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The Ada Decades
Over seven decades, Librarian, Ada Shook, is witness to the racism laced through her Southern city; the paradox of religion as both comfort and torment; and the survival networks created by gay people. Eleven interconnected stories cover the sweep of one woman's personal history as she reaches her own form of Southern womanhood--compassionate, resilient, principled, lesbian.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2017
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159 people want to read
About the author
Paula Martinac
17 books34 followersI'm the author of seven novels, including the most recent Dear Miss Cushman (12/7/21); Testimony (2021); Clio Rising (2019), Gold Medal Finalist, Northeast Region, Independent Publisher Book Awards; The Ada Decades (2017), a finalist for the 2018 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction; and the Lambda Literary Award-winning Out of Time, which was a finalist for the American Library Association Gay and Lesbian Book Award. I've also published three nonfiction books on LGBT themes; authored plays that were produced in Pittsburgh, New York, and D.C.; and written an award-winning full-length screenplay. I'm a lecturer in the undergraduate creative writing program at UNC Charlotte and a writing instructor with Charlotte Center for the Literary Arts. In 2019, I was lucky to receive fellowships from the Arts and Science Council (Charlotte/Mecklenburg County) and the North Carolina Arts Council, which helped me write my upcoming novel, Dear Miss Cushman (2021).
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 3, 2017
The Ada Decades is beautifully written. Each story takes us through a different stage in Ada’s life, allowing us to follow her from girlhood to her golden years. At the same time, we see the struggles with racism in Charlotte alongside the difficulties of living as a lesbian in a time when it wasn’t legal. The structure of the book lends itself well to the overall story, with the individual pieces forming a complete narrative, much like The Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro.
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/ada-d...
Full review: http://www.thelesbianreview.com/ada-d...
April 4, 2017
We are not good about remembering our history, at least in the United States. We learn the major events, the wars, the presidents, but we don't remember the little things, such as how far both civil rights and gay rights have come in just 100 years.
This book, told in a series of chapters that take a brief slide of Ada's life throughout from young childhood, to first job, to first love. Along the way we learn about major events, seen through her eyes, of the lynching of black men, from a postcard her father kept hidden, for some unknown reason, at least to Ada, to segregation, to gay rights marches.
Ada is very real, as is Cam, her "friend", and they are neither of them perfect. At times you feel angry at Ada, and at other times, you want Cam to change her ways, but throughout all the stories, and all the chapters, you can tell they love each other, even thought they ware very far into the closet.
Easy, quick read. Most enjoyable. Nice about of research, and fun to boot.
Thanks to the publishers of the Ada Decades and to her publisicst for making this book available for an honest review. It was a pleasure interviewing Paula.
This book, told in a series of chapters that take a brief slide of Ada's life throughout from young childhood, to first job, to first love. Along the way we learn about major events, seen through her eyes, of the lynching of black men, from a postcard her father kept hidden, for some unknown reason, at least to Ada, to segregation, to gay rights marches.
Ada is very real, as is Cam, her "friend", and they are neither of them perfect. At times you feel angry at Ada, and at other times, you want Cam to change her ways, but throughout all the stories, and all the chapters, you can tell they love each other, even thought they ware very far into the closet.
Easy, quick read. Most enjoyable. Nice about of research, and fun to boot.
Thanks to the publishers of the Ada Decades and to her publisicst for making this book available for an honest review. It was a pleasure interviewing Paula.
May 24, 2020
The Ada Decades follows MC Ada Shook, school librarian and her long time partner, Cam Lively, junior high English teacher from the 1950s through 2015. A glorious snapshot of what it was like for two women in love with each other, navigating the cruel world of the 20th Century, living on their own terms and seeing the positive changes from Civil Rights to Marriage Equality. A real page turner and an easy read.
Second time: I'm re-reading this for a LGBTQ book group. Wanted to make some notes of this lovely book to share with my group:
The story of Ada and Cam seems very simple, very basic. I love that about the book. It's great to read stories about people who are bigger than life. Characters who do things no one else could imagine. But it's also important and interesting to read stories about ordinary people living ordinary lives. Because that is most of us.
Ada and Cam lived through so many huge moments in the 20th Century. And through all those events, they lived them together, as a lesbian couple in Charlotte, NC during a time when it was a criminal act to be LGBTQ.
As the ending says, they were heroes. They lived their lives discreetly, and never shoved it in anyone's face. The reason for that was not internalized homophobia, but survival. Fear reminded them to be discreet so they could have what they had - a private life full of beautiful moments.
The chapter which opened with, "Auggie shot himself on a balmy day in May." Hit me like a punch to the stomach. Perhaps the best way to introduce a suicide. No preparation, no warning, just the facts. Beautiful and sincere writing from Paula Martinac.
Also loved the altercation between the women and the teenage boys in NYC. Scary and complicated. They finally have a moment where they feel what it's like to live in a bigger city, what it's like to live in a more progressive city and then it's ruined by the reality that even in NYC, you are not 100% safe. And the exchange with the butch lesbian bouncer who saves them and yet in the end says, "I don't take tips for human decency, Scarlett O'Hara, And only tourists call it 'the Big Apple.'"
Second time: I'm re-reading this for a LGBTQ book group. Wanted to make some notes of this lovely book to share with my group:
The story of Ada and Cam seems very simple, very basic. I love that about the book. It's great to read stories about people who are bigger than life. Characters who do things no one else could imagine. But it's also important and interesting to read stories about ordinary people living ordinary lives. Because that is most of us.
Ada and Cam lived through so many huge moments in the 20th Century. And through all those events, they lived them together, as a lesbian couple in Charlotte, NC during a time when it was a criminal act to be LGBTQ.
As the ending says, they were heroes. They lived their lives discreetly, and never shoved it in anyone's face. The reason for that was not internalized homophobia, but survival. Fear reminded them to be discreet so they could have what they had - a private life full of beautiful moments.
The chapter which opened with, "Auggie shot himself on a balmy day in May." Hit me like a punch to the stomach. Perhaps the best way to introduce a suicide. No preparation, no warning, just the facts. Beautiful and sincere writing from Paula Martinac.
Also loved the altercation between the women and the teenage boys in NYC. Scary and complicated. They finally have a moment where they feel what it's like to live in a bigger city, what it's like to live in a more progressive city and then it's ruined by the reality that even in NYC, you are not 100% safe. And the exchange with the butch lesbian bouncer who saves them and yet in the end says, "I don't take tips for human decency, Scarlett O'Hara, And only tourists call it 'the Big Apple.'"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2017
‘Love is a growing up.’ – James Baldwin
North Carolina writer Paula Martinac is the author of four published novels, including the Lambda Literary Award-winning "Out of Time," and a collection of short stories. She has also published three nonfiction books on lesbian and gay culture and politics, and numerous articles, essays and short stories. Paula is also a playwright with plays produced with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Company, Manhattan Theatre Source, the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, No Name Players, and others. She teaches creative writing to undergraduates at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
THE ADA DECADES is written in eleven historical novel-in-stories installments representing the time from frame of 1947 to the present – each story continues the adventure of her main character but is placed in the context of the variations of mood and events in the various decades: the book thus becomes not only a very fine novel but also a keenly observed social history.
In her Introduction Paula shares background data that supplements the facts/fictions of the book: ‘This is a work of fiction, inspired by actual events, people and places. Although Charlotte, North Carolina’s public schools did experience racial strife in 1957 and 1970, Central Charlotte Junior High never existed; Mary Burney is not a historical figure, but an amalgam loosely based on the African-American students who integrated public schools in the South; and Robert Browne is a product of my imagination…There was indeed a lynching of three African-American men in Salisbury, N.C., in 1906, and a postcard of the murdered men appears in the collection of WithoutSanctuary.org. But there are no shadowy children in the photo, and I changed the name of the photography studio on the back of the postcard...To my knowledge there was no raid on a gay cruising area in Charlotte in April 1962: my chapter ‘The Plan’ took its inspiration form many such incidents that occurred all over the United States in this time period etc.’ That sort of honesty places the reader in the author’s debt – so secure is the nidus for the tale that is to follow.
Paula’s summary is sound – ‘A girl from a Carolina mill family isn’t supposed to strive for a career, but Ada Shook graduates from college on a scholarship and lands a plum job as a school librarian. The South rocks with turbulence in the 1950s, and Ada finds herself caught in the ugly fight to integrate the Charlotte, N.C. public schools. At the same time, she makes friends with Cam Lively, a teacher who challenges her to re-examine her narrow upbringing. The two young women fall in love and throw in their lot together, despite their underlying fear of being found out and fired. Over seven decades, Ada is witness to the racism laced through her Southern city; the paradox of religion as both comfort and torment; and the survival networks created by gay people. Eleven interconnected stories cover the sweep of one woman’s personal history as she reaches her own form of Southern womanhood – compassionate, resilient, principled, lesbian.’
Paula’s writing style is both mesmerizing and disturbing in the manner in which her words demand we attend the progress of Ada’s journey. This is a very important book as well as a vastly entertaining read.
North Carolina writer Paula Martinac is the author of four published novels, including the Lambda Literary Award-winning "Out of Time," and a collection of short stories. She has also published three nonfiction books on lesbian and gay culture and politics, and numerous articles, essays and short stories. Paula is also a playwright with plays produced with Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Company, Manhattan Theatre Source, the Pittsburgh New Works Festival, No Name Players, and others. She teaches creative writing to undergraduates at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
THE ADA DECADES is written in eleven historical novel-in-stories installments representing the time from frame of 1947 to the present – each story continues the adventure of her main character but is placed in the context of the variations of mood and events in the various decades: the book thus becomes not only a very fine novel but also a keenly observed social history.
In her Introduction Paula shares background data that supplements the facts/fictions of the book: ‘This is a work of fiction, inspired by actual events, people and places. Although Charlotte, North Carolina’s public schools did experience racial strife in 1957 and 1970, Central Charlotte Junior High never existed; Mary Burney is not a historical figure, but an amalgam loosely based on the African-American students who integrated public schools in the South; and Robert Browne is a product of my imagination…There was indeed a lynching of three African-American men in Salisbury, N.C., in 1906, and a postcard of the murdered men appears in the collection of WithoutSanctuary.org. But there are no shadowy children in the photo, and I changed the name of the photography studio on the back of the postcard...To my knowledge there was no raid on a gay cruising area in Charlotte in April 1962: my chapter ‘The Plan’ took its inspiration form many such incidents that occurred all over the United States in this time period etc.’ That sort of honesty places the reader in the author’s debt – so secure is the nidus for the tale that is to follow.
Paula’s summary is sound – ‘A girl from a Carolina mill family isn’t supposed to strive for a career, but Ada Shook graduates from college on a scholarship and lands a plum job as a school librarian. The South rocks with turbulence in the 1950s, and Ada finds herself caught in the ugly fight to integrate the Charlotte, N.C. public schools. At the same time, she makes friends with Cam Lively, a teacher who challenges her to re-examine her narrow upbringing. The two young women fall in love and throw in their lot together, despite their underlying fear of being found out and fired. Over seven decades, Ada is witness to the racism laced through her Southern city; the paradox of religion as both comfort and torment; and the survival networks created by gay people. Eleven interconnected stories cover the sweep of one woman’s personal history as she reaches her own form of Southern womanhood – compassionate, resilient, principled, lesbian.’
Paula’s writing style is both mesmerizing and disturbing in the manner in which her words demand we attend the progress of Ada’s journey. This is a very important book as well as a vastly entertaining read.
August 25, 2020
I'm not an expert on American history, but am familiar with most of the themes/issues experienced and/or witnessed by our protagonist, Ada, during her life journey as brilliantly told in this story.
You will read about the ugliness of humanity such as homophobia by another disenfranchised community, misogyny and racism. You will also read about how being brave, kind, open to working through challenges of an imperfect relationship and by standing by your principles, it's possible for us to find love, friendship, and acceptance in unexpected places. That events you go through in your life, however insignificant, can be meaningful and even provide hope for others.
You will read about the ugliness of humanity such as homophobia by another disenfranchised community, misogyny and racism. You will also read about how being brave, kind, open to working through challenges of an imperfect relationship and by standing by your principles, it's possible for us to find love, friendship, and acceptance in unexpected places. That events you go through in your life, however insignificant, can be meaningful and even provide hope for others.
February 26, 2025
This novel tells the story of Ada, from an early age when she is frightened by her domineering father, with his dark secrets, up to her eighties, when she finally achieves the self confidence that her background prevented her from achieving throughout her past.
Ada has always been an independent soul, but is also determined to be seen as a good girl. Even into her adulthood she is terrified of what people might think. She is a lesbian, in a domestic relationship with her female partner, but hides it from the world. As this novel is set in the 1950s, when she first starts her job of librarian at a junior high in the American South, it's understandable why she and her partner are as discreet as possible. They would both have lost their jobs and been shunned by most of their small town. Even worse could happen.
Although this novel deals with gender issues, it also deals with race issues, but the point is made that American Blacks have been organized and proud, whereas at that point in the 50s, people could literally be arrested and imprisoned for their homosexuality.
By the 80s, Ada and her partner, Cam, finally attend a Gay Pride Parade in New York, but it's an uncomfortable visit because Ada is too reserved to enjoy herself.
This is a quiet novel, about a quiet woman. But I found it interesting. Despite the burden that society put on Ada, Cam and their circle of friends, for the most part, they managed to live good and worthwhile lives.
There are two kinds of historic novels, one where the characters are dressed up in the fashions of another era, and points about that era are painfully described, often with anachronisms. The other kind of historic fiction is good quality literature, that happens to be set in the past. This novel fits the second category.
Ada has always been an independent soul, but is also determined to be seen as a good girl. Even into her adulthood she is terrified of what people might think. She is a lesbian, in a domestic relationship with her female partner, but hides it from the world. As this novel is set in the 1950s, when she first starts her job of librarian at a junior high in the American South, it's understandable why she and her partner are as discreet as possible. They would both have lost their jobs and been shunned by most of their small town. Even worse could happen.
Although this novel deals with gender issues, it also deals with race issues, but the point is made that American Blacks have been organized and proud, whereas at that point in the 50s, people could literally be arrested and imprisoned for their homosexuality.
By the 80s, Ada and her partner, Cam, finally attend a Gay Pride Parade in New York, but it's an uncomfortable visit because Ada is too reserved to enjoy herself.
This is a quiet novel, about a quiet woman. But I found it interesting. Despite the burden that society put on Ada, Cam and their circle of friends, for the most part, they managed to live good and worthwhile lives.
There are two kinds of historic novels, one where the characters are dressed up in the fashions of another era, and points about that era are painfully described, often with anachronisms. The other kind of historic fiction is good quality literature, that happens to be set in the past. This novel fits the second category.
June 9, 2018
Ada Shook, in another life, would have never been an activist. A quiet middle school librarian who follows the rules in 1960s Charlotte, North Carolina, she would have moved unassumingly through her days. Cam Lively, a bold English teacher at her school, changes all that, showing Ada a life she never knew was possible, a life of love with another woman. This lovely book guides us gently through eight decades of Ada's life, revealing the racism of North Carolina, the evolving gay community, the possibilities of private life even against public odds, and the ways in which life-long commitment between two people who love each other can endure even when it's officially illegal. Although Ada continues to be introverted and a bit fearful, her love for Cam gives her the confidence to embrace her life.
Martinac's skillful development of Ada's often conflicted ideas about integration, her real fear of violence, and her loyal love for often problematic Cam is realistic and accessible. The story, told in effectively rendered vignettes from each decade, paints the private relationship between Cam and Ada against a turbulent political and cultural backdrop. Throughout this book, Martinac reminds us that the personal IS political, and that even the most private of relationships can mean radical risk.
In these years after the Supreme Court decision to allow marriage equality in all states, lesbian stories like this one are essential to read, and characters like Ada are essential to remember. We are not all loud and outspoken. Some of us just live, and the living itself is bold.
Martinac's skillful development of Ada's often conflicted ideas about integration, her real fear of violence, and her loyal love for often problematic Cam is realistic and accessible. The story, told in effectively rendered vignettes from each decade, paints the private relationship between Cam and Ada against a turbulent political and cultural backdrop. Throughout this book, Martinac reminds us that the personal IS political, and that even the most private of relationships can mean radical risk.
In these years after the Supreme Court decision to allow marriage equality in all states, lesbian stories like this one are essential to read, and characters like Ada are essential to remember. We are not all loud and outspoken. Some of us just live, and the living itself is bold.
March 27, 2018
I was desperate for some lesbian fiction, and this one deals with social justice from the 40's to now. I was primed to love the hell out of it.
And YET, the main character (Ada) is so lifeless and dull, it was hard to care about her or her life partner, Cam. I never really got the sense that they were in love with each other. Mostly they seemed to be with each other because they didn't have a lot of other options in 1950's North Carolina. And maybe that's the case, but it didn't make for a particularly compelling relationship.
Ada's biggest personality trait is her jealousy. To the point where she remembers a tube of lipstick in Cam's apartment when they were 23 and brings it up as a way to pick a huge, ridiculous fight when she's nearly 70.
There are some interesting points in the novel (really a series of vignettes). The topic of integration, racism, and civil rights is an underlying theme, and when the focus is on that, the story is much more compelling. When the focus is turned back to Ada and Cam's boring relationship, not so much.
Read it if you need some lesbian fiction and you don't have a lot of other options.
And YET, the main character (Ada) is so lifeless and dull, it was hard to care about her or her life partner, Cam. I never really got the sense that they were in love with each other. Mostly they seemed to be with each other because they didn't have a lot of other options in 1950's North Carolina. And maybe that's the case, but it didn't make for a particularly compelling relationship.
Ada's biggest personality trait is her jealousy. To the point where she remembers a tube of lipstick in Cam's apartment when they were 23 and brings it up as a way to pick a huge, ridiculous fight when she's nearly 70.
There are some interesting points in the novel (really a series of vignettes). The topic of integration, racism, and civil rights is an underlying theme, and when the focus is on that, the story is much more compelling. When the focus is turned back to Ada and Cam's boring relationship, not so much.
Read it if you need some lesbian fiction and you don't have a lot of other options.
September 8, 2019
Paula Martinac has done it again. She has officially become an author whose books I must read immediately upon publication. This historical fiction story has romance, specifically a ‘marriage’ that lasts almost fifty years. This is not your standard formulaic romance, but a beautiful, realistic, heartfelt portrayal of a relationship that spans decades. From their first meeting in the turbulent late fifties as librarian and schoolteacher, becoming friends and quickly realizing what their relationship could become, through desecration in their resistant southern school district, book censorship when the one black teacher requests some more diverse reading options, through the AIDS crisis, gay liberation, pride parades, loss of parents, cancer, old age, the decades pass and these two, Ada and Cam, live their life as fully as two women of their time possibly can. In doing so they show the power of love, perseverance, and faith.
Well drawn characters, compelling story and an ending that brought me to tears with its poignancy.
Well drawn characters, compelling story and an ending that brought me to tears with its poignancy.
November 25, 2023
This book follows Ada through almost 8 decades: from 1947 when she is 11 through 2015 when she's in her 80s. Mentored by the town's librarian, Ada wins a scholarship to UNC and earns her masters in Library Science, working as the librarian in a middle school in Charlotte, NC. She has a front row seat to witness segregation, the integration of her school, the early years of gay rights and other important historical milestones. The book also charts Ada's long-term relationship with Cam, a teacher at her school and a more progressive and openly gay woman.
This book isn't really a character or plot focused novel. If anything, its focus is history as witnessed by Ada and Cam. The book has to be reviewed and rated on that basis alone.
Ada is not perfect although she is the more reasonable member of the couple. But she's not a character you end up adoring, although the last few chapters are very heartfelt.
I'm going with 5 stars overall for the historical detail.
This book isn't really a character or plot focused novel. If anything, its focus is history as witnessed by Ada and Cam. The book has to be reviewed and rated on that basis alone.
Ada is not perfect although she is the more reasonable member of the couple. But she's not a character you end up adoring, although the last few chapters are very heartfelt.
I'm going with 5 stars overall for the historical detail.
May 23, 2023
The Ada Decades is a moving portrayal of a different kind of lesbian: a woman who grew up in a poor, white, Southern family and has been affected by the values of the town where she grew up. Ada reads voraciously and becomes a school librarian. She falls in love with an English teacher, Cam. Cam reciprocates the feeling but backs off when Ada says she doesn't know what she thinks about integration (it's the 1950s). But when the first Black girl comes to their school, Ada stands up for her.
Ada and Cam become involved. Cam is an agnostic, which offends Ada, who grew up a staunch Methodist and remains one.
Ada is such an unusual lesbian heroine. Paula Martinac's portrayal of her sensitive and respectful. I enjoyed this well-written book.
Ada and Cam become involved. Cam is an agnostic, which offends Ada, who grew up a staunch Methodist and remains one.
Ada is such an unusual lesbian heroine. Paula Martinac's portrayal of her sensitive and respectful. I enjoyed this well-written book.
January 31, 2021
Characters I cared about, dialogue I believed, events unfolding over the years of a lesbian couple's lives - so satisfying to read. Even the differences between the characters was very true to life, with one being more "out," more political and blunt, the other tending more toward religion and Southern manners, more reserved. To craft a story over decades of changes and to do it gracefully, without preaching or stiltedness, takes a great deal of skill. I enjoyed this book very much, and plan to seek out Martinac's other books as well.
May 31, 2018
This is a delightful collection of connected short stories. Well written and with an inviting voice that, while straightforward, has a subtle way of drawing the reader in. I love reading about characters who grow up in limited or repressive environments and yet have a suspicion there is more out there and the will to go find it.
June 12, 2019
I loved this book! Ada has so many lovely dimensions as a character and she is surrounded by by similar friends and lovers. I really liked how time itself plays an important role as the curtain is lifted on her life through each of the decades. My favorite is the ending when Ada finally realizes that others might desire to hear her life experiences.
June 23, 2021
The story of Ada Shook told in a series of stories of the decades of her life. From her humble beginnings to her working life and her lesbian relationship starting in the 1960's when it had it be hidden.
January 26, 2024
Had to read this for a lit class this semester of grad school. I think Martinac did well in this story telling and showing the journey of lesbians in 1960-80s rural south. I did appreciate that Martinac chose not to create a fictional queer POC.
February 11, 2024
A good book about important parts of history, this story details a queer romance in the 1960s, navigating through protagonist Ada’s life. I felt like there were parts that felt more “tell not show” and it felt almost too condensed at times. Worth the read though
June 6, 2017
A sweet, poignant history lesson rendered all the more important in this threatening new day.
August 20, 2017
Short and easy to read. I enjoyed it...about lesbians in integration era NC.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews