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Show Me a Kindness
As America plunges into the Great Depression, Marthanne Hendrix finds herself in rural Vidalia, Georgia, with no memory of how she got there. Bewildered when the neighbors call her Oma, Marthanne is haunted by memories of another life―and another self. With the help of Comfort, a domestic worker living with her own tremendous loss, Marthanne discovers that Oma is another distinct personality inhabiting her body. In a time when mental illness is taboo, Marthanne and Oma’s simple, small-town life is fraught with complexity and danger. With gossip running rampant, Marthanne and Oma will do anything to avoid their greatest commitment to an insane asylum. Only by relying on Comfort’s kindness can they navigate their uncertain future. Friendship becomes sanctuary, and the quest for an ordinary life leads to an extraordinary bond. Deeply moving and exquisitely wrought, Show Me a Kindness is a haunting novel of love, survival, and hiding in plain sight.
268 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2017
82 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Brandon
5 books41 followersNancy Brandon grew up in middle Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia. For the past twenty years, she has taught college English in Savannah, Georgia, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her first novel, Dunaway's Crossing, was the finalist for the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Her latest novel, Show Me a Kindness, will release February 7, 2017 from Lake Union Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 35 reviews
January 28, 2017
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Show Me a Kindness tells the story of a woman with multiple personality disorder, Marthanne/Oma. What makes it interesting is that it is set during the Depression in 1930, and mental illness was very taboo at the time. I really empathized with "both" characters. I was rooting for them to be happy.
It also tells the story of a young black girl, Comfort, and her strange friendship with both girls. She helps them on a day to day basis to try to make sense of what is happening to them and trying her best to help them.
The subject of homosexuality is also touched on here, which was very taboo back in 1930s Georgia.
All in all, I found this story very interesting and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction. 4 stars!
Show Me a Kindness tells the story of a woman with multiple personality disorder, Marthanne/Oma. What makes it interesting is that it is set during the Depression in 1930, and mental illness was very taboo at the time. I really empathized with "both" characters. I was rooting for them to be happy.
It also tells the story of a young black girl, Comfort, and her strange friendship with both girls. She helps them on a day to day basis to try to make sense of what is happening to them and trying her best to help them.
The subject of homosexuality is also touched on here, which was very taboo back in 1930s Georgia.
All in all, I found this story very interesting and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction. 4 stars!
August 2, 2017
I found this a touching book filled with interesting, unique characters.
August 11, 2020
*Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book for a honest review*
This book, man did this book make me feel. Considering the era this book takes place in I had to set aside my current beliefs and how I feel about certain topics to fully immerse myself into this book. Once I did I was able to fully commit myself to the book, and boy am I glad that I did.
Marthanne/Oma are two incredible personalities in one package. They are complete opposites of each other but have to communicate (despite seeing each other face to face), most of the book is trying to make this work, while also facing the complications or being mentally ill in an era where not much was known. Comfort was a incredible delight, she was such a warm-hearted but logical person. She was the rationale, the person with the most reason and surprisingly the most understanding with what was going on with everyone.
I also really loved Royce, I'm really glad the author didn't take him down the road I thought he was going to go down. Brandon did an amazing job on her research and giving her characters life. At first the multiple point of views really bothered me, I thought 'oh great another story I have to try and keep track of all the characters', by the end of the book I knew everyone pretty well and I never once had to go back a chapter to remember any of the characters.
I had wished the ended was different, it sort of broke my heart with what every one of these characters went through. Although the ending pretty much tore me up, it actually left me with some peace of mind. Brandon's ending was realistic, something you get too much everyday. I once even had to remind myself that this was fiction and I was not reading someone's memoirs.
In the end I am so glad I read this book despite the heaviness of it's contents.I'll be on the lookout for more of Brandon's work since I've enjoyed this one so much.
This book, man did this book make me feel. Considering the era this book takes place in I had to set aside my current beliefs and how I feel about certain topics to fully immerse myself into this book. Once I did I was able to fully commit myself to the book, and boy am I glad that I did.
Marthanne/Oma are two incredible personalities in one package. They are complete opposites of each other but have to communicate (despite seeing each other face to face), most of the book is trying to make this work, while also facing the complications or being mentally ill in an era where not much was known. Comfort was a incredible delight, she was such a warm-hearted but logical person. She was the rationale, the person with the most reason and surprisingly the most understanding with what was going on with everyone.
I also really loved Royce, I'm really glad the author didn't take him down the road I thought he was going to go down. Brandon did an amazing job on her research and giving her characters life. At first the multiple point of views really bothered me, I thought 'oh great another story I have to try and keep track of all the characters', by the end of the book I knew everyone pretty well and I never once had to go back a chapter to remember any of the characters.
I had wished the ended was different, it sort of broke my heart with what every one of these characters went through. Although the ending pretty much tore me up, it actually left me with some peace of mind. Brandon's ending was realistic, something you get too much everyday. I once even had to remind myself that this was fiction and I was not reading someone's memoirs.
In the end I am so glad I read this book despite the heaviness of it's contents.I'll be on the lookout for more of Brandon's work since I've enjoyed this one so much.
March 24, 2017
Normally, I don't read historical fiction, but this novel really pulled me in and provided a unique perspective on life during the Great Depression. Show Me a Kindness explores stigmas against mental illness and homosexuality in America during the Great Depression, and calls the reader to question if those stigmas still exist today.
This book pulled me in, and as it's told from many perspectives, I quickly grew attached to the characters and empathized with all their personal triumphs and tragedies. Nancy Brandon did an excellent job of making each character feel real and their actions genuine.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to all those who enjoy historical fiction, historical perspectives on mental illness, or those who who are simply looking for a good read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This book pulled me in, and as it's told from many perspectives, I quickly grew attached to the characters and empathized with all their personal triumphs and tragedies. Nancy Brandon did an excellent job of making each character feel real and their actions genuine.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to all those who enjoy historical fiction, historical perspectives on mental illness, or those who who are simply looking for a good read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of providing an honest review.
August 24, 2017
This is one of the best books that I have read this year!
Marthanne & Oma suffer an extremely traumatic experience (more than one, really) and up in a small town on the way to Macon. You immediately feel at home in this small town and recognize several people (same people everywhere, just different names!).
I was immediately drawn to the main characters. Comfort is so incredibly smart and compassionate about people you wonder why everyone can't be like her. Make no mistake, she's no soft touch, but compassionate and understanding and yet completely able to take care of herself by herself, thank you very much! Though this was set in the 50's or 60's in a lot of ways, not a lot has changed.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. I plan to recommend it to several of my friends. I hope you read it; it's really wonderful.
Marthanne & Oma suffer an extremely traumatic experience (more than one, really) and up in a small town on the way to Macon. You immediately feel at home in this small town and recognize several people (same people everywhere, just different names!).
I was immediately drawn to the main characters. Comfort is so incredibly smart and compassionate about people you wonder why everyone can't be like her. Make no mistake, she's no soft touch, but compassionate and understanding and yet completely able to take care of herself by herself, thank you very much! Though this was set in the 50's or 60's in a lot of ways, not a lot has changed.
This book will stay with me for a very long time. I plan to recommend it to several of my friends. I hope you read it; it's really wonderful.
June 27, 2017
Marthanne Hendrix finds herself on a train, but why is she on a train and where is she going? While embarked the train she befriends a boarding house owner... Mrs. Brown, who convinces Marthanne to begin a new life in Vidalia, Georgia.
Bewildered when the neighbors sometimes call her Oma, Marthanne sifts through a fog of memories and with the help of Comfort, a domestic worker living with her own deep loss, Marthanne discovers that Oma is another distinct personality sharing her body. In a time when mental illness is rarely spoke about much less diagnose, Marthanne and Oma's discovery of each other produces angst in lives of the ones around them.
With gossip, running rampant, Marthanne and Oma will do anything to avoid their greatest fear: commitment to an insane asylum. Only by relying on Comfort’s kindness can they navigate their uncertain future. Friendship becomes sanctuary, and the quest for an ordinary life leads to an extraordinary bond.
Thought provoking, Show Me a Kindness puts the reader in a time when mental illness was misunderstood, homosexuality not mentioned or discussed, and racial equality was on the cusp of becoming a movement.
Bewildered when the neighbors sometimes call her Oma, Marthanne sifts through a fog of memories and with the help of Comfort, a domestic worker living with her own deep loss, Marthanne discovers that Oma is another distinct personality sharing her body. In a time when mental illness is rarely spoke about much less diagnose, Marthanne and Oma's discovery of each other produces angst in lives of the ones around them.
With gossip, running rampant, Marthanne and Oma will do anything to avoid their greatest fear: commitment to an insane asylum. Only by relying on Comfort’s kindness can they navigate their uncertain future. Friendship becomes sanctuary, and the quest for an ordinary life leads to an extraordinary bond.
Thought provoking, Show Me a Kindness puts the reader in a time when mental illness was misunderstood, homosexuality not mentioned or discussed, and racial equality was on the cusp of becoming a movement.
March 15, 2017
Wonderful exploration of MPD
This was a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed reading this book from the perspective of multiple people including the two personalities of the main character. At first it was slow and a bit disjointed which made sense given that O/M must have felt that way as well. But as you progress through the chapters you become more involved as the characters. My heart was in my stomach at the climax of the book and I was sad that we missed out on parts of her life. However it was a bittersweet ending that hit the spot.
This was a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed reading this book from the perspective of multiple people including the two personalities of the main character. At first it was slow and a bit disjointed which made sense given that O/M must have felt that way as well. But as you progress through the chapters you become more involved as the characters. My heart was in my stomach at the climax of the book and I was sad that we missed out on parts of her life. However it was a bittersweet ending that hit the spot.
August 13, 2017
SHOW ME A KINDNESS is women's fiction at its finest. The story itself is engrossing, grabbing me from the start and not letting go until the unexpected end. Brandon captures the setting and time period with such finesse that I couldn't help but be pulled back to the era when the story takes place. And the characters are so skillfully portrayed that I could easily picture each of the challenges they faced. An excellent book for anyone who enjoys a story about finding your way in the face of adversity.
Disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
Disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
May 5, 2017
A sad story at times for this woman named Oma at a time when mental illness cannot be spoken about.
Thankfully she had a dear friend named Comfort who helped and understood Oma.
I enjoyed this book, though it was difficult to read at times.
"kindness" to all" is the message .
Thank you to netgalley for accepting my request and allowing me to provide an honest review.
Thankfully she had a dear friend named Comfort who helped and understood Oma.
I enjoyed this book, though it was difficult to read at times.
"kindness" to all" is the message .
Thank you to netgalley for accepting my request and allowing me to provide an honest review.
May 6, 2017
I totally loved this book. Being from Georgia and knowing the author, I expected to like the book, but it was even better than I expected. The characters were awesome, the setting was fun because I'm familiar with the areas, and the issues of mental illness, race, and class were dealt with with respect and dignity. I'm so glad I find this book!
November 20, 2018
My rating is actually a 3.5. I enjoyed this book. As a native, life-long Georgian I always like to support “ local” authors. And this novel is set in the 1930s Depression-era small South Georgia town of Vidalia. It deals with mental health issues-racism and homosexuality. The setting and time frame both play central parts in the work. I’d recommend it.
February 25, 2017
Compelling story dealing with mental illness, set in the 1930's and told from alternating character voices - - Marthanne/Oma, Comfort, Lawrence and Royce.
I received an e-version of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I received an e-version of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
January 4, 2021
Fantastic Characters
The characters were amazing and so well- developed.... they drew me in immediately. I love the shorter chapters from each character's point of view. The story was much easier to follow with the shorter chapters. I love the rural setting.
The characters were amazing and so well- developed.... they drew me in immediately. I love the shorter chapters from each character's point of view. The story was much easier to follow with the shorter chapters. I love the rural setting.
March 9, 2017
Hard to get into at first, but worth it. Interesting topic and storyline for sure
August 7, 2017
Nice gentle well written tale
December 8, 2019
Not my thing
Slow. Detailed to a fault. Wordy for no real reason. Too long a plot to get to a shabby end.
Slow. Detailed to a fault. Wordy for no real reason. Too long a plot to get to a shabby end.
January 13, 2020
Great read. A little disappointed at the ending. I have so many unanswered questions.
June 13, 2022
Wow!
I absolutely loved, Show Me a Kindness. I did not read the back matter before starting, so the whole story took me by surprise! This is a wonderful tale.
I absolutely loved, Show Me a Kindness. I did not read the back matter before starting, so the whole story took me by surprise! This is a wonderful tale.
March 19, 2017
TGreat book, easy reading
Great book, surprised by so many different situations in that period of time. Shows how we should show kindness even in disagreement.
Great book, surprised by so many different situations in that period of time. Shows how we should show kindness even in disagreement.
March 11, 2017
"She showed me a little kindness, so I decided to come and show my respects..." Wonderful story with a twist. Characters to care about dealing with difficult situations in an age that does not seem likely to be open an embracing. It makes me think, count my blessings and wonder about how things change, or rather if they change... What is better?
March 9, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. I found the situations and the characters well developed, not formulaic or contrived. It was a great read.
March 7, 2017
Very enjoyable!
February 24, 2017
Odd book. I almost put it down after the violent first chapter and the death in the second (what exactly WAS wrong with Sara?) I figured out the issue with Oma/Martha Ann pretty quickly but didn't especially like them- either one of them. I liked Comfort, who was a woman ahead of her time. I had a hard time keeping Royce and Lawrence straight initially but not once the secret was revealed. It is well written and I'd like to see more from Brandon. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
February 20, 2017
After a violent and traumatic incident Marthanne and Oma find themselves trying to start a new life in a small town. Their biggest obstacle is that they are two individual women who share one body. They switch in and out of personalities with no recollection of the past few days or how they transition which puts the towns people on edge. They must fight to find stability and normalcy in their ever changing reality. This is an interesting take on mental illness with the story being told from multiple character perspectives.
February 23, 2017
Absolutely beautiful
So many things about this book resonated with me. I'm a Southern born woman and the characters, the Times, the behaviors are as real as they could be. Best thing I've read in a while!
So many things about this book resonated with me. I'm a Southern born woman and the characters, the Times, the behaviors are as real as they could be. Best thing I've read in a while!
February 26, 2017
Comfort and Joy
Half of this story was incredibly great. Half just was... so... hard ... to ... read feeling wooden and ordinary. You must read to the end! It could have been me, a personal lapse of interest that caused me to break every chapter hoping for more substance. I am glad that I finished.
My favorite line: “She once showed me a kindness, and I came to pay my respect.”
Half of this story was incredibly great. Half just was... so... hard ... to ... read feeling wooden and ordinary. You must read to the end! It could have been me, a personal lapse of interest that caused me to break every chapter hoping for more substance. I am glad that I finished.
My favorite line: “She once showed me a kindness, and I came to pay my respect.”
February 19, 2017
Decent
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Decent story, decently written. That's about all I can say about it. Nothing really set it apart, there wasn't anything great about it. There wasn't anything terrible about it either. Just an okay story.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Decent story, decently written. That's about all I can say about it. Nothing really set it apart, there wasn't anything great about it. There wasn't anything terrible about it either. Just an okay story.
February 22, 2017
A southern storm
The book was easy to read. I was disappointed in how the chapters and characters switched so often. I usually like books that are written that way, but this one was hard to follow. It started out fast and furious instead of easing into the characters one by one.
Good storyline, but at the end it shifted up 50 years with no goodies in between.
The book was easy to read. I was disappointed in how the chapters and characters switched so often. I usually like books that are written that way, but this one was hard to follow. It started out fast and furious instead of easing into the characters one by one.
Good storyline, but at the end it shifted up 50 years with no goodies in between.
February 10, 2017
Let me start out by saying that I applaud any author for tackling the tough and taboo subject of mental illness. I'm a big believer in talking about it and educating others to remove the stigma. Cheers to you Nancy Brandon! :)
Show Me A Kindness is a unique story you cannot put down. (Seriously, read it in one night.) I absolutely loved the strength of the main character. Weaker women would shut down but Marthanne takes it in stride and works out a unique way to handle her problem. But is it a permanent solution?
Definitely a must-read for 2017.
I received a free kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Show Me A Kindness is a unique story you cannot put down. (Seriously, read it in one night.) I absolutely loved the strength of the main character. Weaker women would shut down but Marthanne takes it in stride and works out a unique way to handle her problem. But is it a permanent solution?
Definitely a must-read for 2017.
I received a free kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 35 reviews