Uncle Sam's

by Jay Humphreys

Award-winning author Jay Humphreys takes readers to April 1942 where the ancient streets of historic St. Augustine glisten in the warm Florida sun. For the residents of America's oldest city, the ravages of a world war seem far away. Comfortable in their tidy, historic community, increasing tourism seems more important than fighting fascism. But for the town's black residents, the war has brought their unequal status into sharp contrast -- especially when it comes to Uncle Sam's where flag-waving patriotism, big band music and cold beer are blended nightly to conceal a horrible secret! The arrival of a young FBI agent sets a series of events into motion that peel away the town's true character and leads readers to the oceanfront nightclub named Uncle Sam's where nothing is really as it seems. Winnie Grier, a young African-American jazz singer is the first to discover the secret of Uncle Sam's, but to reveal it means her dreams of stardom will disappear. While she struggles with whether to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime offer of fame and fortune or to speak up in the defense of a nation that treats her as a third-class citizen, a u-boat comes ever closer to its St. Augustine destination. Commanded by Kapitanleutnant Theodore "Teddy" Rahn, U-112 has a crew which, much to the disgust of the navigator, has failed to completely embrace National Socialism. Although brave and brilliant, Rahn's biggest challenge is maintaining order within the cramped confines of the u-boat while carrying the war to America's shore and achieving his greatest ambition -- returning safely to his beloved wife. Impressively researched, this novel mixes u-boats, the FBI, racial strife, patriots, scoundrels and even Cab Calloway into an unforgettable story of courage and sacrifice at a time when America was at its most innocent and vulnerable. "Uncle Sam's" is the winner of a Florida Publishers Association's "President's Award" for outstanding adult fiction."The perfect beach read," wrote David Bailey, executive editor, Delta Sky magazine. "Sharp and seductive, Uncle Sam's draws the reader through parallel stories of love, life, bigotry, espionage and murder that have all been seamlessly molded into the whole. It really doesn't get much better than this. Kudos to Humphreys for Uncle Sam's." WGCU-TV, Fort Myers, Florida. "Unable to put it down, I read it from cover to cover. Meticulously researched with unique twists and turns." Kim Cool, editor, Venice (Fla.) Gondolier. "Filled with colorful characters and voices, Uncle Sam's blends history, espionage and race relations into a lively and imaginative tale that brings St. Augustine alive during the early days of America's entry into the Second World War." Brian Thompson, columnist, The St. Augustine Record

233 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Kristina Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend...that you visit Saint Augustine, FL. While you are there, you might as well read Uncle Sam’s to enhance your trip. Spending a few days walking around Old Town Saint Augustine and the surrounding area, allowed me to picture the exact locations Humphreys described and to appreciate his very specific use of key landmarks and buildings throughout the story.

The story, taking place in in a racially segregated Southern city in the 1940s, is slathered with racism that seems historically accurate for the time...and not subtly nuanced racism, but a blatant, gory kind of racism. That seems fitting for Saint Augustine, as the city itself bears marks of a complicated racial history. Just as I couldn’t tell Saint Augustine really recognized this about itself when I was there, I wasn’t sure how Humphreys was synthesizing all of the bigotry, or if it was just being highlighted for gritty entertainment.

Despite some action-movie-type murders and explosions, the book maintains a jovial air reminiscent of Hogan’s Heroes. Both white Americans involved in politics and the German Nazis bafoon their way through much of the story, though somehow the Germans (though they are responsible for nearly all of the book’s murders) still come out as more sympathetic. Winnifred Greer, a Black woman, is clearly the most highly regarded character, but even her inner thoughts remain rather one dimensional. I was continually aware that the author is a man, writing how he imagines a woman protagonist would think.

[Teresa Kartheiser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is a WV native and now lives in Saint Augustine just like me. This was a very interesting story about WW II and also addressed racial issues of that time. It was a great story that can tip off many good discussions for a book club or even for teenagers.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

If my Grandpa hadn't reccomended this book to me...
If it hadn't been right there sooo easily accesible...
If I didn't have a burning curiousity about any book...
If the plot hadn't sounded really facinating...
I would have put this book down after the first chapter. Possibly the first paragraph. The plot really did sound facinating. German U-Boats, World War 2, a German spy and FBI agent, and as far as the plot goes, the book isn't bad. It does involve a lot of exciting action and U-boats and spies and all sort of other things. Unfortunately, the plot is about the only good thing about this story.

1. The writing
Confusing. Eventually I got used to the switching viewpoints, but especially at first, it was hard to keep track of who was doing what and where they were. It was several story lines trying to flow at the same time and they really don't come together till the VERY end. By that point I was skimming.
Even if the plot line wasn't confusingly written, the writing is just....lousy. There is nothing particular to reccomend it. Its...nice. Good enough to hold your interest but not something I'd take notes on.

2. Characters
AHPOBLJDIFJODJ
If I have one major pet peeve it is how male authors take a female character and try and tell a story through her. It almost never works. I mean, vice versa. Female authors dont' always get guy "thoughts" right, but it never ceases to amaze me how guys can make female "thoguhts" seem so...point blank. Girls minds are different than guys in how they work. Giving a female character a male POV (intentionally or not) just doesn't work. While the main-main female character (the singer) wasn't so bad, the journalist at the beginning coming to interview her made me want to hurt something. She aws awful. Insipid. Made me want to hurl.
Other characters aren't bad. Just rahter one-dimmensional. And obsessed with sex.This brings me to my biggest problem with the book....

3. Sexual Innuendos
The whoel thing is chock-full of them. CHOCK FULL. From the very first paragraph the journalist is wondering if her boss thinks her thighs are hot. The FBI guy lost my enthusiasm the minute he walks into an office and thinks about the sexual appeal of the secretary. There is the AWFUL mental picture of the fat guy and his mistress (some things shouldn't even be hinted at. Or descibed.)
The list goes on and on and on. NOT my cup of tea. It disgusted me. It was my main problem with the book. I might have written it off as a pleasant, dramatic read, a little fluffy, if it weren't for all the crudity and unpleasant connotations.

I wash my hands of this book. Awful. I'm sure there MUST be a better fictional story involving spies and u-boats out there. Heck, if there isn't, I'll write one. Just avoid this one.

[Mary Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Fun to read a local author describing things we are familiar with in the St. Augustine area.