The Truth About Grace

Pecan Man #2

by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

The Truth About Grace is the long-awaited sequel to The Pecan Man. In 1976, six-year-old Grace Lowery was raped by the white son of the local police chief. Fearing retribution, Blanche Lowery refused to report the assault and told her daughter it was only a dream. Twenty-five years later, Grace is told the truth and must now reframe everything she thought she knew about her family and her life.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Southern, Book Club, Historical, Realistic Fiction

187 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2018

About the author

Born and raised in Central Florida, Cassie now makes her home on the banks of the Suwannee River in North Florida with her husband of twenty-five years and their tiny but terrifying chihuahua. A late-bloomer, Cassie worked in several careers before settling in to the writer's life. These included ten years at Merrill Lynch, several years as an Outreach Coordinator for a tri-county public library system, and several more doing marketing for her brother's company Anderson Crane and Bridge (now Anderson Hydra). An empty-nester after 34 years of raising three daughters, Cassie published her first novel, The Pecan Man in 2012. This work has since sold over 150,000 copies, been produced as an audio book by Blackstone and optioned for film rights to BCDF Pictures. This self-published novel is one of Amazon's best sellers and allowed the author to quit working full-time and return to college to earn a BFA in Creative Writing at Goddard College, which was a lifelong dream. An avid photographer since the 1980's, she is known as the Yayarazzi, so-named for her tendency to follow her grandkids around with a camera. Cassie's upcoming novel What Matters in Mayhew will be released in the fall of 2016.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to give it as many stars as the Pecan Man but still a worthwhile read. One criticism, parts felt a little too self help to me. Definitely worth the time but not near as engaging and emotional as Pecan Man.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

’In the summer of 1976, I hired a homeless black man to mow my lawn and tend my gardens, such as they were. My neighbors were none too happy with my choice of employees. He carried pecans he’d collected in a bag hung from the handlebars of the rickety old bicycle he rode. They called him the Pecan Man and thought he had an air of something sinister. I just thought he looked hungry and offered him a job. His name was Eldred Mims. I called him Ellie. Blance, my housekeeper at the time and employee for many years afterwards, warned me about sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. I took that as a challenge and pressed on.’

This is how this story begins, words shared by Ora Lee Beckworth about the year she was widowed, the year when Grace was six years old, and the year that would change everything for their family going forward, especially for Grace. Raped by the son of the police chief, which continued to haunt her days and nights, and told by her mother that it was just a bad dream. A bad dream that would haunt her and change the course of her life.

While this story does revolve around this horrendous childhood event, it is all about love, and the help offered and shared through that love. Her family and friends surround her with love, and more, to help her to find a way to rise up and leave the past behind.

I’d wanted to read this, and looked periodically for a while for a follow-up novel from the author periodically in the years after reading her first, self-published, novel so I was excited to find out that she had published this one that continues the story begun in her The Pecan Man. I listened to the audible version while reading it on my kindle.

Many thanks for my friend Angela for pointing the way!

[Joanne Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this one slow to read. I enjoyed The Pecan Man much more than this one.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to The Pecan man. You have to read these back to back. Book continues with Gracie and the truth that comes out. Peace and forgiveness in a world of inequality and racism that continues today.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous sequel to the Pecan Man. Absolutely enjoyed Grace and her sisters perspectives as well as prologue and epilogue by Miss Ora.

[LorriLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored The Pecan Man; The Truth about Grace is the sequel to that book. I looked so forward to reading about Grace and her family that I think my expectations were too high. Do not for a minute think I did not like The Truth about Grace. I enjoyed it immensely; it just lacked the spark that made The Pecan Man so special.

The Truth about Grace depicts an extended family (relatives, friends, Caucasian, Black) in crisis years after the horrific events that took place in The Pecan Man. With the deaths of Mama (Blanche Lowery) and Eddie (The Pecan Man), Ora Lee Beckworth is ready to make things right and reveal the secrets she has been protecting all these years. Grace, now a drug addict with two children she is unable to care for, must confront her past and find a way to deal with the torturous psychological pain she endures to become whole again.

Selleck’s writing is crisp and her characters are well developed. The story line was somewhat riveting and it was enticing to envision Selleck’s version of subsequent events, tying everything together, perhaps in too neat a bow. As with The Pecan Man, the reader is exposed to social injustices – in this case drug addition, prejudice, and political interests in addition to the prevailing strength of love and the survival to heal. There were some twists and turns that I did not expect. I believe that the further development of those twists and turns would have added the spark that would have made this a 5 star review.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad that I read this sequel because it brought some closure to The Pecan Man. However, it did not grip me the way the first book did. The tone was more like a self-help book. The author shared valuable insights about addiction, but I feel that it interfered with the flow of the storyline.

[Amber G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but the prequel was WAY better. I liked hearing what happened to the characters but the story was not that captivating.

[Helen Ahern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable sequel to The Pecan Man. We get to continue the story of Grace and her family and of course Miss Aura. Available on audible plus so without a credit, making them even better. Thanks Audible.

[DONNA CORUM · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not nearly as good as the Pecan Man. It was interesting to find out what happened to the characters, but I thought the book ran on too long.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐️ this was part 2 to the pecan man and was about Grace and her life after being raped as a young child. There were great redemptive qualities to this story dealing with recovery steps and healing family trauma. The author has a great way of writing about prejudices and really making you think and look within your own self. I thoroughly enjoyed this 2 book series. I listened to this one.

[Suzette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pecan Man is one of my favorite books, so it is hard to compare this book. There is a lot of therapy. I was a little disappointed. I’m glad to know what happened to the characters, but the prequel is far better.

[Friedlander Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another time that the sequel did not live up to the original for me. While providing background is essential in a sequel I found it repetitive in this case. The almost clinical approach to tying up loose ends did not ring true for me. I would have enjoyed finding out more about some of the secondary characters and their thoughts and experiences.

[AmyEliza Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to the book The Pecan Man (which I loved!). I *think* this book could be read as a standalone novel but in truth I think the reader should really read The Pecan Man first and it would make this book, The Truth About Grace, much more understandable and enjoyable. As a standalone book, it was fine or average. Nothing great. However, having read The Pecan Man it was nice to bring closure to the story.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good...I liked "The Pecan Man" just a little bit better, but both are very good.

Thank you Cassie Dandridge Selleck for writing these. Was sorry to read at the end of this one about your personal experience with addiction in your family and your sister. My own dad overdosed a few years ago on prescription meds, which I believe he had an addiction to.

God bless you <3

[Heidi Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pecan Man is one of my all time favorite books. This sequel was excellent (4.5 stars) Really dove into the family relationships and the ramifications of actions and omissions on all the parties involved through the years. I listened to this book, and the readers did an excellent job bringing the characters to life.

[Jenny Wirtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Pecan Man which our book club read a couple years ago. The sequel tells Grace’s story. In the first book we learn Grace is raped when she is only 6. The crime is hidden by her family because they fear retribution if they expose the police chief’s son as the rapist. In the sequel we learn more details of the crime but also the life long effects it had on Grace.

[Danna Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this sequel to The Pecan Man. These books cover how family secrets that are meant to protect someone can actually cause terrible harm, trauma, and scars an entire family. This was a book that left me wanting more.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many people said that The Pecan Man was better than this sequel. I think it was different, with the sequel focusing on addiction, but I think it was just as good and well-written. The author’s note is especially notable. I’m disappointed there is not a third book.

[Cathy Sites · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting continuation of the Pecan Man story - especially given the author's family experiences with pain and addiction. The writing reflects the helplessness and heartache.

[Kathy Tominc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, great continuation of The Pecan Man. Character development continued & did the story. Highly recommend both books!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, though it did not have the same effect on me as The Pecan Man. It wasn't quite as engrossing. It was nice to have a better understanding of Grace and Patrice. Overall, a worthwhile read.

[Cindy Ptak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tied up the loose ends from The Pecan Man, good sequel.

[Tsipi Erann · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of this sequel is tightly bound to my review of the first installment, The Pecan Man, which you can see here.

In the first book I felt that the problem of a white author and narrator telling Black stories was mitigated or even excused by the fact that ultimately, the story was actually about how the white MC keeps bumping up against her own privileged world view and saviorism. And that it was told so well.

Here, this is not the case. In The Pecan Man, the entire narrative is from Ora Lee's POV, but in this book, the POV shifts primarily between youngest Lowery sister Grace and oldest sister Patrice, with Ora Lee still in the mix. This means that the author is telling very intimate life stories of Black women, including what it is like to be Black. To me this is a non-starter.

If I am able to put that aside (I'm not, but for purposes of reviewing the narrative and character aspects of the novel): The entire tone and main subjects of the novel are very different than the first book. One strand continues the story of the Pecan Man, who went to jail for a murder he did not commit, and fills in the story and exposes some family secrets, and brings that tale to close. This is Ora Lee's main function, as she desires to clear the Pecan Man's name and her own conscience. She is presented in a less-than-favorable light in this regard.

But the main subjects are those occupying the sisters -- Grace's struggle with addiction (and post-trauma), and the effect on the rest of the family, especially Patrice, who is raising Grace's children and never created any relationships or family of her own. The other sisters, the twins, are only very minor characters in this struggle.

Mostly, it is still a well-told story, because Dandridge Selleck writes with excellent pacing, and her first person narratives are quite distinct from each other. The sisters deal with mutual resentment and mistrust, and bring a family counselor on board to help them work out the current and historical intricacies of the broader family (that is, everyone, including Ora Lee and the Pecan Man and some other characters).

So, if you like stories about therapy, enabling, drug addiction, and the much grittier (though still not graphic) treatment of Grace's rape as a child -- you might very well enjoy this book. It just isn't the same kind of book the first one was, so don't expect that.

I liked parts of it very much, including the author's ongoing exploration of *why* people do what they do, including good things. Is it to make themselves feel better? Is it out of obligation? How does the why of it impact the thing itself and its consequences?

I didn't like some of the resolutions, which were too pat (probably because they weren't the main subject) and at times I felt that if the story is an exploration of the psychological states of the two sisters, it didn't delve nearly deep enough. Then again, the book couldn't have withstood being any longer.

So the bottom line is that I didn't suffer through it, I liked quite a bit of it, didn't like some (pretty major) aspects, and was glad it wasn't any longer.

p.s. - I always struggle with ratings, I'm that indecisive. in this case I think it's somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars, because I only give 2 to books I really don't like, and that wasn't this one. But it could have been a 2, and yet also a 3. So rounded up it is.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible, and I loved the first book. It seemed like this book was written to apologize for the first book and to admonish the characters for all of the mistakes made in the original story. The crimes (rape and beating) are not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the mistakes made by the characters who, while wrong, we’re trying to do the best under horrific circumstances. It was not a “triumph over diversity”, or “sacrifice for the love of others”, inspiring story, like The Pecan Man. It wasn’t even a good story. It was a calling out of everyone’s mistakes, rejecting forgiveness, letting blame and bitterness win. It felt like the author was saying, I didn’t mean to write such a good book about imperfect people struggling with a terrible injustice in a way that the reader might understand or, heaven forbid, sympathize. At one point, the author explained exactly why an apology wasn’t a good apology (via a counselor). Intelligent readers don’t need that. Readers understand the character of the characters. This book was about how everyone in the previous book SHOULD behave. Readers already see mistakes being made from a bird’s eye view. It was a complete waste of time.

[Mary Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grittier than the first book, The Pecan Man, this book reveals the lasting effects of lies and cover-ups. Grace wasn't the only one who suffered the day she was raped at 6 yrs. old. Her mother's decision to pretend it was only a bad dream and her employer's willingness to go along with it and perpetuate more lies have created fissures and cracks in a close, loving family. When Grace finally learns the truth about what happened to her, she's spent years abusing drugs and trying to convince herself that what her mother said was true. And it takes the family, including her mother's employer, to help right the wrongs.
Written with warmth and honesty, this is a book I'll happily recommend to all my reading friends.

[T. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am often disappointed by sequels...

...this book is every bit as excellent as the first one I read. I recommend these books to anyone hurting by family addiction. This book may provide you with insight into addiction. The story is timely - centering on racial injustice. I loved the family dynamics featured and explored in therapy. Miss Ora's relationship to the Lowery's was beautifully described and I loved the way they all became chosen family. Read The Pecan Man, then this sequel. You won't want to put them down.

[Christopher Sneed · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could've given this less than one star, I would have. This was an awful book. Was not even close to the Pecan Man (which I enjoyed). Not sure where all this praise is coming from, and makes me wonder if I read the same book. The Pecan Man was very good. This not so much. I understand that addiction is a subject very personal and painful for the author, but this really lacked the depth of characterization that was present in the The Pecan Man.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good follow up to Pecan Man. Interesting story.