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The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove
Nobody in Nashville has a bigger name to live up to than Bezellia Grove. As a Grove, she belongs to one of city’s most prominent families and is expected to embrace her position in high society. That means speaking fluent French, dancing at cotillions with boys from other important families, and mastering the art of the perfect smile.
Also looming large is her given name Bezellia, which has been passed down for generations to the first daughter born to the eldest Grove. The others in the long line of Bezellias shortened the ancestral name to Bee, Zee or Zell. But Bezellia refuses all nicknames and dreams that one day she, too, will be remembered for her original namesake’s courage and passion.
Though she leads a life of privilege, being a Grove is far from easy. Her mother hides her drinking but her alcoholism is hardly a secret. Her father, who spends long hours at work, is distant and inaccessible. For as long as she can remember, she’s been raised by Maizelle, the nanny, and Nathaniel, the handyman. To Bezellia, Maizelle and Nathaniel are cherished family members. To her parents, they will never be more than servants.
Relationships are complicated in 1960s Nashville, where society remains neatly ordered by class, status and skin color. Black servants aren’t supposed to eat at the same table as their white employers. Black boys aren’t supposed to make conversation with white girls. And they certainly aren’t supposed to fall in love. When Bezellia has a clandestine affair with Nathaniel’s son, Samuel, their romance is met with anger and fear from both families. In a time and place where rebelling against the rules carries a steep price, Bezellia Grove must decide which of her names will be the one that defines her.
Also looming large is her given name Bezellia, which has been passed down for generations to the first daughter born to the eldest Grove. The others in the long line of Bezellias shortened the ancestral name to Bee, Zee or Zell. But Bezellia refuses all nicknames and dreams that one day she, too, will be remembered for her original namesake’s courage and passion.
Though she leads a life of privilege, being a Grove is far from easy. Her mother hides her drinking but her alcoholism is hardly a secret. Her father, who spends long hours at work, is distant and inaccessible. For as long as she can remember, she’s been raised by Maizelle, the nanny, and Nathaniel, the handyman. To Bezellia, Maizelle and Nathaniel are cherished family members. To her parents, they will never be more than servants.
Relationships are complicated in 1960s Nashville, where society remains neatly ordered by class, status and skin color. Black servants aren’t supposed to eat at the same table as their white employers. Black boys aren’t supposed to make conversation with white girls. And they certainly aren’t supposed to fall in love. When Bezellia has a clandestine affair with Nathaniel’s son, Samuel, their romance is met with anger and fear from both families. In a time and place where rebelling against the rules carries a steep price, Bezellia Grove must decide which of her names will be the one that defines her.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 17, 2010
58 people are currently reading
2657 people want to read
About the author
Susan Gregg Gilmore
7 books422 followersSusan Gregg Gilmore's fourth novel, The Curious Calling of Leonard Bush (Blair), will be released August 25.
Although her artist mother bought Gilmore her first easel and box of paints when she was five, it was her father's love of family storytelling that captured her attention.
Gilmore knew at an early age that she wanted to write but was first drawn to journalism not fiction. While at the University of Virginia, she wrote for the student paper, The Cavalier Daily.
Later, while raising her three daughters, she joined the staff of The Chattanooga News Free Press as a features writer and columnist. After relocating to Southern California, she regularly freelanced for The Los Angeles Times and Christian Science Monitor.
Her first novel, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, was a USA TODAY and AMAZON bestseller and is rooted in summer vacations spent with her paternal grandmother and grandfather, a revival-bred preacher, who after church on Sundays, always took his granddaughters to the Dairy Queen.
Gilmore currently lives in Chattanooga with her husband, Dan.
Although her artist mother bought Gilmore her first easel and box of paints when she was five, it was her father's love of family storytelling that captured her attention.
Gilmore knew at an early age that she wanted to write but was first drawn to journalism not fiction. While at the University of Virginia, she wrote for the student paper, The Cavalier Daily.
Later, while raising her three daughters, she joined the staff of The Chattanooga News Free Press as a features writer and columnist. After relocating to Southern California, she regularly freelanced for The Los Angeles Times and Christian Science Monitor.
Her first novel, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, was a USA TODAY and AMAZON bestseller and is rooted in summer vacations spent with her paternal grandmother and grandfather, a revival-bred preacher, who after church on Sundays, always took his granddaughters to the Dairy Queen.
Gilmore currently lives in Chattanooga with her husband, Dan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
January 21, 2016
Let me start this review by saying... THIS BOOK WAS AN AMAZING HEART WRENCHING BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN MASTERPIECE OF FORBIDDEN LOVE!!! Whoa, now that I got that out of my system I will tell you why I love this book so much. I live in the country where there is still a lot of closed minded racist people. I have one friend who is in interracial relationship and I see how hard her relationship is for her. So I have always wondered, how hard was an interracial relationship during the time of segregation? This story has satisfied my curiosity and more. This is not just a story of love. It is also a coming of age story. Bezellia’s love for Samuel helps her become the Bezellia Grove she is destined to become. This story made me cry, laugh, and feel love again. I loved the journey this story took me on and I know you will too.
August 6, 2011
Bezellia Grove is an young and affluent Southern girl who has inherited her unusual name from a long line of affluent Bezellias. But this Bezellia is more than she appears and is living a most unusual life behind the closed doors of her plantation style home in Tennessee. Though she’s passionate and expressive, Bezellia and her younger sister Adeliade live in fear of their sometimes abusive and always neglectful mother, while the girls’ father is unusually quiet and absent most of the time. This leaves Bezellia to be raised by the two African-American house servants, Maizelle and Nathaniel, who become a set of quasi-parents to the two troubled girls. As Bezellia finds her faltering way through adolescence and young adulthood, she will become affected by a horrific family accident and and engage in an illicit and innocent love that will change her and shape her future. And just when it seems that things can’t get any more complicated for Bezellia, she begins to uncover a few haunting secrets about her mother’s past that may begin to explain the woman she’s become. In this beautiful and intricate southern tale filled with heartbreak, longing and redemption, the irrepressible Bezellia Grove and her very unique life spin outward into the minds of readers who might discover that being true to yourself is sometimes the hardest job of all.
It’s not often that I read a book that so touches me and makes me fall in love so helplessly with its main character. It’s also not often that I sit up until the wee hours of the morning racing to finish a story that I can’t seem to put down. But it does happen, and it happened with The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Between the magic and perfect cadence of Gilmore’s writing, and the nerve twisting story of Bezellia’s life, I ended up completely surrendering to my love for this book and reading avidly to find out what would become of this very unusual girl who lived a very unconventional life.
From the first few pages, the relationship between Bezellia and her mother become painfully obvious. While Bezellia was just beginning to explore the world around her and find her place in it, her mother was dutifully trying to shove her into little prescribed boxes of her own making. And really, Bezellia was, and remained, the antithesis of her mother throughout the book’s permutations. It was tragic to see the forlorn Bezellia hungering for her mother’s love; a love that would never be granted to her. It was even more disheartening to watch Bezellia’s mother slowly spiral away from the people who loved her into greater abuses and tantrums, slowly being enveloped by alcoholism. While Bezellia’s mother was either climbing the rickety social ladder or drinking, both Bezellia and her sister grew very attached to Maizelle and Nathaniel, who took the children under their wing and cared for them as their own. Very early on Bezellia realizes that the marginalization of these two people, and the black community in general, is sickeningly unfair, and though she tries to shift the balance of power for them and with them, it proves a huge wedge to move on her own. The balance of power that exists in her home is one that is unfortunately not rare for that time period, and though Bezellia kicks and bucks it away, she’s also hindered by social custom and the narrow-mindedness of the time.
When Bezellia falls in love with a socially unsuitable match, her predicament draws all kinds of attention, and it’s attention that she desperately wants to ignore and avoid. It’s a love that she feels is destined for her, and though society tries to dictate to her about the unacceptable nature of this relationship, Bezellia refuses to listen. But this isn’t the only problem she’s having, because her family life is in ever increasing shambles. Bezellia finds herself the head of her family, the one who everyone looks to for answers. It’s a confusing and heartbreaking time for her, but she never seems to loose her pluck, and her reserves, though at an all time low, don’t ever seem to be depleted. I admired Bezellia during these sections because she carried loads that her narrow shoulders should have never been responsible for. Gilmore creates her Bezellia with vigor and aplomb, packing her heroine with an unflappable desire for individuality and freedom that takes her into unexpected places and situations, and carries her through some of the most difficult times a young woman can face. Though her life is stilted and hobbled by her troubles, Bezellia finds a way to gracefully maintain equilibrium.
For the most part, the thing that I made me feel so connected to this book was my total immersion into Bezellia’s life and my complete sympathy for her story. Bezellia wasn’t the type of character to willingly force herself into contortions of emotion that weren’t authentic to her, which made life a lot harder for someone who lived in a home where appearances were everything, both inside and outside the doors. She was also an idealist in a place where her ideals aren’t appreciated or understood, which pitted her against even those who she loved and regarded with respect. Her overwhelming desire to be loved in “the right way” often compromised her emotional stability, and is a factor of her personality that I think a lot of women will understand. Bezellia’s uncomfortable and fraught relationship with her mother is also packed with landmines for her character’s development and growth, and in some ways I could really relate to her struggles in this area. She was a very real character with some very realistic flaws and attributes that made me care for her almost instantly.
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, for many reasons that I stated above. In addition, Gilmore’s writing was very smooth and fluid and made it easy for me to become thoroughly submerged. She held me captivated in her storyteller’s hands until that final haunting conclusion. If you haven’t read this wonderful story yet, I would highly recommend it. I think it would strike the perfect chord in many different readers, and would be appreciated by many.
It’s not often that I read a book that so touches me and makes me fall in love so helplessly with its main character. It’s also not often that I sit up until the wee hours of the morning racing to finish a story that I can’t seem to put down. But it does happen, and it happened with The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Between the magic and perfect cadence of Gilmore’s writing, and the nerve twisting story of Bezellia’s life, I ended up completely surrendering to my love for this book and reading avidly to find out what would become of this very unusual girl who lived a very unconventional life.
From the first few pages, the relationship between Bezellia and her mother become painfully obvious. While Bezellia was just beginning to explore the world around her and find her place in it, her mother was dutifully trying to shove her into little prescribed boxes of her own making. And really, Bezellia was, and remained, the antithesis of her mother throughout the book’s permutations. It was tragic to see the forlorn Bezellia hungering for her mother’s love; a love that would never be granted to her. It was even more disheartening to watch Bezellia’s mother slowly spiral away from the people who loved her into greater abuses and tantrums, slowly being enveloped by alcoholism. While Bezellia’s mother was either climbing the rickety social ladder or drinking, both Bezellia and her sister grew very attached to Maizelle and Nathaniel, who took the children under their wing and cared for them as their own. Very early on Bezellia realizes that the marginalization of these two people, and the black community in general, is sickeningly unfair, and though she tries to shift the balance of power for them and with them, it proves a huge wedge to move on her own. The balance of power that exists in her home is one that is unfortunately not rare for that time period, and though Bezellia kicks and bucks it away, she’s also hindered by social custom and the narrow-mindedness of the time.
When Bezellia falls in love with a socially unsuitable match, her predicament draws all kinds of attention, and it’s attention that she desperately wants to ignore and avoid. It’s a love that she feels is destined for her, and though society tries to dictate to her about the unacceptable nature of this relationship, Bezellia refuses to listen. But this isn’t the only problem she’s having, because her family life is in ever increasing shambles. Bezellia finds herself the head of her family, the one who everyone looks to for answers. It’s a confusing and heartbreaking time for her, but she never seems to loose her pluck, and her reserves, though at an all time low, don’t ever seem to be depleted. I admired Bezellia during these sections because she carried loads that her narrow shoulders should have never been responsible for. Gilmore creates her Bezellia with vigor and aplomb, packing her heroine with an unflappable desire for individuality and freedom that takes her into unexpected places and situations, and carries her through some of the most difficult times a young woman can face. Though her life is stilted and hobbled by her troubles, Bezellia finds a way to gracefully maintain equilibrium.
For the most part, the thing that I made me feel so connected to this book was my total immersion into Bezellia’s life and my complete sympathy for her story. Bezellia wasn’t the type of character to willingly force herself into contortions of emotion that weren’t authentic to her, which made life a lot harder for someone who lived in a home where appearances were everything, both inside and outside the doors. She was also an idealist in a place where her ideals aren’t appreciated or understood, which pitted her against even those who she loved and regarded with respect. Her overwhelming desire to be loved in “the right way” often compromised her emotional stability, and is a factor of her personality that I think a lot of women will understand. Bezellia’s uncomfortable and fraught relationship with her mother is also packed with landmines for her character’s development and growth, and in some ways I could really relate to her struggles in this area. She was a very real character with some very realistic flaws and attributes that made me care for her almost instantly.
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, for many reasons that I stated above. In addition, Gilmore’s writing was very smooth and fluid and made it easy for me to become thoroughly submerged. She held me captivated in her storyteller’s hands until that final haunting conclusion. If you haven’t read this wonderful story yet, I would highly recommend it. I think it would strike the perfect chord in many different readers, and would be appreciated by many.
January 18, 2016
Nice and easy Southern Chick Lit. No new ground is covered here, just an easy and entertaining story. Sometimes that is just what is needed.
September 9, 2017
This is a southern coming of age story. I listened to the audio and the narrator was great. I liked the MC, Bezellia. I felt her pain. I like that she had a strong voice. I liked the way the author defined the relationships, especially with the help and her parents, and even her sister.
While this touched on civil rights, racism and family dysfunction, it was for the most part a light and fluffy read, which was just what I needed today. So 4 stars.
While this touched on civil rights, racism and family dysfunction, it was for the most part a light and fluffy read, which was just what I needed today. So 4 stars.
December 10, 2010
This is the year for me to read books revolving around the South in the 60's - and each book is good in it's own way, and has its own faults.
The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove was an interesting enough book - the main character, Bezellia, was likeable enough, her mom was horrible enough, her dad was neglectful enough and her sister crazy enough.. but still I was left with an unfulfilled sense when I finished the book. Only after thinking about it for a while did I finally pin-point the source. There was really no triumph, no resolution, no closure. And when you have a story that, at its roots, is tragic (dealing with class and race issues, alcoholism, neglect) there needs to be some kind of hope or closure for the story to feel complete.
So while Bezellia carried much potential, I felt she was cheated in the end. I never felt that resolution happen. Now, that could be a symptom of "happily-ever-after-itis", but I don't think it is, to be honest. I've read tragic books that end without hope, but those I like always give me some sort of closing moment, a moment when I put the book down, wipe my tears and grieve for the characters or with the characters.
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading about Bezellia Grove, and I think there is plenty in the book to satisfy anyone who picks it up ... just enough. I put it down though still feeling hungry for the story and wanting to have something more. I do think this would make a fantastic book club pick - for the very reasons I've expressed in this review. There is quite a bit left undone, so discussion would be very lively, I would imagine.
The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove was an interesting enough book - the main character, Bezellia, was likeable enough, her mom was horrible enough, her dad was neglectful enough and her sister crazy enough.. but still I was left with an unfulfilled sense when I finished the book. Only after thinking about it for a while did I finally pin-point the source. There was really no triumph, no resolution, no closure. And when you have a story that, at its roots, is tragic (dealing with class and race issues, alcoholism, neglect) there needs to be some kind of hope or closure for the story to feel complete.
So while Bezellia carried much potential, I felt she was cheated in the end. I never felt that resolution happen. Now, that could be a symptom of "happily-ever-after-itis", but I don't think it is, to be honest. I've read tragic books that end without hope, but those I like always give me some sort of closing moment, a moment when I put the book down, wipe my tears and grieve for the characters or with the characters.
I don't want to discourage anyone from reading about Bezellia Grove, and I think there is plenty in the book to satisfy anyone who picks it up ... just enough. I put it down though still feeling hungry for the story and wanting to have something more. I do think this would make a fantastic book club pick - for the very reasons I've expressed in this review. There is quite a bit left undone, so discussion would be very lively, I would imagine.
March 27, 2021
3.5 Stars EXPLORATION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE IN THE DEEP SOUTH
Bezellia Grove grows up with black servants in the 1950's and 1960's in an antebellum home of her ancestors in Nashville, TN. Her mother likes her gin and as Bezellia begins to enter double digits of age, her mother stays mainly in bed or is three sheets to the wind before dinner. Her surgeon father finds excuses to stay at the hospital late into the night so Bezellia and her younger sister, Adelaide are emotionally connected to the cook and live-in house servant, Maizelle. Maizelle with no family of her own treat the girls as if they were her own and the connection is powerful. The male servant, Nathaniel, who does primarily outside tasks, driving of the woman folk and maintains their horse, is their substitute father figure.
One day, Nathaniel is rebuilding the barn and brings his son, Samuel to lend him a hand. Bezellia and Samuel have some big sparks. They meet in secret when possible and it is obvious to their parents that an attraction exists. Bezellia believes that they can deny society's constraints. Samuel is more realistic. Samuel goes to Vietnam and saves others in his platoon, earning a bronze star and a purple heart but upon his return he is still called the n word by whites. Bezellia, who has continued to hope that one day they can be together realizes that the world will not accommodate her wishes. Finally, the fantasies that those around her will change are shattered.
I really liked this story. It was well considered and told. I really struggled with the stars for this as I didn't see anything new in this forbidden love tale. I wished to see things more from Samuel's eyes and hear his thoughts and the author only hinted at them in the vaguest ways. Also, Bezellia's and Samuel's meetings were very lightly handled, the dialogue potential was glossed over repeatedly so that the depth of Bezellia's feelings just didn't seem realistic to me. The lack of Samuel's communication made me pause at several different points and wonder if he was going to drop her. Again, more missed opportunity and a plot device which didn't work at all for me. I've just seen this handled better in other stories.
I don't think the author felt comfortable incorporating these key dialogues which would have made this a memorable story.
Bezellia Grove grows up with black servants in the 1950's and 1960's in an antebellum home of her ancestors in Nashville, TN. Her mother likes her gin and as Bezellia begins to enter double digits of age, her mother stays mainly in bed or is three sheets to the wind before dinner. Her surgeon father finds excuses to stay at the hospital late into the night so Bezellia and her younger sister, Adelaide are emotionally connected to the cook and live-in house servant, Maizelle. Maizelle with no family of her own treat the girls as if they were her own and the connection is powerful. The male servant, Nathaniel, who does primarily outside tasks, driving of the woman folk and maintains their horse, is their substitute father figure.
One day, Nathaniel is rebuilding the barn and brings his son, Samuel to lend him a hand. Bezellia and Samuel have some big sparks. They meet in secret when possible and it is obvious to their parents that an attraction exists. Bezellia believes that they can deny society's constraints. Samuel is more realistic. Samuel goes to Vietnam and saves others in his platoon, earning a bronze star and a purple heart but upon his return he is still called the n word by whites. Bezellia, who has continued to hope that one day they can be together realizes that the world will not accommodate her wishes. Finally, the fantasies that those around her will change are shattered.
I really liked this story. It was well considered and told. I really struggled with the stars for this as I didn't see anything new in this forbidden love tale. I wished to see things more from Samuel's eyes and hear his thoughts and the author only hinted at them in the vaguest ways. Also, Bezellia's and Samuel's meetings were very lightly handled, the dialogue potential was glossed over repeatedly so that the depth of Bezellia's feelings just didn't seem realistic to me. The lack of Samuel's communication made me pause at several different points and wonder if he was going to drop her. Again, more missed opportunity and a plot device which didn't work at all for me. I've just seen this handled better in other stories.
I don't think the author felt comfortable incorporating these key dialogues which would have made this a memorable story.
November 16, 2011
I don’t get the Title: THE IMPROPER LIFE OF BEZELLIA GROVE. Could it be that Bezellia Grove bucks the “gentile” South of the 1960’s by her relationships with the poor boy from the other side of the lake? Or that she sees Mazelle Cooper and Nathaniel Stephenson as people rather than servants to the “big” house? Or she rebels against her mother who loves Gin and social status more than her two daughters? Or that like her namesake, young Bezellia sees her great love bleeding in her arms and can’t do anything about it in the segregated South?
Gilmore paints the race tensions in 1960s accurately with painful artistry, but fails to create characters that the reader loves or hates. Like the title of her novel, the ending left me wanting more. Gilmore just ends the story and wraps ups Bezellia’s life in an obituary of a 92 year old Bezellia. Frankly, I left the novel caring more for her little sister, Adelaide who clings to her baby doll and knitting for comfort.
Gilmore paints the race tensions in 1960s accurately with painful artistry, but fails to create characters that the reader loves or hates. Like the title of her novel, the ending left me wanting more. Gilmore just ends the story and wraps ups Bezellia’s life in an obituary of a 92 year old Bezellia. Frankly, I left the novel caring more for her little sister, Adelaide who clings to her baby doll and knitting for comfort.
August 31, 2014
I so enjoyed this story of Bezellia Grove. It reminded me a bit of Saving Ceecee Honeycutt & The Help, which I also loved. The author did a nice job delving into the personalities of the characters. I felt as though I knew Maizelle & Nathaniel. It was a sweet story, I would recommend it, & I will soon be reading this authors other novel, Salvation at The Dairy Queen.
June 4, 2018
This book was a quick easy read which left me with a lingering feeling of yearning. It’s set in Nashville, mostly in the 1960’s. I loved the way the author kept me grounded as to time by mentioning pop culture in passing. The characters were lovely and portrayed so sympathetically. I loved them and longed for their happiness. This book is a perfect summer read.
December 17, 2010
Hmmm. Something about this book felt flat to me. Bezillia supposedly falls in love with Samuel, but their relationship just didn't work. Samuel didn't seem that great, and he didn't really seem to like Bezillia much, at least in my opinion. The best part of this book is Bezillia's relationship with her mother. That story line was the only part of the book that felt authentic to me. This book is just odd.
September 7, 2010
I read The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove all in one sitting, swept up in Bezellia’s remarkable life and her moving quest to be loved the right way. Now I look forward to many more stories from the immensely talented Susan Gregg Gilmore, a powerful new voice in Southern literature.
September 8, 2011
Ugh, I stayed up way too late reading again. How will I do this when actual school starts?!
But I feel like this book was worth it. I feel like I've read a lot of books in the genre of the civil rights movement, but this one touched me. At first I was just feeling like it was just another tale of growing up, finding love (forbidden or not) and family trials. Yet, I think Bezellia's story will stay with me for a while.
Near the end I was really rooting for a different outcome.. But the political situation being what it was back then, it was obviously impossible. Still, I feel that the author did the best she could with the time period she picked and her characters she chose. I like how the story wasn't primarily focused on race and on the movement, but just incorporated these things as though they were normal. Which, for those days, they were just another part of daily life; both on a remote antebellum mansion and in the slums. I feel like I could identify with Bezellia's character, although we don't really share much else in common.
The only reason I'm not giving this book five stars is because it was "outstanding" enough for me. Usually I can pinpoint what is lacking, but here I am not too certain. It was a good story. At some parts aspired even to great. But some part of it just didn't amaze me. Shame, since I feel like I learned so much.
But I feel like this book was worth it. I feel like I've read a lot of books in the genre of the civil rights movement, but this one touched me. At first I was just feeling like it was just another tale of growing up, finding love (forbidden or not) and family trials. Yet, I think Bezellia's story will stay with me for a while.
Near the end I was really rooting for a different outcome.. But the political situation being what it was back then, it was obviously impossible. Still, I feel that the author did the best she could with the time period she picked and her characters she chose. I like how the story wasn't primarily focused on race and on the movement, but just incorporated these things as though they were normal. Which, for those days, they were just another part of daily life; both on a remote antebellum mansion and in the slums. I feel like I could identify with Bezellia's character, although we don't really share much else in common.
The only reason I'm not giving this book five stars is because it was "outstanding" enough for me. Usually I can pinpoint what is lacking, but here I am not too certain. It was a good story. At some parts aspired even to great. But some part of it just didn't amaze me. Shame, since I feel like I learned so much.
October 27, 2015
This southern novel could have been so much better and I was SORELY disappointed in the ending. Bezellia Grove is the daughter of a wealthy family, in the post-slavery era, who develops deep attachments to her black staff. Breaking all the rules, she falls in love with her butler's son Samuel. Forbidden love keeps these two apart and Bezellia finds other love interests throughout her life but can never forget Samuel. Instead of developing this into some kind of ending where they are finally able to be together or show how they went on to marry other people, this story just flat out ends. It jumps forward with no warning or forethought to end with an obituary of Bezellia's death at 96 years old. One minute, you're reading about her during a time when she must've been 20 or so and the next, she's passed away. Truly bizarre ending.
June 26, 2011
3 1/2 stars (I really wish goodreads had the 1/2 star option). I quite enjoyed this book, but was left wanting a little more. The last page that gave a glimpse into the future wasn't enough. I think the characters neede a little more progression before the book ended (with the exception of the mother). All in all, this was a good look into 1960s southern privileged living, family dynamics, racial dynamics, etc. I could see some of myself in Bezellia, too, though not the family part (nothing even remotely similar). I could identify with her. Easy to read, some good character development, decent descriptions.
October 19, 2010
I liked the book a lot. I know it must be hard to end a book...but I think the ending could have been done better. A little to abrupt. But still..a very good book.
May 22, 2024
THE IMPROPER LIFE OF BEZELLIA GROVE by Susan Gregg Gilmore
A charming coming of age story set in the 1960s. Bezellia Grove grows up within an affluent family in Nashville Tennessee. While her physician father is busy at work and her emotionally abusive, alcoholic mother cares more about her social life, Bezellia and her sister Adelaide have come to rely on their nanny Maizelle and handyman Nathaniel for familial love and support.
Once Bezellia develops feelings for Nathaniel’s son Samuel, she begins to see the glaring differences between class, status and skin color within the uppity society and community in they live in.
This is one of those stories that has been repeated time and time again; forbidden love, a clash of two cultures etc. While it’s a good story with an interesting premise and characters, there just wasn’t anything special or specific enough to make it stand out from other books in this genre.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
A charming coming of age story set in the 1960s. Bezellia Grove grows up within an affluent family in Nashville Tennessee. While her physician father is busy at work and her emotionally abusive, alcoholic mother cares more about her social life, Bezellia and her sister Adelaide have come to rely on their nanny Maizelle and handyman Nathaniel for familial love and support.
Once Bezellia develops feelings for Nathaniel’s son Samuel, she begins to see the glaring differences between class, status and skin color within the uppity society and community in they live in.
This is one of those stories that has been repeated time and time again; forbidden love, a clash of two cultures etc. While it’s a good story with an interesting premise and characters, there just wasn’t anything special or specific enough to make it stand out from other books in this genre.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
May 9, 2018
This was a sweet book! Held my attention the entire time and made me happy in the end!
March 2, 2017
This is the second book I have read by Susan Gregg Gilmore. The first was Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen. I have enjoyed both so much. Bezellia was the oldest daughter of a mother who drank too much and a father who was a doctor, and not home much. So her black nanny and the chauffeur brought up Bezellia and her strange sister Adelaide. Good southern book
May 8, 2011
The Improper Life of Bezillia Grove is the story of a girl who's life is as unconventional as her name. Bezellia lives a life of prosperity, belonging to a prominent family said to have been living in Nashville since it's beginning, so, of course, there are certain expectations of her. The 1960s and 70s deem to be rather difficult, as the country around her changes, as she changes, and as her family changes right before her eyes. She must learn to accept that people are weak, love is real, and life will never be easy.
Bezellia's story is one of the best I have read in a long time. The emotions and situations felt so real sometimes it felt like I was reading a memoir. The language and prose of the author made the book flow seamlessly. From the start to the finish, I felt as if I couldn't put the book down because all of Bezellia's and her family's experiences moved naturally from one to the next. Even though I may have been frustrated with some of the decisions that she made and the situations she got herself in, I still rooted for her the entire time, as she is real, honest and introspective enough for me to understand her well. She blooms before your eyes, but the changes are still subtle, as the book spans basically from her birth to her death. This novel is, literally, about the improper and unpredictable life of a young woman, born into privilege in the South.
This book takes you to the heart of Nashville, Tennessee in the 50's. Gilmore does a great job portraying the life of prominent white families of the South like the Groves. But, the Groves aren't as picture perfect as they may seem in the Society Pages. Gilmore takes you on a wild ride through Bezillia's life. She is forced to not only cope with her mostly absent father and alcoholic mother , but also helps raise her younger sister. Throughout the madness Bezillia calls life she learns many things the most important of which is how to love, even though this love is forbidden. This book is sure to be an instant classic and should be at the very top of your reading list!
Bezellia's story is one of the best I have read in a long time. The emotions and situations felt so real sometimes it felt like I was reading a memoir. The language and prose of the author made the book flow seamlessly. From the start to the finish, I felt as if I couldn't put the book down because all of Bezellia's and her family's experiences moved naturally from one to the next. Even though I may have been frustrated with some of the decisions that she made and the situations she got herself in, I still rooted for her the entire time, as she is real, honest and introspective enough for me to understand her well. She blooms before your eyes, but the changes are still subtle, as the book spans basically from her birth to her death. This novel is, literally, about the improper and unpredictable life of a young woman, born into privilege in the South.
This book takes you to the heart of Nashville, Tennessee in the 50's. Gilmore does a great job portraying the life of prominent white families of the South like the Groves. But, the Groves aren't as picture perfect as they may seem in the Society Pages. Gilmore takes you on a wild ride through Bezillia's life. She is forced to not only cope with her mostly absent father and alcoholic mother , but also helps raise her younger sister. Throughout the madness Bezillia calls life she learns many things the most important of which is how to love, even though this love is forbidden. This book is sure to be an instant classic and should be at the very top of your reading list!
November 12, 2015
Nicely Written with some memorable characters and a big story
I found this book to be fast and end reading. I felt a kinship with the book's heroine, Bezellia even though we come from very different backgrounds. She lives in a 200 year old mansion with her father, who is a doctor and has been named director of the hospital he practises at. Her mother is a Southern belle socialite who has psychiatric problems and has become alcoholic. Her sister, Adelaide is "special" and slow in her development. Nathaniel and Mazelle are two very devoted servants. They are always there to save and protect this dysfunctional family who they are deeply involved with and who they love. As a northerner, I felt these two characters were "Uncle Tomish". Later in the story we meet Nathaniel's spon Samuel, who seemed to be a more modern Afro-American character. The story is about Southern glory, race, and class issues. It is also a story of childhood trauma, mental illness, alcoholism, woman's rights, Vietnam, loyalty and love. In writing this I have come to realize that this was a very big book!
I found this book to be fast and end reading. I felt a kinship with the book's heroine, Bezellia even though we come from very different backgrounds. She lives in a 200 year old mansion with her father, who is a doctor and has been named director of the hospital he practises at. Her mother is a Southern belle socialite who has psychiatric problems and has become alcoholic. Her sister, Adelaide is "special" and slow in her development. Nathaniel and Mazelle are two very devoted servants. They are always there to save and protect this dysfunctional family who they are deeply involved with and who they love. As a northerner, I felt these two characters were "Uncle Tomish". Later in the story we meet Nathaniel's spon Samuel, who seemed to be a more modern Afro-American character. The story is about Southern glory, race, and class issues. It is also a story of childhood trauma, mental illness, alcoholism, woman's rights, Vietnam, loyalty and love. In writing this I have come to realize that this was a very big book!
September 19, 2011
The so called "improper" part of Bezellia's life was why the book was such a good read. That Bezellia grows up in a household with a cold, abusive mother & an absent, weak father & still manages to be a decent person is probably all due to the two African American employees of the manor she calls home. The loving cook/housekeeper & the groundskeeper are the two adults she can always count on & trust & it was extremely sweet to read about their connection when in that time racism was at its worst. I liked reading about her love of people & seeing no issue with the race difference, including her blossoming love for the groundskeeper's son. Ultimately this wasn't a love story, or a civil rights story, but a story about a girl desperate to find a place to belong & a way to be at ease within her own family despite all their flaws, and there were many of those. Really the entire family was deeply damaged. The ending was a bit abrupt but not at all unsatisfying.
January 2, 2014
This is the second book I've read by this author and I loved it. I read the first, The Funeral Dress, just a couple weeks ago and loved it so much I sought out others. These two books were so much better and had so much more depth than their respective synopses lead you to believe. The subject matter is very emotional. I loved Bezellia as a character, she was fantastic. She grew up in the most dysfunctional of families but managed to save herself and her sister. I highly recommend this book and will be reading more by this author.
February 5, 2021
This was an interesting premise, but I felt the story rather meandered, and did not fully realise its potential, especially as social issues were handled with rather a light hand. Although there were definitely some good points, Bezellia’s relationship with her mother was well-handled, throughout most of the book I felt like I was reading an overview of someone’s life rather than experiencing and becoming invested in Bezellia’s story, as there was a lot of telling and describing events to the reader, with rather sparse dialogue.
April 12, 2011
As a Northener who went to a Southern college many years ago, I really enjoy reading voices from the South describing their different way of life. This book, written in an easy to read manner deals very seriously with complex issues of race and parent-child relationships among others. I thoroughly recommend it.
March 31, 2011
A very good southern read. While it revisits some common themes found in southern fiction set in the 60's and at first I found myself thinking of The Divine Secret Of The Ya Ya Sisterhood, The Secret Life of Bees and Fannie Flagg, it surprised me by finding a voice and story all its' own.
June 28, 2011
Read this in a day. Good coming-of-age story set in TN in the 60's during the civil rights movement and deals with first (& forbidden) love, family secrets, hypocrisy, with a touch of the Vietnam war.
August 21, 2017
After reading this authors first book I picked up this one thinking that it might be similar in style. It was written fairly similarly, but the subjects were different. Both are from a young girl growing up in the south kind of view, but this ones setting is a bit closer to home as I live about an hour from Nashville. The references to streets, towns, icons, and other places in the area are known to me which brings the book into sharper focus. I did like the story as there are many things that resonate with my own growing up experience. HOWEVER, there is a lot more language in this book than in the first one.... and several more "adult experiences" that are described in greater detail rather than alluded to. I do like how the author played out the society view/verses the truth behind closed doors and how no one is really fooling anyone....etc. And While I appreciate the "ending" which was supposed to be an excerpt from a local paper (those being scattered throughout the book) I was disappointed in what it had to say. I should have expected it after reading this authors other books and found that the neat tied with a bow endings are often just tied in a knot instead of a bow. BUT, I was actually sad about the ending. THOUGH it made sense given the full story.
I WOULD give this book a PG13 rating. There are A LOT of language, and innuendo, as well as descriptive scenes.
I WOULD give this book a PG13 rating. There are A LOT of language, and innuendo, as well as descriptive scenes.
October 2, 2017
Bezellia is the daughter of a prominent physician and southern society mother. During the 1950s and early 1960s in the south, wealthy households still had servants -- black people who were really part of the family, to some in the family, but still held out as servants not family by others. To the daughters of this family, Maizelle, the cook and general "other mother" and the gardener and general handyman, Nathaniel, were more family than their own parents. It was these two servants that reared the girls and were there for them when their mostly absent father and alcoholic mother were not parenting them.
This tender story recounts the growing up years of the two girls, the coming of age years, and how everyone coped. Bezellia's early experience with love and finding herself when she didn't want to be another alcoholic society wife, married to a wealthy but absent husband. Lovely story.
This tender story recounts the growing up years of the two girls, the coming of age years, and how everyone coped. Bezellia's early experience with love and finding herself when she didn't want to be another alcoholic society wife, married to a wealthy but absent husband. Lovely story.
May 3, 2018
I actually put this book on hold from the library because I really wanted to read it. I hated the ending. I should have read a little bit more about it before I picked it up, because it was filled with depressing topics—alcoholism, a mother verbally, physically abusing and neglecting her children, child never feeling loved by her parents, and of course, taking place during 60s and early 70s, not being able to love who you want to love (Bezellia Grove, white and from old money, loves Samuel Stephenson, black and the son of the Grove family’s butler.) and racial inequality. I read books with serious topics, but I was thinking this one was going to be a funny, silly story—my mistake.
I would give this book a light pg-13 because of the heavy topics. There is very little bad language and one non descriptive sex scene.
I would give this book a light pg-13 because of the heavy topics. There is very little bad language and one non descriptive sex scene.
June 9, 2018
In the 1960's, the Grove family is a prominent family who lives in Nashville: the emphasis is on high society values. The mother tries to hide her drinking issues and the father is involved with his work at the hospital and rarely is home. The two girls lead privileged lives, but are very unhappy. Bezellia dreams of life away from home and her younger sister plays with dolls and makes mud pies, even though she is a pre -teen. Their Black servants are a part of the family yet are not treated well by the mother. Bezellia falls in love with the Black son of the servant and both families are against the relationship. The culture is in upheaval and the author does a remarkable job of dealing with the strong emotions of these very realistic characters. The reader will be cheering for the main character as she fights for the rights of all people.
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