A hurricane is building over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the coastal town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, and Esch's father is growing concerned. He's a hard drinker, largely absent, and it isn't often he worries about the family. Esch and her three brothers are stocking up on food, but there isn't much to save. Lately, Esch can't keep down what food she gets; at fifteen, she has just realized that she's pregnant. Her brother Skeetah is sneaking scraps for his prized pit bull's new litter, dyi...
The Marrow of Tradition (Belt Revivals) (Modern Library)
by Charles W Chesnutt
The Marrow of Tradition is a compressed epic and a political thriller. It spans two generations of whites and blacks whose blood and fortunes are entwined. The author surrounds these families with characters who are constantly negotiating their positions on the racial, social, and moral scales. In addition to a romantic subplot, there are moments of grisly comedy that make you feel you are witnessing a minstrel show from hell. The novel leaves questions which today remain unanswered.