Mother of Pearl

Haynes, Melinda; Visitor, Nana

ISBN 10: 0788738887 ISBN 13: 9780788738883

Publisher: Recorded Books, 1999

Synopsis

This debut work captures the irony and beauty of life in the 1950s Deep South, centering around 28-year-old Even Grade, a Mississippi black man who grew up an orphan, and Valuable Korner, the 15-year-old daughter of the town whore. Both are passionately determined to discover the precious things neither expected as children: human connection, enduring commitment, and above all, unconditional love.

About this title

Review:

Pat Conroy

author of "Beach Music"

A first novel of immense and staggering power. Something absolutely wonderful is going on here and it might be the surprise one feels encountering greatness.

"San Francisco Chronicle Book Review"

Like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor before her, Melinda Haynes recognizes that Southern culture has a lush affinity with the elements of classical tragedy...A pleasure to witness.

"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland)

Haynes is the real thing, a true artist, a genuine writer, and, in this book at least, a genius....Her characters live (do they ever) and "Mother of Pearl" transports us to the wilds of a different world.

"Booklist" (starred review)

Both richly humorous and deeply tragic, this story leaves one wiser, and makes one understand something meaningful and important about life and human nature. Haynes speaks the truth in a story that is astonishingly powerful.

"Chicago Tribune"

Memorable...Less a portrait of the South in the 1950s and more a tale about how necessity forces people to create bonds outside their own blood...Haynes works boldly with this large and eccentric cast...her prose has a rugged, muscular quality that is highly expressive and constantly surprising.

"The New York Times Book Review"

Welcome to Petal, Mississippi, a real place on the map, but in Melinda Haynes' first novel, a fictional one as entangling as kudzu. In language as profuse and vigorous as that Southern vine, Haynes tells the story of Valuable Korner, a fatherless girl named after a real estate sign....A heart-thumper.

Shelby Hearon

author of "Owning Jolene"

"Mother of Pearl" is a monumental novel set in the noble-speaking backcountry of Faulkner's Mississippi. In a luminous voice, original and true, Melinda Haynes tells the story, straight as a tree and deep as a pond, of the savage miseries and saving graces of the past and present in the Deep South. This is an unforgettable, heart-bending book.

"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)

In prose both rugged and beautiful, Haynes plumbs the secrets of the South in her stunning debut novel...She is fearless in portraying her characters' flaws, their pettiness and racism, their erring thoughts, but she's also merciful, letting them grow and change during the course of the narrative...This wise, luminous novel demonstrates her great gifts for language, courageous storytelling, and compassion.

Pat Conroyauthor of "Beach Music"A first novel of immense and staggering power. Something absolutely wonderful is going on here and it might be the surprise one feels encountering greatness.

"San Francisco Chronicle Book Review"Like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor before her, Melinda Haynes recognizes that Southern culture has a lush affinity with the elements of classical tragedy...A pleasure to witness.

"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland)Haynes is the real thing, a true artist, a genuine writer, and, in this book at least, a genius....Her characters live (do they ever) and "Mother of Pearl" transports us to the wilds of a different world.

"Booklist" (starred review)Both richly humorous and deeply tragic, this story leaves one wiser, and makes one understand something meaningful and important about life and human nature. Haynes speaks the truth in a story that is astonishingly powerful.

"Chicago Tribune"Memorable...Less a portrait of the South in the 1950s and more a tale about how necessity forces people to create bonds outside their own blood...Haynes works boldly with this large and eccentric cast...her prose has a rugged, muscular quality that is highly expressive and constantly surprising.

"The New York Times Book Review"Welcome to Petal, Mississippi, a real place on the map, but in Melinda Haynes' first novel, a fictional one as entangling as kudzu. In language as profuse and vigorous as that Southern vine, Haynes tells the story of Valuable Korner, a fatherless girl named after a real estate sign....A heart-thumper.

Shelby Hearonauthor of "Owning Jolene""Mother of Pearl" is a monumental novel set in the noble-speaking backcountry of Faulkner's Mississippi. In a luminous voice, original and true, Melinda Haynes tells the story, straight as a tree and deep as a pond, of the savage miseries and saving graces of the past and present in the Deep South. This is an unforgettable, heart-bending book.

"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)In prose both rugged and beautiful, Haynes plumbs the secrets of the South in her stunning debut novel...She is fearless in portraying her characters' flaws, their pettiness and racism, their erring thoughts, but she's also merciful, letting them grow and change during the course of the narrative...This wise, luminous novel demonstrates her great gifts for language, courageous storytelling, and compassion.

"Chicago Tribune" Remarkable.

Shelby Hearon author of "Owning Jolene""Mother of Pearl" is a monumental novel set in the noble-speaking backcountry of Faulkner's Mississippi. In a luminous voice, original and true, Melinda Haynes tells the story, straight as a tree and deep as a pond, of the savage miseries and saving graces of the past and present in the Deep South. This is an unforgettable, heart-bending book.

"Booklist" (starred review) Phenomenal and completely captivating.

Pat Conroy author of "Beach Music" Haynes' sentences have the beauty of coined silver forks resting on linen. Her dialogue shimmers.

"Chicago Tribune" Memorable....Less a portrait of the South in the 1950's and more a tale about how neccessity forces people to create bonds outside their own blood....Haynes works boldly with this large and eccentric cast....her prose has a rugged, muscular quality that is highly expressive and constantly surprising.

"San Francisco Chronicle Book Review" Like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor before her, Melinda Haynes recognizes that Southern culture has a lush affinity with the elements of classical tragedy...A pleasure to witness.

"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland) Haynes is the real thing, a true artist, a genuine writer, and, in this book at least, a genius....Her characters live (do they ever) and "Mother of Pearl" transports us to the wilds of a different world.

Pat Conroy author of "Beach Music" A first novel of immense and staggering power. Something absolutely wonderful is going on here and it might be the surprise one feels encountering greatness.

"Booklist" (starred review) Both richly humorous and deeply tragic, this story leaves one wiser, and makes one understand something meaningful and important about life and human nature. Haynes speaks the truth in a story that is astonishingly powerful.

"Chicago Tribune" Memorable...Less a portrait of the South in the 1950s and more a tale about how necessity forces people to create bonds outside their own blood...Haynes works boldly with this large and eccentric cast...her prose has a rugged, muscular quality that is highly expressive and constantly surprising.

"The New York Times Book Review" Welcome to Petal, Mississippi, a real place on the map, but in Melinda Haynes' first novel, a fictional one as entangling as kudzu. In language as profuse and vigorous as that Southern vine, Haynes tells the story of Valuable Korner, a fatherless girl named after a real estate sign....A heart-thumper.

"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) In prose both rugged and beautiful, Haynes plumbs the secrets of the South in her stunning debut novel...She is fearless in portraying her characters' flaws, their pettiness and racism, their erring thoughts, but she's also merciful, letting them grow and change during the course of the narrative...This wise, luminous novel demonstrates her great gifts for language, courageous storytelling, and compassion.

Shelby Hearon author of "Owning Jolene" "Mother of Pearl" is a monumental novel set in the noble-speaking backcountry of Faulkner's Mississippi. In a luminous voice, original and true, Melinda Haynes tells the story, straight as a tree and deep as a pond, of the savage miseries and saving graces of the past and present in the Deep South. This is an unforgettable, heart-bending book.

Pat Conroy author of Beach Music A first novel of immense and staggering power. Something absolutely wonderful is going on here and it might be the surprise one feels encountering greatness.

Chicago Tribune Remarkable.

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland) Haynes is the real thing, a true artist, a genuine writer, and, in this book at least, a genius....Her characters live (do they ever) and Mother of Pearl transports us to the wilds of a different world.

Booklist (starred review) Both richly humorous and deeply tragic, this story leaves one wiser, and makes one understand something meaningful and important about life and human nature. Haynes speaks the truth in a story that is astonishingly powerful.

Chicago Tribune Memorable...Less a portrait of the South in the 1950s and more a tale about how necessity forces people to create bonds outside their own blood...Haynes works boldly with this large and eccentric cast...her prose has a rugged, muscular quality that is highly expressive and constantly surprising.

San Francisco Chronicle Book Review Like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor before her, Melinda Haynes recognizes that Southern culture has a lush affinity with the elements of classical tragedy...A pleasure to witness.

The New York Times Book Review Welcome to Petal, Mississippi, a real place on the map, but in Melinda Haynes' first novel, a fictional one as entangling as kudzu. In language as profuse and vigorous as that Southern vine, Haynes tells the story of Valuable Korner, a fatherless girl named after a real estate sign....A heart-thumper.

Publishers Weekly (starred review) In prose both rugged and beautiful, Haynes plumbs the secrets of the South in her stunning debut novel...She is fearless in portraying her characters' flaws, their pettiness and racism, their erring thoughts, but she's also merciful, letting them grow and change during the course of the narrative...This wise, luminous novel demonstrates her great gifts for language, courageous storytelling, and compassion.

Shelby Hearon author of Owning Jolene Mother of Pearl is a monumental novel set in the noble-speaking backcountry of Faulkner's Mississippi. In a luminous voice, original and true, Melinda Haynes tells the story, straight as a tree and deep as a pond, of the savage miseries and saving graces of the past and present in the Deep South. This is an unforgettable, heart-bending book.

From the Back Cover:

"Something absoutely wonderful is going on here." Pat Conroy

Welcome to Petal, Mississippi. Summer 1956.

Twenty-eight-year-old Even Grade, a black man who grew up an orphan, and Valuable Korner, a fifteen-year-old white girl, daughter of the town whore and an unknown father, are both seeking the family, love and commitment they've never had. When their paths cross through Joody Two Sun, a seer, who sets up camp along the riverbank just outside of town and becomes Even's lover, together they are forced to take on the savage miseries and saving graces of the deep South.

‘An extraordinary read . . . Melinda Haynes is my catch of the year.’

Oprah Winfrey

‘Like a novelist not only writing about the 1950s, but writing in the 1950s, Melinda Haynes brings a whole, rambunctious world onto the page.’

New York Times

Melinda Haynes grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She now writes full time from her home in Alabama where she lives with her husband. Mother of Pearl is her first novel.

About this edition

• Publisher: Recorded Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0788738887
• ISBN 13: 9780788738883
• Binding: Audio Cassette