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Being Plumville
1968 Georgia. He's the quarterback. She's his tutor. That's all they can be. But they yearn to be more.Benjamin Drummond knows he's not supposed to want Coralee Simmons. She's Black, he's White, and their parents tried to nip their friendship in the bud when they were kids. Now they're in college, and having Coralee as a tutor brings back all the tender feelings he used to have for her . . . as well as some new dangerous, heady, forbidden ones.Coralee knows she should stay away from Benjamin, tutor or not. He's the college quarterback, the heir to all that Plumville represents, and very much not for her. But when he gazes at her with soft eyes, gifts her with sweet smiles, and holds her like he could protect her from the ills of the world, it's hard to deny the childhood friend Benjamin used to be . . . or the adult love he could become.Be yourself. Be in love. Be Plumville. No matter what Benjamin and Coralee decide, they'll never be the same again.Being Plumville is the award-winning debut novel of USA TODAY best-selling author Savannah J. Frierson and a 2016 LIBRARY JOURNAL Self-E selection.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2007
190 people are currently reading
1331 people want to read
About the author
Savannah J. Frierson
32 books297 followersSavannah J. Frierson is a USA TODAY best-selling and award-winning author penning diverse romance and mainstream fiction full of genuine characters, authentic stories, and passionate feeling.
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May 9, 2012
Being Plumville is a love story about two people who knew they were each other's happy endings from a very young age. But society and the stupid notions of color, race, and what should and shouldn't be done managed to stand in their way for fifteen and more years.
Savannah J. Frierson takes the reader back to the late 1960s in the South where there is hope of things changing, but a lot of blood, sweat and tears will be expended to make things better. This is a world in which skin color dictates many things: how much you get paid, where you live, what kind of job you are able to take, even how well you get treated by others. It doesn't matter what you want for yourself or for your children. It is just the way it is.
The opening scene tells me a lot about Benny and Ceelee. Benny is protective, caring and possessive of little Ceelee. Ceelee loves and trusts Benny. Benny declares that he's going to marry Ceelee. However, it is not acceptable that Benny should feel that way about Ceelee, because Ceelee is black, and Benny has expectations that he must meet for his family and for Plumville. White future state judges (sons of prominent Plumville citizenry) don't marry black daughters of their family's housekeepers. So, Patty was forced to keep her young daughter away from Benny.
Fifteen years later, both Benjamin Drummond and Coralee Simmons have yielded to the dictates of their world. They live in the same small town, but inhabit separate spheres, black separated by white. Until Ceelee is asked to tutor Benjamin in English, or he will not longer be eligible to play as quarterback for their college football team. Benjamin has fallen into the mold of white prominent young citizen. He even jokes along with his racist friends about blacks, even if his heart doesn't feel that way. Deep down, he yearns for his friend Ceelee, and is secretly glad that he can reestablish that crucial connection that was missing in his life for so many years. But now, Coralee keeps him at a distance. She doesn't trust him anymore. To her, he is another white person who thinks he's better than her, thinks he can insult her, and treat her like a second class citizen. Benjamin is determined to show Coralee that he is different from the others. That he is worthy of her trust and friendship, because the truth was, he never stopped loving her. Coralee has to find the courage to fight for the love that she feels (has felt for many years) beneath the hurt and fear.
This book was a wonderful read. It was also very difficult to read. It brought the anger and rage to the surface. Knowing that in the United States blacks were (and still are in some instances) treated this way because of some bizarre belief that skin color determines intelligence, eligibility, and superiority. I was born a short five years after this book takes place. My mother and father (both black) lived in this world of Ceelee and Benjamin, dealing with the same issues. It is a painful thought to accept that one's life is not your own. That you don't get the same choices as someone else because that's the way it is. That it's okay for them to call you ugly names, and you have to bite your tongue and deal with it. That you can't love who you want to love without being rejected by your own people, and subject to physical harm by his people.
Ms. Frierson didn't make up any of that angst. This book is real. I rooted for Ceelee and Benjamin, even as I knew the road they traveled was a long, hard, ugly one. I could feel their frustration when they weren't even able to hold hands or express affection towards each other in public. It was okay for Benjamin 'try the dark berry', but he couldn't love a black woman. For Coralee, she was condemned and ridiculed for even thinking it was okay to date a white man. It was a lot to take, making this far from a fun, escapist read. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy or love this book. It was just a sobering experience for me, and sometimes I had to put this book down and regroup. I am glad I read this book, because I really appreciate Ms. Frierson's writing. Although painful at times, this gave me something to think about. It helps me to be grateful that I have the choices that Coralee didn't have back then, and not because I am smarter or more deserving than Coralee was. Although I have and will face prejudice for my skin color, my fate and my life is my own. I can love who I want, and if people don't like it, I have the safety and the ability to face that and not find my essential being damaged from it. I for one am grateful that people like Coralee and Benjamin and the real life Mr. and Mrs. Loving paved the way for interracial couples in the modern United States. People can say what they want, but their opinion doesn't legally amount to a hill of beans.
This was a moving, excellent book. It hurt my heart, but it also gave me hope that you can believe in love, even if it won't guarantee a perfect road ahead. But two is stronger than one. And love is worth fighting for.
Ben and Ceelee
Savannah J. Frierson takes the reader back to the late 1960s in the South where there is hope of things changing, but a lot of blood, sweat and tears will be expended to make things better. This is a world in which skin color dictates many things: how much you get paid, where you live, what kind of job you are able to take, even how well you get treated by others. It doesn't matter what you want for yourself or for your children. It is just the way it is.
The opening scene tells me a lot about Benny and Ceelee. Benny is protective, caring and possessive of little Ceelee. Ceelee loves and trusts Benny. Benny declares that he's going to marry Ceelee. However, it is not acceptable that Benny should feel that way about Ceelee, because Ceelee is black, and Benny has expectations that he must meet for his family and for Plumville. White future state judges (sons of prominent Plumville citizenry) don't marry black daughters of their family's housekeepers. So, Patty was forced to keep her young daughter away from Benny.
Fifteen years later, both Benjamin Drummond and Coralee Simmons have yielded to the dictates of their world. They live in the same small town, but inhabit separate spheres, black separated by white. Until Ceelee is asked to tutor Benjamin in English, or he will not longer be eligible to play as quarterback for their college football team. Benjamin has fallen into the mold of white prominent young citizen. He even jokes along with his racist friends about blacks, even if his heart doesn't feel that way. Deep down, he yearns for his friend Ceelee, and is secretly glad that he can reestablish that crucial connection that was missing in his life for so many years. But now, Coralee keeps him at a distance. She doesn't trust him anymore. To her, he is another white person who thinks he's better than her, thinks he can insult her, and treat her like a second class citizen. Benjamin is determined to show Coralee that he is different from the others. That he is worthy of her trust and friendship, because the truth was, he never stopped loving her. Coralee has to find the courage to fight for the love that she feels (has felt for many years) beneath the hurt and fear.
This book was a wonderful read. It was also very difficult to read. It brought the anger and rage to the surface. Knowing that in the United States blacks were (and still are in some instances) treated this way because of some bizarre belief that skin color determines intelligence, eligibility, and superiority. I was born a short five years after this book takes place. My mother and father (both black) lived in this world of Ceelee and Benjamin, dealing with the same issues. It is a painful thought to accept that one's life is not your own. That you don't get the same choices as someone else because that's the way it is. That it's okay for them to call you ugly names, and you have to bite your tongue and deal with it. That you can't love who you want to love without being rejected by your own people, and subject to physical harm by his people.
Ms. Frierson didn't make up any of that angst. This book is real. I rooted for Ceelee and Benjamin, even as I knew the road they traveled was a long, hard, ugly one. I could feel their frustration when they weren't even able to hold hands or express affection towards each other in public. It was okay for Benjamin 'try the dark berry', but he couldn't love a black woman. For Coralee, she was condemned and ridiculed for even thinking it was okay to date a white man. It was a lot to take, making this far from a fun, escapist read. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy or love this book. It was just a sobering experience for me, and sometimes I had to put this book down and regroup. I am glad I read this book, because I really appreciate Ms. Frierson's writing. Although painful at times, this gave me something to think about. It helps me to be grateful that I have the choices that Coralee didn't have back then, and not because I am smarter or more deserving than Coralee was. Although I have and will face prejudice for my skin color, my fate and my life is my own. I can love who I want, and if people don't like it, I have the safety and the ability to face that and not find my essential being damaged from it. I for one am grateful that people like Coralee and Benjamin and the real life Mr. and Mrs. Loving paved the way for interracial couples in the modern United States. People can say what they want, but their opinion doesn't legally amount to a hill of beans.
This was a moving, excellent book. It hurt my heart, but it also gave me hope that you can believe in love, even if it won't guarantee a perfect road ahead. But two is stronger than one. And love is worth fighting for.
Ben and Ceelee
July 2, 2016
You know when you find a book that speaks to you, and you're like *gasp* "OH MY GAWD! THIS IS GREAT!!!"
That's Being Plumville for me. I don't know of many IR/MC readers who haven't read it. If you're one of the few who haven't, hopefully, I can persuade you to pick it up.
Benjamin (aka Benny) Drummond and Coralee (aka Ceelee) Simmons grew up together in Plumville Georgia, and they were inseparable. You see, Coralee's mom (Patty) worked for Benny's parents. Kids, kids are smart. Children will adapt to anyone regardless of their skin color, their physical handicap, their class, their gender. Children see people as people and Benny is no different. He protects Ceelee from bullies; he's her hero. He shares his books with her. They read together, play together, and essentially do things together that most children do despite Benny being a few years older than Ceelee.
The story begins with Coralee seeking out her mother to have an injury cleaned and bandaged after cutting herself while playing with the boys who reside in Benjamin's neighborhood. The kids tease and taunt Ceelee because she's black. The offending slur, "tar baby," makes an appearance. Of course, Benny isn't going to stand for it, so he punches the offender (good ole Tommy Birch) in the jaw (love Benny for that). Patty is disapproving of Benjamin's behavior even though he was looking out for her daughter. Benjamin's mother, Florence, overhears this bit of information and forbids Patty from bringing Coralee back into her home.
"This is not good, Patty," Florence determined, the words surging out of her mouth. "Benjamin's becoming far too attached to Coralee."
I wanted to throttle that woman. Throttle. She was a hot mess personified. I felt sorry for her but even so, God don't like ugly. The funny thing is, Florence already sees the connection between the two children before they have any idea what their future holds.
"If they keep on going the way they are, they'll be in all sorts of trouble when they're older."
Ahhh, foreshadowing.
Benny and Coralee don't cross paths for some years, but when they do, they're both in college and things are awkward to say the least. Racial tensions are HIIIIGH.
Coralee thinks the Benjamin she once knew is gone. Benjamin thinks the Coralee he once knew has forgotten about how close they used to be.
Things heat up when this couple tries to fight fate, and when others who want to do everything in their power to keep them apart.
Ms. Frierson did one heck of a job with this story! Everything about Being Plumville was phenomenal. The writing, the pacing, the character development, the editing. All on point. If you're looking for a historical read set in the chaotic times of the 60s, you should definitely add Being Plumville to your TBR pile. Not only is it a five-star read, it's also one of my Top Rated reads! It deserves all the stars and then some.This review was originally posted on Romance Novels in Color
October 5, 2013
Another instance where I wish there were half stars because I'd give this a 3.5 edging toward 4.
I'm surprised I didn't like it more, but the reasons I didn't are pretty understandable considering my romance novel proclivities. Its VERY well written, which is not suprising coming from Frierson. My lack of enjoyment was more tied to the unavoidable angst tied to the subject matter and the fact that there wasn't a whole lot of time spent on the ROMANCE and relationship progression. it was more the backdrop to the foreground of racial tension. Maybe it was even equal, but I tend to want my relationship front and center with the issues in the background.
I felt the ending was abrupt as well. We got that big jump after the climax where everything seemed to be delivered for a HEA in a nice, neat bow. We didn't SEE them get there and for me, that's half the fun of a novel. Seeing the couple GET to their happily ever after. What happened between Coralee leaving school and them getting married? I mean we get an explanation, but its literally more like a debriefing. After investing in the story up to that point, I felt like I'd been jipped a bit.
Still-solid writing. And in this genre that deserves HUGE props.
I'm surprised I didn't like it more, but the reasons I didn't are pretty understandable considering my romance novel proclivities. Its VERY well written, which is not suprising coming from Frierson. My lack of enjoyment was more tied to the unavoidable angst tied to the subject matter and the fact that there wasn't a whole lot of time spent on the ROMANCE and relationship progression. it was more the backdrop to the foreground of racial tension. Maybe it was even equal, but I tend to want my relationship front and center with the issues in the background.
I felt the ending was abrupt as well. We got that big jump after the climax where everything seemed to be delivered for a HEA in a nice, neat bow. We didn't SEE them get there and for me, that's half the fun of a novel. Seeing the couple GET to their happily ever after. What happened between Coralee leaving school and them getting married? I mean we get an explanation, but its literally more like a debriefing. After investing in the story up to that point, I felt like I'd been jipped a bit.
Still-solid writing. And in this genre that deserves HUGE props.
April 28, 2017
This book is absolutely Amazing! Very sweet and romantic. I was just grinning at the screen throughout most of the book. Stayed up late to finish. Loved the writing and I'm so grateful to have met my hubby in 1999. The 60s was something else.
April 9, 2021
I l♥ved it! Longer review to follow ... soon!
January 26, 2011
I just finished this last week and my oh my what a great love story.
Ben and Ceelee childhood best friends that were separated young to meet up again
in college to become BFF's again as well as loves of each other's lives. This story was wonderful.
Set in 1960 living in a southern small town this interracial couple go through a lot to be together
But the love they both had for each other is what good romance reading is all about Ben, WOW that Ben he was amazing and a true gentleman and Ceelee had such a big caring heart they both had me crying all through this story. This book is a definite keeper.
My character choice......
Ben and Ceelee childhood best friends that were separated young to meet up again
in college to become BFF's again as well as loves of each other's lives. This story was wonderful.
Set in 1960 living in a southern small town this interracial couple go through a lot to be together
But the love they both had for each other is what good romance reading is all about Ben, WOW that Ben he was amazing and a true gentleman and Ceelee had such a big caring heart they both had me crying all through this story. This book is a definite keeper.
My character choice......
February 3, 2014
One of the sweetest read ever.. This is a full 5 star book for me. I loved the romance between Ben and Cora. This book captured me from the beginning till the end. Oh and what an end this was, this book had one of the best epilogues ever. It was such an wonderful end for them and just how I pictured it. I recommend this book for every romance lovers.
My Casting:
Coralee:
Benjamin:
My Casting:
Coralee:
Benjamin:
April 2, 2010
WOW...what a HIGHLY emotional roller coaster ride...this book evokes so many emotions...it makes you angry, makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you sigh, and makes you think...this is the third book I've read by Savannah J. Frierson...and it is DEFINITELY my favorite of the three...a strong and TOUCHING storyline...an engaging and MEMORABLE well-developed cast of characters...and some SURPRISING and unexpected twists that keep me turning the pages to see what will become of Benjamin and Coralee...a WORTHWHILE read!
June 11, 2012
So, I was writing an awesome review and a storm came in and knocked my power out. Anyway, here it goes. This is exactly the kind of book I have been waiting on. The real grittiness of an interracial relationship. The N-word, the eroticism of Black women, the disgust and bigotry of both races towards the couple in love... This is what all the other interracial novels lack. They make it too pretty, the discrimination is nothing more than a snarled lip or an icy attitude from someone's mother. But Savannah Frierson knew exactly what needed to be exposed. This isn't pretty for people, it wasn't in the 60's and it still isn't for some couples even today. I enjoyed this book but what stopped me from giving it 5 stars was Cora. I just didn't love her character, I wanted her to be stronger, speak up for herself more... not be so docile. Other than that, this was a good read and I enjoyed it.
July 10, 2015
I liked this story it as sweet . for the second time
January 29, 2022
No words!
Every now and then you want a book that will just make you think and this book is it. I never wanted to put this book, not even to sleep. This book got a hold of me and did let go. You have to read this book!!
Every now and then you want a book that will just make you think and this book is it. I never wanted to put this book, not even to sleep. This book got a hold of me and did let go. You have to read this book!!
July 11, 2010
It is simply splendid, gave a review for it at Amazon.co.uk. It's been a long time since I could get a book and really enjoy it, with a longing to keep reading it, finish it, this book gave me that feeling because I'm not that easy to please. Well done Savannah!
June 1, 2012
ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M SOOOOOOOOOO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK! MS. FRIERSON DOES IT AGAIN!!!!;-)
May 14, 2021
I like this book way more than I thought I would. I'm so in love with the author's writing, I just might read her other books. By the way the book was written and how the character's love for each other blossomed throughout the story, I felt like I was watching a movie and quite frankly I did not want to stop. There were parts that made me tear up, parts that made me uncomfortable and parts that made me smile and laugh.
I like how realistic this is. While I was reading I was a bit annoyed that Coralee didn't want to be with Benjamin because she was so scared while he on the other was fighting for them even though he was scared as well. However, I totally get it. She had every reason to be scared and while there were risks for the both of them, the risk for her was much greater due to the hue of her skin. I absolutely love every part of this book and can't wait to forget it so I can read it again.
I like how realistic this is. While I was reading I was a bit annoyed that Coralee didn't want to be with Benjamin because she was so scared while he on the other was fighting for them even though he was scared as well. However, I totally get it. She had every reason to be scared and while there were risks for the both of them, the risk for her was much greater due to the hue of her skin. I absolutely love every part of this book and can't wait to forget it so I can read it again.
December 14, 2019
I decided to take a break from my usual murder mysteries and nonfiction tomes and read a romance novel, specifically interracial romance. Not sure why I caught the interracial romance bug, being that I am a black woman happily married to a black man. Maybe its Brad Pitt's single status - go figure, I have no clue, but I am enjoying it. When I googled "best interracial romance books," Being Plumville was actually the first of a long list of choices. Although the list of books was a bit overwhelming, I thought Being Plumville being listed first was not a random chance. So I decided to read it and I was pleasantly surprised. As someone with a history background - I enjoyed that it was a historical romance - although set in the turbulent period of the 1960s in the American South. I could relate to the main characters Benjamin and Coralee and their struggle and fight for their love. Going against society and tradition is always a brave and lonely decision. Even in contemporary times people still have to fight against societal norms for love - God knows I have and did. I've read some reviews of the book and a number of people have had issues with Benjamin stating that he was selfish and only wanted his way. He actually was my favourite character. I admired him for his honesty. Benjamin knew pretty early on what he wanted and he was determined to go after it. Even if it meant that he stood alone, that's pretty admirable. I like the fact that he wasn't the perfect prince. I loved that he was willing to try - to understand and be the man that Coralee needed. Coralee on the other hand, despite all her spunk I found to be a coward. I thought she made foolish decisions, maybe it is typical female indecisiveness. I don't know but I couldn't understand why she ever dated Nick Price, whilst being in love with Benjamin and flaunting him in her lover's face. In real life that would have had disastrous consequences. I also do not understand how she could easily forgive Price after all the horrible things he said and his attempt to violate her. That was too unreal for me, but maybe I do not have a forgiving heart. I just thought as the heroine Coralee kept shooting herself in the foot. She took for granted that Benjamin loved her and was willing to wait for her. When their relationship was revealed - I could not understand why she would push her love away for people or a community who did not even know the essence of who she was as a person. I do not believe in blind loyalty. We always say men "do not know they have a good thing until they lose it." But why did she have to endure such humiliation at the hands of former friends for her to realise she and Benjamin had something special. All in all I enjoyed Benjamin and Coralee's journey from childhood friendship to life partners. I read this book in less than 12 hours. Even reread it the next day. It was my first book by Savannah J. Frierson. Since then I've read two others, but Being Plumville remains my favourite book by Frierson. Her writing style is easy, it flows well and she creates likeable characters that you are invested in. I would love to know what happened after the epilogue. I was disappointed that we did get to experience their wedding and consummation of their marriage - Frierson certainly teased us a lot along the way. Did Benjamin and Coralee have a little girl or boy? Did he ever become State Judge with his Black wife by his side or did he give up on that dream for her? I wish Goodreads had half ratings. I give this book 4.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 28, 2017a damn good book
July 29, 2016
"A very sweet touching love story set in the South in the late 60s. He's a handsome, privileged young White man from a prominent family in the town. She's the pretty, kind, very smart daughter of their Black housekeeper. They were childhood friends, but at a very young age his mother forced them to break off their innocent friendship. They meet again in college years later. This story picks up from the time they meet as adults.
I wasn't alive in the 60s nor have I lived in the Deep South, but the author manages to convey the difficulties of living in that era and falling in love outside your "group". She doesn't shy away from the prejudice faced by such a couple. A lot of IR love stories tend to shy away from the bigotry or only show a small facet of it. This book is different. One really understands the risks both characters were taking. Of course, the heroine was taking a far bigger risk than the hero.
This is different from any other IR love story I've read. It's one of the best love stories I've read. This story feels so real. You almost think these two are a real couple. Recently, I read about Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case of the 1960s that struck down laws preventing white and black Americans from marrying each other. Mr. Loving was white and his wife was black. Being Plumville made me realize what the Lovings must have gone through. There is a brief reference to the case by the hero so that was a nice touch.
This book is also true to the customs and values of the time. This was a time when men courted women. It wasn't about getting to third base on the first date. I loved how the hero courted her. He's such a good guy. He's romantic and sexy, but very respectful of her values and inexperience. There are so many romance books, and so many IR romance books, that are just about soulless raw sex devoid of any emotional connection, but you don't get that in this story. These two have their intimate moments, but it's beautifully done because of the strong connection they share.
I just wish the book was longer. I would have loved to read more about these two.
I wasn't alive in the 60s nor have I lived in the Deep South, but the author manages to convey the difficulties of living in that era and falling in love outside your "group". She doesn't shy away from the prejudice faced by such a couple. A lot of IR love stories tend to shy away from the bigotry or only show a small facet of it. This book is different. One really understands the risks both characters were taking. Of course, the heroine was taking a far bigger risk than the hero.
This is different from any other IR love story I've read. It's one of the best love stories I've read. This story feels so real. You almost think these two are a real couple. Recently, I read about Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case of the 1960s that struck down laws preventing white and black Americans from marrying each other. Mr. Loving was white and his wife was black. Being Plumville made me realize what the Lovings must have gone through. There is a brief reference to the case by the hero so that was a nice touch.
This book is also true to the customs and values of the time. This was a time when men courted women. It wasn't about getting to third base on the first date. I loved how the hero courted her. He's such a good guy. He's romantic and sexy, but very respectful of her values and inexperience. There are so many romance books, and so many IR romance books, that are just about soulless raw sex devoid of any emotional connection, but you don't get that in this story. These two have their intimate moments, but it's beautifully done because of the strong connection they share.
I just wish the book was longer. I would have loved to read more about these two.
June 17, 2025
Spoiler warnings. But this review is long. I wrote as I read. 1 star because I somehow managed to finish it.
Breaking news! White boy falls in love with black girl after he discovers empathy for the first time since 7 years old.
Between the exhaustive lack of showing and the egregious amount of telling, you would think this book would be able to convey just how Coralee, a scholarly black activist, falls head over heels for her childhood friend, Benjamin, a football star who can’t stop joining proud-boy lite harassment campaigns towards the black population at their college. Unfortunately for me, and anyone else who suffered this book, the author fails to properly lead us through every step of “Falling 4 Your Oppressor 101” and decides to just wing it. No, seriously. Let me give some examples.
Benjamin, after Coralee graciously continues to tutor him following an event where he and his football squad verbally and physically assaults her and the BSU, refers to black people as “you people” when she points to racial inequality in the book they’re reading. She gets angry and says she shouldn’t be called militant for wanting to have equal rights, he gets defensive and follows up with saying there’s nothing to learn about black people. She leaves. Later, when the BSU is holding a civil rights rally, Benjamin is once again, with his football squad and many other racists. Among the confederate flags and racial slurs, Coralee sees him before chaos breaks out. She’s dragged away and sexually assaulted by Benjamin’s peer, he saves her, then kisses her…then Coraline forgives him and goes on and on about how she trusts him for reasons she just can’t explain. And that’s it. I just gave you a play by play.
We then flash through weeks of Benjamin doing the hard work of deconstructing his anti-blackness by…calling his black housekeeper by her name. Wait, wait…I mean, he valiantly overcomes his racial biases by…feeling angry when people yell slurs. No, that can’t be it - aha! He finally breaks free from the mental chains of white supremacy by…not seeing his black football team members as subhumans? Wow, I expected more when the author wrote, “Benjamin wasn’t complicit anymore”.
After these moments, their romantic relationship chugs full-speed ahead. Right up until the 3rd act break up of course that was solved two pages later. And then the second third act break up that’s, once again, solved in a few pages. Could’ve been worse.
Unfortunately for this review, it DOES get worse in other ways! Paul, dear Benny's father, was revealed to be in love with Coralee’s mother, Patty. It all fell apart when Paul confessed to Patty, but then promptly told her that “hee can’t be a state judge with a colored gal on his arm”. Then he has the nerve, decades later while Patty is still working for him, to be like….we should help my son and your coloured daughter get together because they’re in love like we were before I changed my mind about the swirl. And then they…start reminiscing about their first kiss together, he tells her he’s still in love with her (which is horrible and not romantic considering the racism Patty constantly endures from his wife) and now everything is once again - unicorns and rainbows? I’m almost surprised they didn’t kiss again in the kitchen to, y’know, run with the theme. If you, a white man, are racist as shit to a black woman you’re in love with, all you gotta do is feel bad and pout really hard and she’ll forgive you despite you not doing any real, meaningful work on your biases.
That’s the main problem I have with this book. Despite all the heavy subject matter that the author tries to write - it all falls short because she can’t seem to commit to it. It’s almost as if she can’t bear for the seriousness of the situation to develop properly. If that’s the case, then she shouldn’t have written about this at all. What’s the point? It doesn’t just muddy the romance, but it ruins the actual social politics of the book as well.
Coralee, as soon as she begins dating Benjamin, becomes a cheerleader for white people. No seriously, the way she comes to their defense so sharply the second they kiss for the first time is genuinely hard to read through. Because black people at the BSU will be airing their very reasonable distrust of white people at BSU meetings, and here comes Coralee to “NOT ALL MEN!” them, racial edition. She even goes as far to say that they are sounding like Tommy Birch. Just to be clear, this is the man who gathered his football team, disrupted a BSU meeting in the early chapters, said a bunch of slurs during the meeting, then choked Coralee out. This violently racist man vs the oppressed minority black population who are constantly terrorized by white people on the daily, expressing their anger over said oppression. I nearly DNF’d at this exact moment. It made me so unbelievably angry. But I only had about 50 pages left, and I was determined to see if I could find the answer to all the 5 star reviews this book had.
There’s a huge fall out where people find out about Coralee and Benny, Coralee gets harassed and physically assaulted - which was completely undeserved. I actually kind of hated the way it came about, but misogynoir is very real and even Coralee can’t escape it.
But then we get a DOUBLE sexual assault scene! Like, it’s so overdone and wildly unnecessary, especially for the last few pages of the book that I started laughing out of disbelief. Coralee gets violently assaulted by a man in public at night, then she gets rescued, but then gets assaulted again RIGHT AFTERWARDS by the MAN THAT RESCUED HER (who just so happens to be her former friend, Nick, who was salty about her dating Benny and not him). Then Benjamin rescues her. Then there’s a hospital scene and the main story ends right there. But the thing that really got to me was that in the epilogue, she “reunites” with Nick and he says sorry and she forgives him. For attempting to violently rape her on the ground of her college campus. Coralee says she’s glad for the reunion by the way. The epilogue is so horrible. This book is so bad. I don’t have anything else to add to this section. Just cry with me, haha.
There’s so many more insults I could sling at this book. The “I’m not racist, I’m colorblind” undertones, the weird portrayal of racial politics from the black POV, the coddling of white feelings, ect. But let’s talk about what I’m really upset about - the loss of potential.
I think this would have worked really well as a friends to lovers story - where most of the conflict is external (which naturally would cause some fiction on their relationship). That way, we could have Benjamin truly see black people as human from the jump, and not have Coralee throw away all her sense of safety because a white boy kissed her. We could explore racial politics and anti-blackness in a much more stable way, and we could even fully flesh out the forbidden lovers trope this book attempted (and promptly failed). It could have all the same elements and none of the shit!
You may think I’m being harsh, but trust when I say it’s deserved. That’s all.
Breaking news! White boy falls in love with black girl after he discovers empathy for the first time since 7 years old.
Between the exhaustive lack of showing and the egregious amount of telling, you would think this book would be able to convey just how Coralee, a scholarly black activist, falls head over heels for her childhood friend, Benjamin, a football star who can’t stop joining proud-boy lite harassment campaigns towards the black population at their college. Unfortunately for me, and anyone else who suffered this book, the author fails to properly lead us through every step of “Falling 4 Your Oppressor 101” and decides to just wing it. No, seriously. Let me give some examples.
Benjamin, after Coralee graciously continues to tutor him following an event where he and his football squad verbally and physically assaults her and the BSU, refers to black people as “you people” when she points to racial inequality in the book they’re reading. She gets angry and says she shouldn’t be called militant for wanting to have equal rights, he gets defensive and follows up with saying there’s nothing to learn about black people. She leaves. Later, when the BSU is holding a civil rights rally, Benjamin is once again, with his football squad and many other racists. Among the confederate flags and racial slurs, Coralee sees him before chaos breaks out. She’s dragged away and sexually assaulted by Benjamin’s peer, he saves her, then kisses her…then Coraline forgives him and goes on and on about how she trusts him for reasons she just can’t explain. And that’s it. I just gave you a play by play.
We then flash through weeks of Benjamin doing the hard work of deconstructing his anti-blackness by…calling his black housekeeper by her name. Wait, wait…I mean, he valiantly overcomes his racial biases by…feeling angry when people yell slurs. No, that can’t be it - aha! He finally breaks free from the mental chains of white supremacy by…not seeing his black football team members as subhumans? Wow, I expected more when the author wrote, “Benjamin wasn’t complicit anymore”.
After these moments, their romantic relationship chugs full-speed ahead. Right up until the 3rd act break up of course that was solved two pages later. And then the second third act break up that’s, once again, solved in a few pages. Could’ve been worse.
Unfortunately for this review, it DOES get worse in other ways! Paul, dear Benny's father, was revealed to be in love with Coralee’s mother, Patty. It all fell apart when Paul confessed to Patty, but then promptly told her that “hee can’t be a state judge with a colored gal on his arm”. Then he has the nerve, decades later while Patty is still working for him, to be like….we should help my son and your coloured daughter get together because they’re in love like we were before I changed my mind about the swirl. And then they…start reminiscing about their first kiss together, he tells her he’s still in love with her (which is horrible and not romantic considering the racism Patty constantly endures from his wife) and now everything is once again - unicorns and rainbows? I’m almost surprised they didn’t kiss again in the kitchen to, y’know, run with the theme. If you, a white man, are racist as shit to a black woman you’re in love with, all you gotta do is feel bad and pout really hard and she’ll forgive you despite you not doing any real, meaningful work on your biases.
That’s the main problem I have with this book. Despite all the heavy subject matter that the author tries to write - it all falls short because she can’t seem to commit to it. It’s almost as if she can’t bear for the seriousness of the situation to develop properly. If that’s the case, then she shouldn’t have written about this at all. What’s the point? It doesn’t just muddy the romance, but it ruins the actual social politics of the book as well.
Coralee, as soon as she begins dating Benjamin, becomes a cheerleader for white people. No seriously, the way she comes to their defense so sharply the second they kiss for the first time is genuinely hard to read through. Because black people at the BSU will be airing their very reasonable distrust of white people at BSU meetings, and here comes Coralee to “NOT ALL MEN!” them, racial edition. She even goes as far to say that they are sounding like Tommy Birch. Just to be clear, this is the man who gathered his football team, disrupted a BSU meeting in the early chapters, said a bunch of slurs during the meeting, then choked Coralee out. This violently racist man vs the oppressed minority black population who are constantly terrorized by white people on the daily, expressing their anger over said oppression. I nearly DNF’d at this exact moment. It made me so unbelievably angry. But I only had about 50 pages left, and I was determined to see if I could find the answer to all the 5 star reviews this book had.
There’s a huge fall out where people find out about Coralee and Benny, Coralee gets harassed and physically assaulted - which was completely undeserved. I actually kind of hated the way it came about, but misogynoir is very real and even Coralee can’t escape it.
But then we get a DOUBLE sexual assault scene! Like, it’s so overdone and wildly unnecessary, especially for the last few pages of the book that I started laughing out of disbelief. Coralee gets violently assaulted by a man in public at night, then she gets rescued, but then gets assaulted again RIGHT AFTERWARDS by the MAN THAT RESCUED HER (who just so happens to be her former friend, Nick, who was salty about her dating Benny and not him). Then Benjamin rescues her. Then there’s a hospital scene and the main story ends right there. But the thing that really got to me was that in the epilogue, she “reunites” with Nick and he says sorry and she forgives him. For attempting to violently rape her on the ground of her college campus. Coralee says she’s glad for the reunion by the way. The epilogue is so horrible. This book is so bad. I don’t have anything else to add to this section. Just cry with me, haha.
There’s so many more insults I could sling at this book. The “I’m not racist, I’m colorblind” undertones, the weird portrayal of racial politics from the black POV, the coddling of white feelings, ect. But let’s talk about what I’m really upset about - the loss of potential.
I think this would have worked really well as a friends to lovers story - where most of the conflict is external (which naturally would cause some fiction on their relationship). That way, we could have Benjamin truly see black people as human from the jump, and not have Coralee throw away all her sense of safety because a white boy kissed her. We could explore racial politics and anti-blackness in a much more stable way, and we could even fully flesh out the forbidden lovers trope this book attempted (and promptly failed). It could have all the same elements and none of the shit!
You may think I’m being harsh, but trust when I say it’s deserved. That’s all.
June 24, 2012
I totally loved this book! It was sweet and a little spicy. Being her first novel, I could tell that this was a labor of love for Ms. Frierson... I am so glad that after I read
&
, I went back and read this gem of a novel :-)
&
, I went back and read this gem of a novel :-)March 25, 2009
Being Plumville deserves every word of the great word of mouth that led me to read it. This period novel about Ben and Coralee, a white man and black woman in the 1940's, is an excellent examination of what interracial couples had to endure and serves as a lesson to those of us now who take the freedom to openly love whomever you wish for granted.
November 16, 2011
Wow! I picked this up thinking I would just read a couple chapters before bed and finish it later but I could not put it down. It was so much more then the synopsis implied and even with its heady subject matter it wasn't a difficult read. A love story yes, but there were also some very profound observations made.
December 1, 2019
Review coming soon (or eventually). It would have been a five-star read, but I took off a point because...well, you'll have to wait for the full review to find out. However, with that said, this is definitely a keeper for interracial romance aficionados.
December 24, 2009
This book is now one of my all time favorites. The emotions expressed in this story are very well developed and believable. Love, love, love it. It epitomizes a true love story.
Read
October 15, 2010Was the best IR book to date that I have read.
July 12, 2012
Wow just WOW. I bow down to you Savannah, such a great love story. Review coming soon
April 22, 2014
I was inspired by this book. I truly felt the love. Great wriiting!!
February 15, 2009
WONDERFUL book.
November 3, 2017
I met this very young author at the Black Ink author festival in Charleston, SC last month, and after hearing her answers to some very excellent panel discussion questions, I put her book on hold at the public library. She says that her books are self published.
The setting and characters in her novel totally entranced me. "Romance" or "love story" are not genres that I read, but this book did not read like a formula novel (which is what I always think that the romance genre implies.)
The author is from a southern town about 30 miles from where I grew up, and the time settings are during my childhood, high school and college years. The 1950's, '60's and 70's were times of tremendous social changes in SC, to put it mildly. Her characters, black and white, reflect the social norms that were a part of my experience, although my family did not have a cook, and I did not have any opportunity to ever associate with Black children my age. I certainly recognize the ingrained racism of the white characters and their total lack of awareness of the experience of being Black in the South.
Her characters are not stereotypes, however. Benny's father is similar to my father, a man who knew that Blacks were not subordinate to whites, but felt confined by the social norms of the time to not make waves or upset the expected roles in their small towns. Benny's mother reminds me of my grandmother, whose opinions about race relations were in her bones. [Bless her heart! My grandmother was upset that I married a Catholic!] Benny's fraternity friends are as accurately portrayed as any I ever knew, with the horrible attitudes towards women and blacks that I remember - no exaggeration there.
The southern college that Coralee and Benny attended was far more integrated than any school I knew of in SC in 1968. Our high schools were NEARLY totally segregated then and it was not until about 1971 that there were Black students in any number in my high school. I personally knew two inter-racial couples who had to hide their relationship by having others pick them up and meeting up later to be together. In 1971, in my large SC city, crossing the color line was not done publicly.
Some may wonder if the "dialect" that the author puts into her characters mouths is accurate and I can say that it totally reads true to ear. Many Southerners, Black and white, will revert to colloquial language patterns with close friends and family.
As a "romance novel," it works. Very sweet, a little hot, and totally satisfying.
Good job, Savannah J. Frierson! I love seeing SC authors having a voice in today's publishing world.
The setting and characters in her novel totally entranced me. "Romance" or "love story" are not genres that I read, but this book did not read like a formula novel (which is what I always think that the romance genre implies.)
The author is from a southern town about 30 miles from where I grew up, and the time settings are during my childhood, high school and college years. The 1950's, '60's and 70's were times of tremendous social changes in SC, to put it mildly. Her characters, black and white, reflect the social norms that were a part of my experience, although my family did not have a cook, and I did not have any opportunity to ever associate with Black children my age. I certainly recognize the ingrained racism of the white characters and their total lack of awareness of the experience of being Black in the South.
Her characters are not stereotypes, however. Benny's father is similar to my father, a man who knew that Blacks were not subordinate to whites, but felt confined by the social norms of the time to not make waves or upset the expected roles in their small towns. Benny's mother reminds me of my grandmother, whose opinions about race relations were in her bones. [Bless her heart! My grandmother was upset that I married a Catholic!] Benny's fraternity friends are as accurately portrayed as any I ever knew, with the horrible attitudes towards women and blacks that I remember - no exaggeration there.
The southern college that Coralee and Benny attended was far more integrated than any school I knew of in SC in 1968. Our high schools were NEARLY totally segregated then and it was not until about 1971 that there were Black students in any number in my high school. I personally knew two inter-racial couples who had to hide their relationship by having others pick them up and meeting up later to be together. In 1971, in my large SC city, crossing the color line was not done publicly.
Some may wonder if the "dialect" that the author puts into her characters mouths is accurate and I can say that it totally reads true to ear. Many Southerners, Black and white, will revert to colloquial language patterns with close friends and family.
As a "romance novel," it works. Very sweet, a little hot, and totally satisfying.
Good job, Savannah J. Frierson! I love seeing SC authors having a voice in today's publishing world.
December 27, 2021
Rating: 4.5
I wish someone had warned me to have a box of tissues on hand for this book. Maybe several boxes because the waterworks were turned on and I couldn't seem to turn it off. This story of interracial love set in the 1950's to 1970's destroyed me. If you're looking for a hit of angst and sweetness, this has plenty of it.
The characters are fleshed out and complex. Ceelee is sweet but determined to improve life on campus for the black community. She has a close group of friends and I love the relationship she has with her best friend. Her life hasn't been easy but it only gets more difficult when circumstances bring her crashing back into a childhood friend, Ben.
Ben starts off as unlikeable and a little spineless. He's also naïve about the reality and consequences of loving a black woman openly. However, he definitely redeems himself slowly and his absolute adoration for Ceelee had me squealing at times.
Patty, Ceelee's mom, also has a secret past which is even more heart-breaking in a way. Her lines are some of the most poignant and honest.
The topics that are explored are heavy but necessary and more important now than ever. Ultimately, this love story was just what I needed during the holidays. It was sweet and passionate. The only thing I didn't like was that the aftermath of them finally getting together was rushed. I wanted to see more of what married life was like. Although the short extra snippet the author gives us is so worth it. Definitely hunt that down!
I wish someone had warned me to have a box of tissues on hand for this book. Maybe several boxes because the waterworks were turned on and I couldn't seem to turn it off. This story of interracial love set in the 1950's to 1970's destroyed me. If you're looking for a hit of angst and sweetness, this has plenty of it.
The characters are fleshed out and complex. Ceelee is sweet but determined to improve life on campus for the black community. She has a close group of friends and I love the relationship she has with her best friend. Her life hasn't been easy but it only gets more difficult when circumstances bring her crashing back into a childhood friend, Ben.
Ben starts off as unlikeable and a little spineless. He's also naïve about the reality and consequences of loving a black woman openly. However, he definitely redeems himself slowly and his absolute adoration for Ceelee had me squealing at times.
"It'll be dangerous for you but especially for her. Whatever you feel can't possibly be worth all that."Her met her eyes squarely. "The way I see it, Plumville isn't worth your daughter ma'am." Oh, he was good, Patty thought; but more than that, he actually believed what he said.
Patty, Ceelee's mom, also has a secret past which is even more heart-breaking in a way. Her lines are some of the most poignant and honest.
"I don't want my baby hurt, Paul," Patty implored softly[...] "Seems all a black woman's good for is being hurt."
The topics that are explored are heavy but necessary and more important now than ever. Ultimately, this love story was just what I needed during the holidays. It was sweet and passionate. The only thing I didn't like was that the aftermath of them finally getting together was rushed. I wanted to see more of what married life was like. Although the short extra snippet the author gives us is so worth it. Definitely hunt that down!
June 2, 2024
Being Plumville is a decent sized book, 20 chapters, 314 pages long. Normally I could finish that in 2-3 days but it took me a week. Although a sweet romance, it also contains weighty subject matter - racism, sexual assault, violence, and attempted rapes. It's one of my favorite books, but it's still weighty. But understandable based on it's setting - time period and location.
The character Benny struggled with who he truly was and what other people wanted him to be. Throughout the book, he broke through the expectations placed on him and became his own man, had his own opinions and thoughts rather than go along with ignorant ideas. The character Ceelee was brave in standing up for her rights and for the rights of others but when it came to her relationship with Benny, she lacked the courage Benny had. She struggled with her feelings for Benny and the expectations of her society. She had a lot of fear and doubt. That struggle and fear caused her to run away several times, hurting him and herself in the process but eventually, slowly she came around, overcame that fear to be with the man she wanted and Benny never gave up on her. She too had to become her own person and broke free from the box others tried to put her in romantically and otherwise. One of her main supports was her brother to me who told her basically to stop caring about pleasing other people, live for yourself and you only have to answer to yourself and God at the end of the day.
I feel like Benny was far more courageous than ceelee, he took the risks good or bad and never denied her, constantly trying to prove himself to her. I know that ceelee was scared but it was a little frustrating she wouldn't take those too at the same time. She eventually did but I just wish she stood up more for what she wanted. I don't know anything about the 60s or 70s but I'd like to think given interracial marriage became legal in 1967, there were places she and he could go. Eventually they do though.
The character Benny struggled with who he truly was and what other people wanted him to be. Throughout the book, he broke through the expectations placed on him and became his own man, had his own opinions and thoughts rather than go along with ignorant ideas. The character Ceelee was brave in standing up for her rights and for the rights of others but when it came to her relationship with Benny, she lacked the courage Benny had. She struggled with her feelings for Benny and the expectations of her society. She had a lot of fear and doubt. That struggle and fear caused her to run away several times, hurting him and herself in the process but eventually, slowly she came around, overcame that fear to be with the man she wanted and Benny never gave up on her. She too had to become her own person and broke free from the box others tried to put her in romantically and otherwise. One of her main supports was her brother to me who told her basically to stop caring about pleasing other people, live for yourself and you only have to answer to yourself and God at the end of the day.
I feel like Benny was far more courageous than ceelee, he took the risks good or bad and never denied her, constantly trying to prove himself to her. I know that ceelee was scared but it was a little frustrating she wouldn't take those too at the same time. She eventually did but I just wish she stood up more for what she wanted. I don't know anything about the 60s or 70s but I'd like to think given interracial marriage became legal in 1967, there were places she and he could go. Eventually they do though.
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