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A review by mellabella
Roadwalkers by Shirley Ann Grau
2.0
This book is... Odd. For lack of a better word.
Like the author was observing a woman then her daughter from afar. Spying on them. Writing down their actions without actually ever speaking to them.
It started off with promise. I find the premise interesting and would like to find out more about real life "Roadwalkers" during the depression. If they existed.
There are two narratives. The first half belongs to "Baby". The second half to her daughter Nanda.
Baby and her six siblings start off with two parents. Living in a house. Their father disappears after killing his mistress. Their mother disappears. The number of siblings dwindles until it's down to two. Baby and her brother Joseph. Roaming the countryside.
When her brother starts making trouble, Baby is left alone. She's found and, eventually comes to lives with other orphaned children with nuns as her guardians. She is renamed Mary.
I had more questions after the book was done.
We learn Baby survived by selling herself. Her passion for drawing led to a lucrative career in design. But what happened post orphanage? Why was Charles introduced at all? He certainly didn't play a large role. It was pivotal. But, no need to learn his background for it.
I'm assuming her daughter lacked feelings because Baby did? Even though it seemed like Baby cared for her daughter when she was young. As she grew older it was different. Was it because she saw how readily her family left her growing up? Between the two women, they never displayed emotion. Detached.
That time period was very tumultuous in terms of race relations. Segregation ended in 1964. How did Nanda and Tom just hang out? Her being readily accepted to his family gatherings?
There's more. But I'll leave it at that.
Like the author was observing a woman then her daughter from afar. Spying on them. Writing down their actions without actually ever speaking to them.
It started off with promise. I find the premise interesting and would like to find out more about real life "Roadwalkers" during the depression. If they existed.
There are two narratives. The first half belongs to "Baby". The second half to her daughter Nanda.
Baby and her six siblings start off with two parents. Living in a house. Their father disappears after killing his mistress. Their mother disappears. The number of siblings dwindles until it's down to two. Baby and her brother Joseph. Roaming the countryside.
When her brother starts making trouble, Baby is left alone. She's found and, eventually comes to lives with other orphaned children with nuns as her guardians. She is renamed Mary.
I had more questions after the book was done.
We learn Baby survived by selling herself. Her passion for drawing led to a lucrative career in design. But what happened post orphanage? Why was Charles introduced at all? He certainly didn't play a large role. It was pivotal. But, no need to learn his background for it.
I'm assuming her daughter lacked feelings because Baby did? Even though it seemed like Baby cared for her daughter when she was young. As she grew older it was different. Was it because she saw how readily her family left her growing up? Between the two women, they never displayed emotion. Detached.
That time period was very tumultuous in terms of race relations. Segregation ended in 1964. How did Nanda and Tom just hang out? Her being readily accepted to his family gatherings?
There's more. But I'll leave it at that.