New book release tomorrow June 8th!
John and Mary Margaret by Susan Cushman
“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world . . . would do this, it would change the earth.”—William Faulkner
I promise you will not be able to put this historical fiction novel down once you start. If you have any connection to Ole Miss or Memphis, this is a must-read. If you grew up in the Old South in the sixties or live in the New South now, go out and get this book directly from your favorite bookstore immediately. If you are in a book club and looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking book about life in the South, put this on your list.
Susan Cushman takes us on a five-decade journey with two young lovers who overcome prejudice and racial injustice. Mary Margaret is white and from Jackson, Mississippi. John is black and grows up in Memphis. They first meet at Ole Miss in 1966 in freshman English where they share a love for Southern literature and soon a love for each other. But then “life” happens.
Cushman gives us hope that change can happen in our lives and our country, even though, as her beautifully crafted story reminds us, change may take longer than we would like.
This is a great afternoon read to re-center our lives on what is essential in life. Cushman’s story is full of hope for today and the future for our children.
Joanna Seibert joannaseibert.com