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Checkered Fences
Checkered Fences is not only a novel of remarkable insight, but a tribute to our world's changing social and political climate. Author Alma Hudson writes with extraordinary vision and clarity, bringing racial issues to the forefront with delicate balance and thoughtful compassion. It's the late 1970s in California; a time of racial turbulence, but change is in the air and Diane Jones, an African-American 18-year old honors student will come face to face with those changes.
Diane takes a job as a nanny to a prestigious white family, Jerry and Ann Shaw, before entering college. She quickly becomes a respected friend and member of their blended family, paying special attention to their eight-year old son, Chad, Ann's son from a previous marriage. Their eldest son, David returns home for the summer and an immediate attraction sparks between Diane and David. They began a secretive love affair.
Can Diane's proud, traditional family accept a white man as Diane's love interest and will the Shaw's value her as their son's potential partner? As their love affair blossoms, they decide to make their relationship public. This story of an interracial love during the turbulent 70s deftly explores the ugly racism that propelled our nation's conscious to change toward a more diversified culture. Written with sophisticated realism, Hudson's novel stands out as a literary piece of significance during our present-day political climate.
Diane takes a job as a nanny to a prestigious white family, Jerry and Ann Shaw, before entering college. She quickly becomes a respected friend and member of their blended family, paying special attention to their eight-year old son, Chad, Ann's son from a previous marriage. Their eldest son, David returns home for the summer and an immediate attraction sparks between Diane and David. They began a secretive love affair.
Can Diane's proud, traditional family accept a white man as Diane's love interest and will the Shaw's value her as their son's potential partner? As their love affair blossoms, they decide to make their relationship public. This story of an interracial love during the turbulent 70s deftly explores the ugly racism that propelled our nation's conscious to change toward a more diversified culture. Written with sophisticated realism, Hudson's novel stands out as a literary piece of significance during our present-day political climate.
- GenresFiction
92 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
324 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 4, 2012
Color Blind
On a whole I am not crazy about short stories. Always seems something is missing whether it be the beginning, the middle or the end. For this short story, it's missing the middle. The beginning and the end carried out with near perfection. Even with the fact that I felt like I was missing something, this is a cute and enjoyable story; a very quick read that I finished while cooking dinner.
In the beginning, we get the background info on Diane Jones’ upbringing, all about her roots, how she comes to meet her future love interest, and about his family life. The end game was a little clean, but worked with the story. What’s missing is the middle. We missed the courtship. One minute they are a secret item. The next minute they're making plans for the future and keeping from both their families.
In this debut I can see the potential in author Alma Hudson. I wonder what she would do with a full length novel. With the small number of pages, I realize you can't include everything. Missing were some crucial conflicts, which would have seemed reasonable to be in an interracial book. Overall if you’re looking for a quick love story straight to the point this is the book for you. I would like to read a full length novel in the near future from Ms. Hudson
SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc.
3.5 star rating.
On a whole I am not crazy about short stories. Always seems something is missing whether it be the beginning, the middle or the end. For this short story, it's missing the middle. The beginning and the end carried out with near perfection. Even with the fact that I felt like I was missing something, this is a cute and enjoyable story; a very quick read that I finished while cooking dinner.
In the beginning, we get the background info on Diane Jones’ upbringing, all about her roots, how she comes to meet her future love interest, and about his family life. The end game was a little clean, but worked with the story. What’s missing is the middle. We missed the courtship. One minute they are a secret item. The next minute they're making plans for the future and keeping from both their families.
In this debut I can see the potential in author Alma Hudson. I wonder what she would do with a full length novel. With the small number of pages, I realize you can't include everything. Missing were some crucial conflicts, which would have seemed reasonable to be in an interracial book. Overall if you’re looking for a quick love story straight to the point this is the book for you. I would like to read a full length novel in the near future from Ms. Hudson
SiStar Tea
ARC Book Club Inc.
3.5 star rating.
September 3, 2014
I have to be honest that I didn't realize when I ordered this from the library that it was a short story. We're talking 87 pages. So that surprised me. I read it and finished it mainly because it was only 87 pages. I didn't think the writing was very good and I felt like the story was just skimmed over. But... it was only 87 pages and took less than an hour to read, so no harm done.
September 24, 2012
Checkered Fences beautifully tells a story of how two worlds collide from a young black woman’s perspective, with loving kindness, what it is like to experience racism and struggle in America. It is a shinning example of how love can break down barriers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews