Holly

by Albert French, Michelle Herpe-Voslinsky (Translator)

Holly is the story of a poor, white girl in 1944 North Carolina, whose lonely world is transformed by a handsome, educated black soldier from the war - and of the town's savage response to their romance. An indictment, a love story, and evocation of a time and place, it confirms Albert French as a dark and passionate chronicler of American mores and culture

Genres: Historical Fiction

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Albert French is an American author and publisher whose works, mainly focusing on the rural life of African Americans, are known for their intensity and distinctive style and have been translated into several languages.

French was born in Pittsburgh in 1943 and joined the Marine Corps when he was 20. His experiences there are described in his book 'Patches of Fire.' After returning home, French worked as a photographer for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette before publishing the Pittsburgh Preview for twelve years. He continues to reside in Pittsburgh.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met this author at the library, and he told me to read his book that is named after me. So I am!

.... I feel like I say this about every book I read,but this one was heartbreaking. Gorgeous, well-written, but your heart will fall out of your body and shatter on the floor when you read this. I loved it. A good companion to The Warmth of Other Suns, as Holly drives home much of the history.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written book about growing up in the South during WWII. The only thing I didn't like was that I didn't totally "buy" the connection between Holly and Elias -- if Elias has the values and interests that the author makes us believe he has, what exact would he see in Holly, and what, substantively, would be the basis for their connection?

[Terry O'Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert French was, at one time or another, a monumental inspiration in my life. On the other hand, I have always appreciated how artistically he mastered his craft; his true portrayal of the African American experience and culture; and the proper use of vernacular language in his writing that brings his characters to life to tell an alluring story.

[Anwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, Albert French keeps you interested on every page

[Susan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow paced, deliberate book that kept me turning the page. Its a short read but it took me almost a week to finish.

[Pats Cornelis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wat een donker boek...kreeg er regelmatig zenuwen van maar toch uitgelezen. Een mooi gegeven, jammer genoeg slecht uitgewerkt

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

(FROM JACKET)Albert French's first novel, "Billy", won high praise from many critics: "may be the best first novel by a black author since Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye"(TIME), "should not be missed"(DETAILS), "lyrical and unflinchingly direct, with the structure and resonance of classical tragedy"(THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER). To his second novel, "Holly", French brings the same searing vision and relentless prose, creating an unforgettable cast of characters that drives this powerful tale of passion doomed by a small town's racism and brutality.

With remarkable insight and sensitivity, French constructs his drama around a richly drawn portrayal of a nineteen-year-old poor white girl, Holly R. Hill, who lives with her family in Supply, North Carolina, in 1944. When we meet her, Holly spends her days fussing about her clothes; worrying about her brother and her sometime fiance, who are off fighting in the war; contemplating kissing the local dreamboat, Garet Foster; and sharing secrets with her best friend, Elsie Fagen. Like a character from a Thomas Hardy novel, Holly seems, litterally, perfectly ordinary. But Holly's safe world begins to crack open her town and family struggle to cope with the war's toll on their loved ones. In her morning, Holly begins to spend a lot of time alone near Black Land, "where Supply's coloreds lived", and where she meets Elias Owens, a young, handsome veteran who is an aspiring painter and composer, and who is black. Their relationshiop touches off a maelstrom that leaves no doubt as to the consequences of crossing society's proscribed boundaries.

A love story and and indictment, "Holly" is also a story of friendship, of community, and of the aftereffects of a war on a family as well as on a small town. Told with a piercing tenderness and intensity, "Holly" confirms Albert French as a dark and passionate chronicler of American mores and culture.

***UGHHHHHHHHHHH! Ok so Elias E Owens, Holly's ultimate soulmate, doesn't even show up til page 179 of a 307 page book, and dead by page 301. 1/3 of the fucking story people! This book really frustrated me. I didn't want a happy ending but DAMN!! I read this because "Billy" by Albert French was so moving I was literally sobbing at the end. This read left me gnashing my teeth and pulling hair out at the end. I didn't even finish it, just skimmed thru. It put me in mind of another terrible book I wasted minutes of my life on "Strange Fruit" by Lillian Some1ornother. I guess French wanted a reaction and I'll applaud him for that. I really hope "I Can't Wait on God" is better or I'll no longer be able to boast him as one of my literary faves.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather a weird book, first the negative, the main thrust of the story (in fact what the blub on the back says it's about!) doesn't even get going until over 2/3 of the way in. So about half way through you hit total boredom with the slowness and then when you finally near the end you have the actual story quickly shoved down your throat with no particular time for it to develop meaningfully.

But despite there are some good things, just probably not quite enough to save the book from the above large issue. The book is very strong emotionally, somehow he author does engage the reader with the characters and you are left caring a great deal about them. Also the writing format, using the Southern accent, is very enjoyable. In fact it is almost rhythmical.

But overall I am torn - at times I greatly enjoyed reading this, but I also can't forget my boredom in the middle of the book or how disappointing the end 3rd is.

[Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is billed as a love story between a white girl and a black soldier although he doesn't appear until two thirds way through the book. I found the dialect annoying, partly because I like to read quickly and had to slow down a lot to work out what the characters are saying. The plot is predictable and also a little unbelievable. A single 20 year old girl from a poor to average background would have been at work not wondering around all day filling in her time as she wished. Naturally it all ends badly for everyone concerned.