have you ever thought you had been through enough and just had the blues? Did the blues turn into a silver lining?
Hilda is a well to do woman Black woman living in the 1950’s. She was all alone after her parents died until Frank came along. Frank came along and swept Hilda offer her feet and twelve years later they are still in a relationship that does not have a future. Hilda is tired of Frank, who has become abusive and mean. Hilda has come to a point of where she is tired and just wants to be done with Frank. Hilda reaches out to her best friend Pearl. Pearl is going through single woman with child blues. Her and Hilda bond over the clothesline between their homes and became the best of friends. They share woes, celebratory moments and other emotional moments.
Along with Hilda and Pearl are other characters and elements playing in the background. You have Hilda’s lover Claude, who is leader of the BMC, Mr. Gentry’s brother, Hank, who is a menace. You have Lissa and Tammy young best friends whose lives take turns that neither saw coming. These characters start to intertwine and intersect in ways that will leave you feeling some kind of way. You will not know how to react but you will react.
I give the story three stars due to the slow moving pace. I definitely enjoyed the story but felt the pace was a little slow. For me, the story did not pick up the pace until I was about 60% into the story and almost lost interest in the story. The saving grace was I wanted to know would Hilda go through with her plans. Overall a good story and I will read more from this author.
Reviewed By: LaLa Garrett
Format: Ebook
Review Copy Supplied By Author
Hilda is a well to do woman Black woman living in the 1950’s. She was all alone after her parents died until Frank came along. Frank came along and swept Hilda offer her feet and twelve years later they are still in a relationship that does not have a future. Hilda is tired of Frank, who has become abusive and mean. Hilda has come to a point of where she is tired and just wants to be done with Frank. Hilda reaches out to her best friend Pearl. Pearl is going through single woman with child blues. Her and Hilda bond over the clothesline between their homes and became the best of friends. They share woes, celebratory moments and other emotional moments.
Along with Hilda and Pearl are other characters and elements playing in the background. You have Hilda’s lover Claude, who is leader of the BMC, Mr. Gentry’s brother, Hank, who is a menace. You have Lissa and Tammy young best friends whose lives take turns that neither saw coming. These characters start to intertwine and intersect in ways that will leave you feeling some kind of way. You will not know how to react but you will react.
I give the story three stars due to the slow moving pace. I definitely enjoyed the story but felt the pace was a little slow. For me, the story did not pick up the pace until I was about 60% into the story and almost lost interest in the story. The saving grace was I wanted to know would Hilda go through with her plans. Overall a good story and I will read more from this author.
Reviewed By: LaLa Garrett
Format: Ebook
Review Copy Supplied By Author
April 29, 2013
I wanted to love this book; I truly did for several reasons.
Instead I'll have to go with liking it instead.
The story takes place soon after the March from Selma and the day that
came to be known as Bloody Sunday.
The black citizens are coming together to form a coalition.
The two main characters are next door neighbors who have become best friends. They often meet at the clothesline between their two houses to discuss anything they want to keep secret from everyone else. This way there's no chance they'll be overheard.
Hilda has grown tired of Frank, her live-in boyfriend, and his ways of ordering her around her own house, and she begins to hatch a plan to get him out of the way. How convenient there's a new lover waiting in the wings.
Pearl is a single mother of a teen daughter. Sometimes she has to resort to things she's not proud of to supplement her income.
All things come to a head and the clothesline has a load of secrets to keep hidden.
This could have been made into a really nice book. I can't help that I'm what is called a grammar Nazi and am put off by mistakes in a book. One or two are passable, but between 10 and 30 in a chapter was just too much for my taste.
The author, I realize, is caught up in the creative process, but the editor really fell down on this one.
January 15, 2015
Clothesline Blues by B. Berry is a poignant tale that brings in some of the many atrocities perpetrated against people because of the color of their skin. Ms. Berry penned a novel that takes the readers on many journeys with the main ones being those of Hilda and her best friend Pearl.
Hilda is saddled with a man she once loved and she determined to get him away from but has to figure out how. Pearl is struggling to gain funds to secure a future for her and her daughter. The paths Hilda and Pearl travel takes us on roads of twist and turns that keep us saying wow. This is going on during the very turbulent times of black people fighting to put an end to being disregarded, disrespected, treated like less than and beaten/killed.
This novel allows us to feel what some went through and as they fought for change. We also see lies, secrets, acts of violence and revenge come to the forefront to possibly ruin lives.
Hilda is saddled with a man she once loved and she determined to get him away from but has to figure out how. Pearl is struggling to gain funds to secure a future for her and her daughter. The paths Hilda and Pearl travel takes us on roads of twist and turns that keep us saying wow. This is going on during the very turbulent times of black people fighting to put an end to being disregarded, disrespected, treated like less than and beaten/killed.
This novel allows us to feel what some went through and as they fought for change. We also see lies, secrets, acts of violence and revenge come to the forefront to possibly ruin lives.
September 25, 2013
A tale of neighbors that have a friendship secured by trust created in the still of the night. Dissatisfaction, adultery, insecurity, and murder combat the threatening voice of racial tensions in Jackson, Mississippi.
December 5, 2015
The Clothesline Blues
Evil conceived in the dark Always comes to light. ONE LIE always leads to ANOTHER LIE ! Our Bible tells us to Love One Another---- no matter the color of the skin!!
Evil conceived in the dark Always comes to light. ONE LIE always leads to ANOTHER LIE ! Our Bible tells us to Love One Another---- no matter the color of the skin!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews