Books Set in North America, Mississippi, United States

The Girls in the Stilt House, by Kelly Mustian (2021)

Read:  September 18, 2024

4 Stars

Books Set in the North America: United States: Tennessee

The Jew Store, by Stella Suberman (1998)

This book is part-memoir, part-fiction.  The author her family’s life in a small rural Tennessee town where they were the only Jews.  She changed the name of the town and the names of some of the townspeople to protect their identities.  Since much of the story occurred either before she was born, or before she was old enough to have a clear memory, had a clear memory, much is of the book is based on her imagination as to what actually happened.  The family lived in Tennessee from 1920 until 1933.  The author was barely 11 when her family moved away.

That said, this family memoir is probably not unlike the story of many Jews living in the rural south.  As she notes, many small southern towns had “Jew” stores – dry-goods stores run and operated by the town’s only Jews.  

Aaron and Rebe Bronson had both immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe/Russia.  Aaron was a self-described natural born salesman.  He set off for Nashville, Tennessee, where he had hoped to make his fortune.  He soon discovered that there were already many Jewish-run stores there; and was convinced to move to the small town of Concordia.  He and his young family arrived in Concordia in 1920 and were taken in by Miss Brookie, an eccentric agnostic who believed in being kind to others.

While Miss Brookie was understanding, none of the other townspeople had ever seen Jews before and were convinced they were a different species.  On the eve of the new store opening, Miss Brookie tells him that it will go well, provided the Klan approves.  The book goes into detail of the tensions between the towns people and the Bronson’s fears of anti-Semitism.  The book also describes the tensions between the white and Black population, often in terms that are very disarming.

Aaron named his store “Bronson’s Low-Priced Store”.  Once the store is open, however, most of the town comes to respect the Bronson’s.  Reba, however, fears for her children and wants them to grow up in a Jewish environment.  When the Depression came, Aaron fought to keep the town going, thereby winning the respect of most of the town.

I found this to be a charming story filled with humor.

Read:  January 23, 2021

4 Stars

Books Set in Asia: India: Sambalpore

A Necessary Evil, by Abir Mukherjee (2018)

I read Abir Mukherjee’s first book, A Rising Man, 2 years ago.  That book introduced the reader to Captain Sam Wyndham, a former detective with Scotland Yard, who relocated to India during the final years of British Rule in that country.  I loved the mix of mystery and history, so was looking forward to the second book in the series.  I was not disappointed.

This mystery novel explores the princely state of Sambalpore, which existed within the borders of India, but was exempt from British rule.  The novel, sent in 1920, begins in Calcutta with the assassination of the heir apparent of Sambalpore.  Captain Wyndham and his sidekick, Sergeant Surendranath Banerjee, known as “Surrender-not”, travel to Sambalpore with the body of the prince. Surrender-not is the official British representative, while Captain Wyndham is ostensibly on holiday.  They hope to track down the assassin.

On the surface, the prince’s death seems to be at the hands of religious fanatics. The prince, however, had informed that that he had received vague death threats.  Because Sambalpore is not under British rule, Wyndham has no jurisdiction within the principality.  The Maharaja, the prince’s father, however, authorizes Wyndam and Banerjee to look into the matter.

Complicating the matter is the fact that much of the wealth of the principality comes from the diamond mines.  A British company is hot to procure the mines, but if sold, how would that impact the principalities economy?  When the royal accountant goes missing, it appears there may be a link between his disappearance and the death of the prince.

The Maharaja has three wives and hundreds of concubines living in the zenana (harem), who are guarded by loyal eunichs.  Wyndham needs to question the prince’s mother, who is the Maharaja’s second wife, but the women in the zenana are generally forbidden to meet with the outside.  The Maharaja’s first and eldest wife, however, finds a way to meet with Wyndham and provides insight into the running of the principality.  Women, it seems, have a great deal of influence, albeit,  unseen, role in ruling the country.

I loved this book as much as the first novel.  The author has a wonderful way with describing the scenery and flavor of India in the 1920s.  In addition to a fun mystery, there is a great deal of history of India and these little kingdoms that co-existed with British rule.

Read: April 22, 2019

5 Stars