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Everlasting
Everlasting is the rich tale of Vada Priddy, forced into marriage to a man 20 years her senior. In spite of the adversities she encounters, she manages to forge a decent life, one with its share of happiness and fulfillment, and grows into a strong, Oklahoma woman at peace with her family and friends. This warm-hearted, graceful novel is certain to give readers the exhilarating, inspirational experience of a mid-twentieth century woman and her daily struggles. Its authentic dialogue and imagery leave a long-lasting impression.
275 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 10, 2014
This novel is in a genre I don't normally read. However, once I started, I couldn't stop.
Everlasting is a character-driven piece set in early to mid-20th century Oklahoma. Its situations are familiar to me due to the experiences my grandparents and older members of my family related. The story rings true and authentic, and it was easy to put myself into the settings.
The characters are fully realized, almost living and breathing people whose struggles are more often than not heartbreaking. Vada's journey is a struggle between a mother who is abusive and spiteful, and a husband/family that she never really wanted. However, she makes the most of her life and does everything she can for those she loves. While it isn't easy, she perseveres.
The settings come alive through the author's descriptions and attention to detail. Anyone familiar with the towns used will recognize them immediately. Anyone not familiar with northeast Oklahoma will see a vivid picture painted of small, rural towns and a life that was far from easy to live.
Everlasting is a character-driven piece set in early to mid-20th century Oklahoma. Its situations are familiar to me due to the experiences my grandparents and older members of my family related. The story rings true and authentic, and it was easy to put myself into the settings.
The characters are fully realized, almost living and breathing people whose struggles are more often than not heartbreaking. Vada's journey is a struggle between a mother who is abusive and spiteful, and a husband/family that she never really wanted. However, she makes the most of her life and does everything she can for those she loves. While it isn't easy, she perseveres.
The settings come alive through the author's descriptions and attention to detail. Anyone familiar with the towns used will recognize them immediately. Anyone not familiar with northeast Oklahoma will see a vivid picture painted of small, rural towns and a life that was far from easy to live.
August 18, 2011
This novel made me cry, several times, yes, several times. It elicited strong emotions from me that I didn't want to allow free reign. Even though the era of the book was before I was born, the challenges, the heartbreak, the devestation of the soul are just as prevaliant today. I ached for Vada, wish I had been able to do something to help her, somehow convince her that she was loved, for months after reading this. Rarely does a fictional character take up residence in my heart but Vada has. I've heard a prequel is currently being written and I am impatiently waiting to read it. Beautiful book that was nominated for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award.
August 1, 2017
This is a magnificent work, a rich and powerful story about a poor girl in rural Oklahoma a few years after the Great Depression of the 20th century. With too many mouths to feed and too few choices, Vada's parents force her at the age of fourteen to marry a widower who is twenty years older and has four children. As his wife, this child of fourteen is also forced to consummate the marriage. The book details her struggles to accept her impossible situation. Johnson portrays her as a tough, smart and funny character. How she copes with his children, having four of her own children by the age of twenty and extreme poverty, and how she slowly learns to love Harmon, a good man, but a man who is just as much a flawed product of his time as she is shows the strength of the human spirit in harsh conditions.
I recently read that it is still legal for minor children to marry in all fifty states--all they need is the parents' permission. It still happens today in mostly rural, mostly conservative religious communities and it is almost always young girls to older men.
I recently read that it is still legal for minor children to marry in all fifty states--all they need is the parents' permission. It still happens today in mostly rural, mostly conservative religious communities and it is almost always young girls to older men.
February 7, 2019
One of my very favorite books, and it’s hard to find.
May 10, 2014
I originally read this book about a year ago. There are a lot of things I read and then I sort of forget about them. This book, this isn't one of those. This one got into my head. Vada's story is haunting.
The characters are highly engaging. I think I have a bit of a literary crush on Dempsey in that I wish I'd written him first. Even Harmon, a character that I wanted to hate, was so complex and human that I found myself not only sympathizing with him, but even liking him at times. Vada's mother, the arguable villain of the story, comes across as very damaged, easier to pity than hate. They all feel very real and, if not relatable, at least understandable.
The story is beautifully written, though I did notice some typos and mispellings around 50% of the way through the Kindle version. I'm willing to forgive that that for the fantastic storytelling. And there is one more thing. I tend to disagree with a lot of the reviewers who say this is a triumphant story. Maybe I'm just a pessimist, that wouldn't really be surprising, but I didn't find the end to be happy, exactly. I found it to be necessary-- necessary in that it couldn't go any other way, necessary for the survival of the main character, and necessary for the time period in which the story takes place. But I didn't think it was an empowering tale about finding happiness in where you are. I thought it was a heartbreaking story about survival and what it means to make it through life.
The characters are highly engaging. I think I have a bit of a literary crush on Dempsey in that I wish I'd written him first. Even Harmon, a character that I wanted to hate, was so complex and human that I found myself not only sympathizing with him, but even liking him at times. Vada's mother, the arguable villain of the story, comes across as very damaged, easier to pity than hate. They all feel very real and, if not relatable, at least understandable.
The story is beautifully written, though I did notice some typos and mispellings around 50% of the way through the Kindle version. I'm willing to forgive that that for the fantastic storytelling. And there is one more thing. I tend to disagree with a lot of the reviewers who say this is a triumphant story. Maybe I'm just a pessimist, that wouldn't really be surprising, but I didn't find the end to be happy, exactly. I found it to be necessary-- necessary in that it couldn't go any other way, necessary for the survival of the main character, and necessary for the time period in which the story takes place. But I didn't think it was an empowering tale about finding happiness in where you are. I thought it was a heartbreaking story about survival and what it means to make it through life.
April 7, 2016
A good read
While I would not give it five stars , it was simply a good read. The story begins with the struggles of a poor family, set in the time towards the end of the Depression through the Vietnam war. Avda, the oldest of the daughters, had an emotionally and abusive mother. Forever searching, for every reason possible, to marry off her three daughters. Adva takes us through her journey of what she perceives as a dismal and empty life. Beginning with a mother who is abusive, controlling, and emotionally detached. Including, not only her husband, also her children. Adva, married off at the age of fourteen, to a widower, twice her age. The responsibilities of caring for not only his three children, the ones that followed after. Her struggle to always wonder what, or how different her life could have been. Why her father, who should have defended her against her mother. He knew she was still a child in so many ways. With effort, control, and a heart that eventually filled with love, she became the opposite of her own mother. This path, not of her own choosing, often lonely, overwhelming, full of loss. Through everything, Veda, kept her eye on the light at the end the the dark tunnel, Excepting in the end, she was content with life as it truly existed.
While I would not give it five stars , it was simply a good read. The story begins with the struggles of a poor family, set in the time towards the end of the Depression through the Vietnam war. Avda, the oldest of the daughters, had an emotionally and abusive mother. Forever searching, for every reason possible, to marry off her three daughters. Adva takes us through her journey of what she perceives as a dismal and empty life. Beginning with a mother who is abusive, controlling, and emotionally detached. Including, not only her husband, also her children. Adva, married off at the age of fourteen, to a widower, twice her age. The responsibilities of caring for not only his three children, the ones that followed after. Her struggle to always wonder what, or how different her life could have been. Why her father, who should have defended her against her mother. He knew she was still a child in so many ways. With effort, control, and a heart that eventually filled with love, she became the opposite of her own mother. This path, not of her own choosing, often lonely, overwhelming, full of loss. Through everything, Veda, kept her eye on the light at the end the the dark tunnel, Excepting in the end, she was content with life as it truly existed.
May 8, 2013
Carol Johnson paints Oklahoma with the perfect brush. The main character Vada is an ordinary kid. She lives what seems to her like an ordinary, if not entirely comfortable or sane life, but...
What really happens is she is the focus lens for a peek into the lives of women during the 1920's-50's. The optimum time to witness many of the defining moments in feminine history. Vada's life is far from ordinary by today's standards, and this book gave me a new appreciation for what our mothers/grandmothers had to endure. A truly exceptional work, highly undervalued, even by five stars.
What really happens is she is the focus lens for a peek into the lives of women during the 1920's-50's. The optimum time to witness many of the defining moments in feminine history. Vada's life is far from ordinary by today's standards, and this book gave me a new appreciation for what our mothers/grandmothers had to endure. A truly exceptional work, highly undervalued, even by five stars.
April 1, 2016
Excellent! Set in the 1940s to the 1970s in poverty-stricken rural Oklahoma, the book follows the heroine, Vada, who is forced into marriage at 14 to a man 20 years her senior. Well-written and well researched. (I got this as an Amazon Prime lending library selection, but it would be well worth purchasing.)
January 25, 2008
This is good historical fiction. It's the story of a girl who gets married off at age 13 follows her through her whole life. Very enjoyable!
January 29, 2013
A story, set in Oklahoma in the mid 1900's about a girl who gets married off at a young age. A really good book that is easy to become immersed in.
March 19, 2013
Ugh, this book was so aggressively mediocre. I met the author at book club last week, and I liked her, so I feel bad saying that. But there just wasn't anything I really enjoyed here.
April 20, 2013
This book grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let go. Carol Johnson is an important new writer and a great story teller. I look forward to hearing more from this author.
January 26, 2015
Saving my review for the Postal Book Club #2 Journal ... If you're lucky enough to be a member, you can read it there.
June 30, 2016
Sad, well written, needs proof-reading.
I know this stuff happened, probably still happens, but how dismal. Life should hold joy.
I know this stuff happened, probably still happens, but how dismal. Life should hold joy.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews