The Keepers of the House

I stumbled across this while looking for books by Peter Taylor, one of my favorite authors. I can now add Shirley Ann Grau to that list. Totally engrossing story told in a style that is missing these days. Southern writers continue to amaze me.

I chose three stars because for me the beginning was boring and confusing. sometimes I wanted to put the book down and not finish reading it. About half why through the book it starts getting better. It had a good ending not one you would guess at!!

Grau has written an interesting book about life in the South, which included a realistic view of living in the South and the perils that will make one remember the characters at that point of history in the U.S..

I read novels probably more than most people (4-5/mo) this year. I would not normally have selected this but read the review on Bookbub and decided to give it a look. I can always toss it.
I enjoyed and appreciated this writing more than most that I have carefully chosen. The continuity and color are only achieved by great stories and great writers. I also thought that the editing was special, but its hard to tell whose work that is. . . .I rarely see a movie twice and never read a book twice. I think I'll set this one aside and maybe . . . .
Should I read another Grau novel, or quit while I'm ahead?

A century-spanning story of a family in Alabama, "The Keepers of the House" is a moving, masterly look at the South and its history of segregation. The POV shifts from person to person on down the line, a brilliant way to show the passing of time through different eyes. The main characters are the patriarch William Howland, his black mistress Margaret, and Abigail Howland Mason, William's granddaughter. How these lives intertwine and intersect makes for a fascinating study into a family tree of mixed race and proud heritage, and it's all beautifully rendered by the author with such careful attention to detail that I was literally transported in time.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Shirley Ann Grau was written in 1964, the year of my birth, so I was curious as to what book won the prestigious award that year. Thanks to my daily Goodreads deals, I was able to purchase this for my Kindle at a very low cost, so kudos to Goodreads for that! While I had never heard of Shirley Ann Grau or this tome, all that has changed now that I've finished this masterwork.

Beautifully written. I'm interesting story about an interesting time. I description of Southern life that is very intriguing because of the different ways people were able and not so are able to deal with one another.

Grau takes the family history from Civil War era events to the1950's Civil Rights conflicts. During the course of this journey, the women, particularly, develop strengths and insights as events unfold. An excellent choice for discussion groups who take their literature seriously.

This was a fantastic book. The language was beautiful, first introducing the previous generations of an old Southern family and then bringing us to the current generation, still fighting the racial battles of Black and White in the Deep South. The last half of the book was as action packed as the first part descriptively beautiful. I would highly recommend it. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.