The Last Road Home

by Danny Johnson

From Pushcart Prize nominee Danny Johnson comes a powerful, lyrical debut novel that explores race relations, first love, and coming-of-age in North Carolina in the 1950s and '60s.

At eight years old, Raeford "Junebug" Hurley has known more than his share of hard lessons. After the sudden death of his parents, he goes to live with his grandparents on a farm surrounded by tobacco fields and lonesome woods. There he meets Fancy Stroud and her twin brother, Lightning, the children of black sharecroppers on a neighboring farm. As years pass, the friendship between Junebug and bright, compassionate Fancy takes on a deeper intensity. Junebug, aware of all the ways in which he and Fancy are more alike than different, habitually bucks against the casual bigotry that surrounds them--dangerous in a community ruled by the Klan.

On the brink of adulthood, Junebug is drawn into a moneymaking scheme that goes awry--and leaves him with a dark secret he must keep from those he loves. And as Fancy, tired of saying yes'um and living scared, tries to find her place in the world, Junebug embarks on a journey that will take him through loss and war toward a hard-won understanding.

At once tender and unflinching, The Last Road Home delves deep into the gritty, violent realities of the South's turbulent past, yet evokes the universal hunger for belonging.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Coming Of Age, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction

319 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2016

Reviews

[Esil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to say much about The Last Road Home because I don't like being too critical of first novels, and based on the very positive reviews so far, my mixed reaction to this book appears to make me an outlier. The setting, idea and themes were real draws for me. The book focuses on Junebug -- a white orphaned teen in North Carolina in the 1960s who's only friends are two neighbouring black twins. The book focuses on the tensions and complications that flow from these relationships over the course of several years -- racism and violence an ever present overlay. Despite this interesting set up and context, I struggled with the writing and flow of the story -- this felt like an early draft that needs a fair bit of polish. Oddly, the epilogue jumped out as one of the strongest parts of the book -- a suitably untidy ending with some good introspection. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com

In The Last Road Home Danny Johnson has produced something very close to a masterpiece. Within 310 pages we have history, romance, family love and psychology. The book is extremely easy to read with short chapters that encourage you to read on. Told in the first person and with a limited number of strong characters, the plots are very easy to follow.

This is a powerful tale which touches so many senses. It covers some tough subjects including racial inequality, alcohol abuse, drug supply and the Vietnam War; all with a no-holds-barred approach. At times, the descriptions of sex and violence are rather graphic but probably necessary for the story.

Given that the book is set around one hundred years after the United States abolished slavery, and in my own lifetime, I was initially surprised at the level of segregation, abuse and bigotry against the black people of North Carolina. Then I recalled hearing stories of the members of the band Booker T and the MGs having to stay in separate hotels while on tour. I am also minded that there are currently millions of people in today’s world that are slaves in all but name.

As a veteran of the Vietnam War, Danny Johnson is ideally positioned to use his personal observations and I was impressed by the contrasting ways that he and his two close colleagues handled the mental strains of their extremely challenging role in that conflict.

But do not get too downhearted, as The Last Road Home is not all doom and gloom. I enjoyed the descriptions of life on a small farm in the 1950’s and 60’s where a mule still provided most of the heavy transport. Johnson also gives us wonderful touches of family affection, comradeship and of course, Junebug’s sisterly friendship and subsequent romance with Fancy. (I always say I don’t enjoy romance but.…)

I am aware that Danny Johnson has had a number of short stories published but so far this appears to be his only full length novel. I look forward to more and have awarded The Last Road Home five stars.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolutely Stellar Debut! Poignant, Gut-wrenching and beautifully written.
One of the best books I’ve read this year.

Danny Johnson’s The Last Road Home is a coming of age novel that explores the harsh realities of race relations in the South in the 1950 and 60’s.

Junebug Hurley is eight years old when he loses both parents in a tragic accident and is sent to live with his Grandparents on a farm in North Carolina. At a tender age, he learns to farm the land and the tobacco fields and almost immediately learns how to become a man. There, he befriends Fancy Stroud and her twin brother Lightning, both of whom live on a neighboring farm, and are children of black sharecroppers. Year after year, tragedy continues to befall Junebug, yet somehow he perseveres. The one constant in his life through it all, is Fancy. During this time, their friendship develops into something more and though they know it’s dangerous, they cannot fight their feelings. The Deep South however, is no place for a relationship such as theirs and Fancy decides to leave home and see what else life has to offer. This leaves Junebug alone once again. Shortly thereafter, he decides to take a journey to far off places in order to find peace within himself.

The Last Road Home is a beautiful, emotional and incredibly sweet novel. It is a book about the trials and tribulations of a young boy in the South and his ability to adapt, survive and thrive in the worst of times. Junebug is a kind, lovable and conflicted character who you can’t help but sympathize with and Fancy is a strong willed young girl who becomes an amazing woman. All of the characters in this book are extremely well developed (when reading it you feel as though you are in the characters shoes and are feeling what they are feeling). For me, it was hard to believe that this was a debut novel. It is truly an amazing book and was an exceptionally well written and was an enjoyable easy read.

This is a great book for a book club as it explores such topics as race relations, forbidden first love, war and perseverance when all seems lost. I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Danny Johnson for giving me the chance to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Published: July 21, 2016;
Published on Goodreads and NetGalley.
Published on Amazon on 7/28/16.

[Danny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Danny,

My husband and I recently repatriated to Raleigh after 21 years abroad.
I am an avid reader and have been in book clubs for years. I happened across your new book at Quail Ridge Books last Sunday and found the content intriguing as my father was a fourth generation tobacco farmer in Wake County. (I was out of town so I was unable to attend your event this week.)

I've never written a personal note to an author before and it's rather intimidating, but I have to tell you how your words spoke to my heart. I grew up with "the help" eating in the backyard and I never understood it. Living abroad with a diverse population was good for my soul and loved the way Fancy moved to France where she discovered a life filled with equality.

Recently I found the old "sweet tea pitcher" used by the help outdoors and have been using it all the time with fond but conflicted memories of those times.

I can't thank you enough for writing this beautiful book. It spoke to me like no other book. Thank you for writing it. I only hope to sit and have a cup of coffee with you someday and reminisce those days and hear more about your journey of The Last Road Home.

Hope it sells millions of copies!

All the best,

Marcia Barham

--
Marcia

[Myndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because of the subject matter – an interracial relationship in the south in the early 60’s – I expected this to be an emotionally difficult read. Up to the last hundred pages, I was on pins and needles, paralyzed by pent up tension, waiting for something awful to happen. And bad things happened, don’t get me wrong. The racial tensions, the struggle of black people in the south, especially on the cusp of the civil rights movement, it was intensely palpable in this book. But, the kind of bad I was expecting never peaked. No visceral scenes of terrible violence. With the exception of one incident (where no one was physically hurt), it was more internal and external dialogue, and a view into some black and white relationships, that painted the less than palatable picture. So it was hard to read because it makes me so angry, because people were hurting, and because change was (and is, damn it!) so slow in that part of our country, but not for the reasons I expected.

The relationships in this book, the subject matter that is explored, they are wonderful aspects of the story that make it well worth reading. It offered several different perspectives on how things were back then, and I appreciate when a well-rounded approach is taken. The story was well-written, the characters were deep and fully fleshed out, and I felt everything I believe I was meant to.

As I was reading, I kept having to go back and check what time period it was taking place in because things were so backwards, I kept feeling like it must be the early 1900’s or just a tad bit past post-slavery. And every time I verified again that it was the 50’s and 60’s, it made my stomach turn.

Growing up in California, probably the most progressive state in the union, I just didn’t feel this kind of tension, and while I know I’m a generation away from the characters in this book (maybe even two generations), it’s hard for me to believe that things were that bad in this country so recently. I’m sure things were different in the west and the north at that time as well (things weren’t “good” anywhere, racially speaking), but I think we all know that, just like today, the south has been slow to come around to embracing racial equality. Knowing that and feeling it are two different things though, aren’t they? If you are an empathic person with a strong sense of fairness, I imagine these realities will tear you up inside as well.

My only complaint about the book itself is the latter part feels disjointed. I think I understand why the writer felt it was necessary to the story, but the change in environment was pretty jarring, and the ending, while probably realistic, was also a bit heartbreaking. It could have been worse, but it sure as hell could have been better as well. I was hoping for a little bit better for Junebug. I just felt sad for him.

Overall, definitely worth a read. It’s a thought-provoking book that peels back the veil just enough to remind us where we’ve been and how much work there is left to do.

Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Jenni Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking coming-of-age story set in rural North Carolina in the years leading up to the Civil Rights Movement. The protagonist, white orphan, Junebug, who tells the story in first person, is engaging and endearing. His religious but racially enlightened grandparents, who bring him up, along with his close friends, Lightning and Fancy, the children of black sharecroppers from a nearby farm, enrich his life and his attitudes. But his relationship with Fancy cannot escape the harsh reality of segregation and Jim Crow laws. The portrayal of the Southern racism, prejudice and hatred of those times seem sadly still relevant today. A book well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley for an advance reader copy.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been sitting on my tablet half of forever. I guess it was waiting for some long, hot summer day to demand I finally read it.

There is storytelling, and there is writing. They two terms aren't really synonymous. Many fine storytellers are not skilled writers, and many good writers are not skilled storytellers. If I had to rate this book solely on the writing, I'd say it could use some work. The pacing is uneven and in some places it feels like something has been edited out or changed without weaving the raw edges back together. (Is this another example of the Because Everyone in My Writing Group Said So Syndrome? I don't know.)

Johnson, at least at this point, is more storyteller than writer. His characters feel authentic, and he understands who they are and what motivates them. Anyone familiar with rural central NC in that era could easily accept this story as credible. Personally, I prefer a good story that might not be the best writing to highly polished writing that has nothing to say. This story had plenty to say and so was a satisfying read.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

GNAB Danny Johnson brings us an excellent classic southern coming of age novel. Set in a small southern farming town in the 1950's where hardline discrimination is the norm and the klan is king, this is not an easy book to read though it is so compelling you cannot put it down. Even as we move into the 1960's and countrywide black/white discrimination is more of a casual sort the Vietnam war veterans join the mix and churn it up again. We know intellectually that we still have such a great way to go in achieving true equality, but it takes a book like The Last Road Home to underline just how far we have come. This is a debut novel in name only. Danny Johnson is an author to follow.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Danny Johnson, and Kensington Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

pub date 2016
Kensington Publishers

[Olga Miret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fate, love, race, violence, war and how some themes remain always relevant Thanks to Net Galley and to Kensington for offering me a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the description of the novel I was interested in discovering a new Southern writer and seeing how Danny Johnson fitted in with a literary tradition filled with pathos and a heavy historical burden. Unfortunately, the news filled up with incidents of racial violence in the USA as I was reading it and it made the content of the book topical and urgent, even if the story goes back to the times of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.
The story is told in the first person by Junebug, a young white boy that at the opening of the novel is only eight years old and has just lost his parents in a car accident (his father made moonshine liquor and they were driving with the car full of alcohol at the time of the incident). The boy goes to live at his grandparents’ tobacco farm and becomes friendly with twin African-American siblings, Fancy and Lightning. This is South Carolina and although the friendship flourishes whilst they are kids, it is clear that whites and African-Americans know their places and there might be heartache to come. From very early on fate seems to be against Junebug that after losing his parents, and in short succession loses his grandfather and later his grandmother, being left looking after the tobacco farm alone aged only fifteen. By that point Lightning has left seeking adventure, his relationship with Fancy has moved on and things get more and more complicated.
The novel deals with many of the typical themes to be expected from a Southern novel: race relations (and interracial relationships), the weight of family and small town morals, historical memory (there’s only a passing mention of the Civil War, but the Ku-Klux-Klan plays an important part in the plot and later we hear also about the Civil Rights Movement). The novel is also a coming of age story, as we follow the main characters from a very early age, and see them change, in body and character, and discover new urges and feelings as they grow. (A word of warning: there is some sexual content, although not the most explicit I’ve read or even close.) As they live in a farm, there is a fair amount of detail of traditional farming tasks, from growing up tobacco, to churning butter or killing a chicken or a pig, which I enjoyed and I didn’t find overly long or distracting from the main plot.
Junebug’s life is marked by violence, and it reflects the violence that is part of the history and the atmosphere of the land. He gets fixated on his dog’s death (his father shots the injured dog at the beginning of the story) and his fate, apart from losing loved ones, seems to put him on the way of circumstances that lead to his use of violence (but I don’t want to give too much of the story away). After a serious warning from the KKK, he ends up in Vietnam, as a way of finding refuge (for strange that it might seem) from his loneliness. There he discovers he has a natural talent as a sniper but finally things come to a head when he realises he’s not as hard and as strong as he had always thought and one can’t hide from the consequences of one’s own actions and violence forever.
I did enjoy the style of the novel, its many memorable lines, the many themes that give one pause (that also include PTSD after Junebug’s war experience although possibly even before that) and the details of everyday life offered by the narration. I spent over half the novel trying to accurately place it in time (we are given clues, like the price of things and the fact that Junebug’s mother’s grandfather fought in the Civil War) but Junebug mentions it is 1963 quite late in the story (although admittedly it would have seemed irrelevant to a child in his position). His style of language changes suddenly when he gets to Vietnam, as once more he has to adapt to new extreme conditions, and he seems to get into the role of the marine easily and with gusto.
I found the plot and the experiences of the main characters interesting, although perhaps too much is fitted into a single book and it does not allow for a deep exploration of the many different strands. Junebug is not very articulate when it comes to his feelings, although some of his reflections can be quite sharp. He not only tries to hide his feelings from others but also from himself (it’s not easy to trust somebody when all your loved ones die and you wonder if there’ something wrong with you), and even an experienced therapist has difficulties getting to the root of things, but that fits in with his experiences and his personality. Junebug has flashes of insight, like when he wonders how Fancy must feel, knowing that she’s considered a second-hand citizen only because of the colour of her skin. He does not notice a big social difference between him and Fancy and her folks, but he is young, naïve, inexperienced, and it takes him a while to realise that due to the fact that he is white and has a farm he belongs in a completely different universe in the eyes of his neighbours and a big part of the society. Personally, I would have liked to follow Fancy’s story in more detail, but that is not the focus of the book. Thankfully, the ending is not typical, although it might leave some wondering (considering the character’s age one can’t help but wonder if that’s the end).
In summary, a well-written novel that fits in within the Southern writing tradition, although not ground-breaking. I’ll follow the author’s career with interest.

[Heather Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deep South in the 60s is no place for black and white to mix especially when one is the employer’s son and the other the help’s daughter! But an innocent friendship between Fancy and Junebug turns into something much deeper and hard to ignore.
Trouble is inevitable as Fancy’s brother leads Junebug into a dangerous venture, with lasting consequences.
We follow Junebug through his sad and sometimes lonely life all the way to Vietnam and back!
It’s so good this book, I’ve loved it and the characters develop so well with an ending that’s not predictable and leaves you thinking.

[Rachel]

My personal "star" rating system:
1 star: Could not finish the book
2 star: Had to force myself to finish the book, did not care for the book, and will not be seeking out this author in the future
3 star: Liked the book, but will not necessarily be seeking out this author in the future
4 star: Really liked the book and would read more of this author, but will not be re-reading this particular book again
5 star: Loved it so much that I will re-read this book in the future, and the author is going onto my list for pre-orders of their future titles

My rating: 4 stars

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 1960s as America is coming to terms with the Civil Rights Movement, eight year old Raeford (Junebug) Hurley’s life becomes a series of misfortunes when his parents are killed in a car accident. He goes to live with his grandparents on their North Carolina tobacco farm where he befriends twins Fancy and Lightning (children of Black sharecroppers). When Junebug’s grandfather dies, and then shortly after his grandmother also dies, he must quickly become a man.

In the KKK south, life becomes unbearable when Junebug and Fancy fall in love. Their life forever changes as the 60s and Vietnam War loom.

This bildungsroman is exquisitely written with vivid characters you become invested in. The pacing lends to the pain and happiness the characters experience.

Highly recommend.

[Diane Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for a copy of this book. A dramatic, graphic and moving debut novel from Danny Johnson set in the South amongst racial tensions and injustice. An orphaned child “Junebug” the main protagonist grows up with two local black children. Colour is not an issue for him, a relationship develops between him and Fancy and they have to deal with the consequences of their actions. “Junebug” weathers the storms that inevitably present themselves.

[Weeziee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I read so far this year!

[Bren McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnson's The Last Road Home is about a boy, who was thrust into manhood way too soon, after a series of personal losses in the 1950s rural South. What the boy named Junebug does ( I LOVE Johnson's names for his people) is put a new family together, making choices along the way that are ripe with conflict. In fact, it's what I admire most about this amazing story -- this writer is not afraid to heap on trouble for his people. And that takes guts. I'm going to take a lesson from him.

[Nancy Cusey]

took an unexpected turn in the middle and I really liked it!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended Read

The Last Road Home is a heartbreakingly poignant coming of age novel that takes place in rural North Carolina in the years leading up the Civil Rights Movement. This powerful debut by Danny Johnson is a realistic portrayal of race relations and farm life that is incredibly relevant in today's volatile climate where racism, bigotry and hatred are sadly once again on the rise.

After eight year old Raeford "Junebug" Hurley's parents are killed in a car accident, he goes to live full-time with his grandparents on their tobacco farm. Junebug is deeply influenced by his surprisingly forward thinking grandparents who do not share their fellow Southerners prejudices and he forms a close friendship with Lightning and Fancy, the children of sharecroppers from a nearby farm.  Unlike his grandparents whose faith is unshakeable, he does not view his religious teachings as absolute truth and as he endures loss after loss, he is pretty much done with religion. Although his relationship with Lightning becomes tense off and on throughout the years, Junebug and Fancy always remain close therefore it is no surprise to those closest to them when their friendship deepens into forbidden love. With the ugly specter of the Ku Klux Klan looming over them and the harsh reality of the hatred that surrounds them, is Junebug and Fancy's relationship doomed to fail?

Despite the losses he has endured and the sometimes cruel nature of farm living, Junebug is a sensitive, kindhearted and thoughtful young man. He thinks for himself and he is lucky to have grandparents who allow him the freedom to question the injustices that occur around them. Although he is accustomed to the racial slurs and epitaphs of his neighbors, Junebug never allows other people's prejudices to sway him and he is angered by the bigotry that is so deeply ingrained in Southern culture. Even with his grandmother's thoughtful explanation of why people are unable to let the past go, Junebug refuses to accept racism as the status quo and he will not give up his friendship with Fancy, Lightning and their parents.

Junebug's innocence is endearing but it is inevitable that his life and friendship will eventually be touched by the ugliness of his neighbors and the Klan. Through his friendship with Fancy, he experiences firsthand the harsh reality of segregation and Jim Crow laws. Junebug naively believes his relationship with Fancy will go unnoticed by those around him and while they do not flaunt their liaison, it is only a matter of time before someone uncovers the truth about them. Fancy is much more realistic about their future than Junebug and she makes a decision that irrevocably changes Junebug's life.

Written in first person from Junebug's point of view, The Last Road Home is a realistic depiction of life in the South and while some of the content is difficult to read, it is a heartwrenchingly honest representation of the time period. While it would be nice to believe these dark days are behind us, recent events indicate that racism, prejudice and hatred are alive and well and now extend well beyond Southern borders. This debut novel by Danny Johnson highlights a horrifying and shameful period in American history that should never be forgotten or repeated.

An absolutely outstanding piece of literary fiction that should be on EVERYONE'S reading list.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 26th, 2016.

I tend to shy away from coming of age stories as a lot of them tend to be slow moving and dull. Something convinced me to give this one a chance and I am sure glad I did. I was drawn in from the beginning and I am still thinking about it hours after I have read the last sentence.

As someone who writes a lot of reviews, I am almost hesitant to try to capture my thoughts on this story. What if I can't do it justice? I know I don't have the right words to do so. This story deals with issues prevalent in the 50's & 60's with racial relations and an unpopular war. I can't help but notice that after all this time these are still issues within our society. It is sad but I am here to talk about this book.

Those seeking happy go lucky should look elsewhere as these pages are filled with conflict, tragedy and hard lessons. The things that Junebug has to deal with in his young life is overwhelming. The loss of his parents, the loss of other loved ones and the fact that he loves someone that is not accepted within his society. I was glued to the pages to find out what would happen next.

You also have the characters that easily earn your hatred. From Lightning, to Mr Wilson, to the cast of characters that don the white sheet over their bodies. It is easy to see how Junebug did not necessarily know how to make the best choices. Then there are the ones you are rooting for such as Fancy and Junebug. You can't help but wish the world was a different place so that they could conquer it together.

I found that this story split nicely into to separate parts. The story before the war and then the rest. This kept the pace interesting. The enjoyed the war aspect and all the heart wrenching and disgusting details. For me it added another layer of believability. It really was a volatile time.

I wish that I could discuss the ending however I do not want to include any spoilers in my review. I could dedicate a whole paragraph/page to my thoughts on it. All I will say is that I feel it was an appropriate and consistent ending for the story.

A great read!

[Once Upon a Romance Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 Stars
Sexual Content: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content: Mild
Violent Content: Minimal

This is a wonderful story from the North Carolina decades ago. The story centers on Raeford "Junebug" Hurley from the time that he is a little boy, who goes to live with his grandparents after his parents die, until he returns home again, decades later to a changed landscape and he realizes that he and the people of his childhood have changed too.

Living with his grandparents surrounded by tobacco fields, Junebug becomes friends with Fancy and Lightning Stroud, the children of black sharecroppers. Despite the area controlled by the Klan, the children form a friendship that lasts because they realize that they have very many things in common, including a tendency to throw overboard conventions imposed on them by society.

The story covers the changing life in the south, from a Klan controlled rural setting that has children grow up sheltered and exposed to cruel reality at the same time. This kids are then travelling halfway across the globe to a foreign country to fight a war few of them understand the reason for. The coming home is finding a North Carolina that has changed as have the people living in it. Some remnants of the past remain, but for the most part people have moved on.

The author manages to retell the story of a generation of people growing up in a Klan-controlled South that were protagonists in inducing societal changes, without realizing that they were involved such changes. Only after returning to the place they grew up, do the changes become obvious. In this book, none of the characters are without flaws, every single one of them makes mistakes, but nevertheless, the characters end up bringing about positive change despite all their faults. If you like Southern literature, this is an interesting new book that does not paint the South in glorious rainbow colors, but despite all the faults and misery, the South is still home to and loved by many people. Just like the characters in the novel find love, the South, despite all its faults, is a cherished home for many people that would not want to live anywhere else and the author has a way of showing his love for the South throughout this book.

-- EVA

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com First Reads Giveaway

Life is hard in the late 1950's and 60's in the South. When Junebug's parents die in a car accident, he comes to live with his Grandparents and learns the value of wisdom and hard work on their tobacco farm. He also learns what friendship really is when he meets and Fancy and Lightning. They are the children of the black sharecroppers that live just through the woods from Junebug's place. He also learns that grief is everlasting as is love. He learns that hatred has power that will move a heart, a family, even a country. This novel takes Junebug through his first love, his first murder and his wars; both internal and external. Because, after all, when we're young love is love, but when we grow up love cannot heal all wounds...

[Sharon Thurnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a #Goodreadsgivaway. I really enjoyed this book. It started as a bit of a love story that blended into an upward spiral of life stories. Touching my levels, friendship, love, racism, war, redemption... etc... Throughout the book, I was rooting for Junebug and Fancy and a happy ending. I really thought it was want I wanted to see. However, towards the end, I began to wonder if there could be a happy ending for these two, together. As much as I wanted it, I came to understand that it just could not be, no matter how much I might have craved it. The story did take the right direction though. The death of Lightening sealed the fate of Fancy and Junebug. No matter how much love there was between them, it could not override the tragedy. A secret buried so deep and yet, right there on the surface each time Junebug held Fancy in his arms. I am happy that Fancy found love, starting with the love of herself, which she found with the help of Junebug. It was a long road for both but they seemed to find the peace each was looking for in the end. All in all, a great read!

[Marcia]

When I stumbled on this book I found the content intriguing as my father was a fourth generation tobacco farmer in NC. The words spoke to my heart. I grew up with "the help" eating in the backyard and I never understood it. Living abroad with a diverse population for 21 years was good for my soul and loved the way Fancy moved abroad where she discovered a life of equality.

If you wish to understand Southern life in the early '60's this is a book for you. The writing is beautiful and each character becomes of part of your world. You can feel and smell what the characters experience. Each character is well developed and you have some understanding of the social/cultural complexity of those changing times.

Page 38 - concerning race: "I'd listened to that kind of talk all my life at corn shuckin' parties, hog killings, even standing around the churchyard. It was hard to understand how they could hate people not a one of them could make a living without." Danny Johnson

I've found a new author and can't wait for his next book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may be late in the year, but this is one of the BEST books I've read all year. Although familiar with the locations in a physical setting in N. Carolina, the book is set from the mid 1950's until the early 1970's, with the majority of the book taking place in the early 1960's. Set in rural Chatham County, it juxtaposes the lives of two childhood neighbors, one black and one white. While they forge a bond bound by true morality, they are ultimately split by the racial divide continuing to plague their community and enforced by the Klan.

When I finished the book and read the author's interview, I was not surprised when asked what book influenced him the most and he responded, "Serena" by Ron Rash. Read "Serena" first, then read this, then read every Ron Rash book there is!

[Susan McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danny Johnson will surely make the shortlist for best new writers, best Southern writers and best American writers with this powerful debut novel.

Junebug's voice is so authentic and truthful, it breaks the reader's heart in its simplicity. Unafraid to explore race, Southern history and culture, and even the depths of the Vietnam War, Johnson shows the raw pain of a young man the world has forsaken. The reader never feels pity, but only empathy, rooting for Junebug at every turn, but also fearing for him as his fate unfolds.

I relished every turn of the page in The Last Road Home, and can't wait to read what Johnson has for us next.

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. it follows the life of kids growing up in the south all the way past the viet nam war. it has a lot of history of the past.

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Road Home by Danny Johnson is an excellent story. Take Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mocking Bird and the classic Vietnam war film, Platoon, put them together in a story that relates the gritty and brutal reality of life growing up in the deep south of America during the 1950s and 1960s, when racism and inequality towards African-Americans is bone-chilling and reaching a fever pitch and when the Vietnam war is raging. Put young love into the mix, survival, twists and turns that no one could have expected, and yet so tangibly real, and you have a tale that holds you to the end. Johnson does an excellent job of creating compelling dialogues, meaty and real, and yet salted with enough humor to make this story a real pleasure. The writing style is true to its theme, the story of a young white boy and young black girl, from two entirely different cultures, who become the best of friends and lovers, and who are forced to hide their love because of the hatred, prejudice and fear which surrounds them. There are colorful phrases, worthy of quotation, such as:
“Grandma had a wide face, like somebody had grabbed both cheeks and stretched them. She joked that her wrinkles were a road map of hard times and bad luck.” Or, “War doesn’t end with a period, just a comma. When you survive, demons often come to live with you, and it’s possible many won’t go away.”
The Last Road Home leaves an indelibly deep emotional footprint on the mind. This is a story that many people can relate to, about a time in recent history when the human soul and the revolutionary minds of the young, rebelled against the crusty and oppressive mediocrity of cultural oppression, hatred and prejudice. An awakening that could not and would not be repressed and one which would go on to change the world. It is an insightful, gritty and compelling read about true friendship, love and the strength and depth of the human soul. Highly recommended.
This book review is also available at International Writers Inspiring Change

[Tammie Craig-niewedde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danny Johnson’s tale of a South not quite caught up to modernity captured me at first. A story of sharecroppers, a child who’d faced great tragedy, and forbidden love captivated me.

Junebug’s parents die in a car wreck, leaving him to live on a farm with his grandparents, who would die within a few years. His best friends, Lightning and Fancy, are the children of sharecroppers, and Fancy and Junebug find romance early on.

The story continues when the young lovers are discovered,sparking the interest of local yocal hate groups, and the man who owned the property on which Junebug’s young African American girlfriend lived with her family. My interest deepened. Would the couple survive the tumultuous times? Would she become pregnant? Would love conquer all? The complications of life in America’s pre-Civil Rights Movement South made this part of the novel phenomenal.

Unfortunately, I found myself losing interest as Fancy’s parents, in order to protect their daughter from the evils of racism, sent her away, and her lover joined the Marines. At this point, the book took a sharp left into typical 1960s fair—Vietnam; the story became a soldier’s experience with Marine training, paired with seemingly every cliched expression circa 1980s Vietnam war-themed movies. It was as if Johnson lifted lines directly from Full Metal Jacket and Rambo. Junebug’s longing for Fancy remains, but the novel dies right there on the battlefield.

Although Junebug lives to tell the tales of his war experience, he becomes a stone-cold killer with PTSD; no shock there. We’ve known Junebug had no issue killing folks ever since he killed Fancy’s brother and a couple other drug dealers. The romance was gone, though, both figuratively and literally.

I did finish the book, and I wouldn’t call it horrible. I just think it felt horribly disjointed—almost 2 puzzle piece that look the same, but don’t quite fit. The writing in the first section of the book was much stronger than the last, too. It’s almost as if Junebug stole Johnson’s energy. Maybe, the character assassinated the author.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A coming-of-age story that proved to be an easy and engaging read despite some early reservations. Johnson created two very likeable main characters, characters you wanted to see get their " happy ending" yet knew such a result wouldn't be easy or perhaps even possible. Johnson also created a varied and decently fleshed out supporting cast for his main characters to interact with, adding depth to their story. Having grown up in this same era but far removed from the kind of life Junebug and Fancy had to lead, I found the historical backdrop this story played out against intriguing as well.

So what were my early reservations? Don't laugh, but I thought we spent way too much time in bed with Junebug and Fancy as their relationship evolved into a physical one in the first half of the story. There wasn't really anything explicit in these paragraphs, it was more a sense of sameness--as if the author copied and pasted the same scene over and over again. There came a point where if I had to read that he pulled her leg over his hip and etc. one more time, I was going to throw the book against the wall. And no, I wasn't looking for a trip through the Kama Sutra. On the contrary, after an initial scene, I felt the story would have lost nothing if we had been left outside the bedroom door and gotten on with the story.

Fortunately, there is much, much more to this story, making it well worth the read.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

No one could claim Junebug Hurley has had an easy life. Following a fairly hardscrabble start in rural North Carolina, he goes to live with grandparents when his parents are killed running moonshine. His grandparents' closest neighbors are black sharecroppers; twins Fancy and Lightning quickly become Junebug's best - and only - friends. The situation is fraught, particularly as they come of age in the Jim Crow south where each child must determine how best to face - or flee - the bias and violence that infuses everyday life.

The Last Road Home, if I'm honest, is middling fiction. The story is fine, the characters are fine, there's nothing too much wrong, and yet. I've had a hard time putting my finger on the pulse of what left me less than completely satisfied. I think I've got it: in the end, I think Danny Johnson tries to do too much. The dichotomy between the urban cities withe their guns, drugs, and unrest and the mule-drawn tobacco farms left me with a case of whiplash.

Similarly, the last, and shortest, part of the book that covers Junebug's time in Vietnam felt too disconnected from the rest of the book. Perhaps that was Johnson's intent. Perhaps the disconnect was intended as a literary device to signal to readers the extent of the disconnect between soldier and civilian. If so, it's hard to criticize the intent. In the end, though, it left me feeling that I was reading two novellas, neither of which was as fully developed as it could have been.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I clicked the 3 star rating meaning, "it was ok" but the 2 star rating is actually the one that says "it was ok". I just don't like giving something 2 stars. I really wanted to like/love this book---it's by an NC author, the story line has great potential, and in theory, Danny Johnson's writing is good. But somehow I just couldn't get into this book. I truly tried. The characters are interesting but somehow it just didn't carry me. Maybe if I pick it up at a later time I'll be able to get into it? I don't know. I made it to Chapter 21, page 111 and put it down. It's been 2 weeks and I haven't had the urge to pick it up and see what Junebug and Fancy are up to. Sigh.