Cinder

by Albert French

This title is set in Banes, Mississippi, 1938. The Catfish creek separates the Patch from the town, black from white. These worlds and their prejudices are hauntingly evoked in the rich accents of the American South. Cinder is a woman who belongs to neither, her beauty marking her out as different. Time passes slowly, and the inhabitants of Banes follow the same daily rhythm as they have done for years. Shorty sweeps up in Mister Macky's store, then drinks his wages at LeRoy's bar, men sit spitting outside the Rosey Gray, old people watch the world go by from their porches. But one quiet Sunday morning, when the bombs are dropped on Pearl Harbor, change comes to this small Mississippi town. Spanning four years, "Cinder" is the follow-up to Albert French's outstanding novel, "Billy". It is at once the story of a woman whose life has been torn apart by tragedy, and the portrait of a town divided. It is about loss, community, history and the ties that bind.

Genres: Historical Fiction

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Albert French is an American author and publisher whose works, mainly focusing on the rural life of African Americans, are known for their intensity and distinctive style and have been translated into several languages.

French was born in Pittsburgh in 1943 and joined the Marine Corps when he was 20. His experiences there are described in his book 'Patches of Fire.' After returning home, French worked as a photographer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette before publishing the Pittsburgh Preview for twelve years. He continues to reside in Pittsburgh.

Reviews

[Sheena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sorry to say, I just could not finish this book. The first 25 pages consisted of how and who transported Billy's body and the next 25 really had nothing to do with Cinder, just descriptions of what the people in town were doing. The book is named after Cinder, so I totally expected to hear more of her story within the first 50 pages. It was just too slow and way too descriptive about things that didn't matter. I wish it would've been as great as Billy, and it might have gotten better, but I could not make myself finish.

http://www.hoteatsandcoolreads.com/20...

[Terry O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

French was, at one time or another, a monumental inspiration in my life. On the other hand, I have always appreciated how artistically he mastered his craft; his true portrayal of the African American experience and culture; and the proper use of vernacular language in his writing that brings his characters to life to tell an alluring story. Cinder is a beautiful story.