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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
Passing through Perfect, focuses on the life of Benjamin Church, a sharecropper’s son. He returns home from the war and begins farming alongside his father. It is the story of love, loss, heartache, joy and one man’s determination to provide for his family. The tale spans a good eleven years and I quickly became caught up in the characters.
Crosby clearly captures Alabama in the early 50’s and segregation. Passing through Perfect is told from a few perspectives each delivered in separate chapters. Benjamin’s is the predominant voice and I quickly connected with him. Delia and folks from Wyattsville are the others. I wondered how Crosby was going to bring Wyattsville into the story and she did so brilliantly. I laughed with these characters, felt pain for them and shed a few tears right alongside them. Benjamin is clever, soft-spoken and has this dignity about him that I could not help but admire. Delia story touched me, from her strength to her yearning for a better way of life just over the horizon.
Passing through Perfect flowed wonderfully as Crosby brought their daily lives to life while relating a powerful story about prejudice and intolerance during this period. Free but not equal. She managed to capture both the worst of man and the best of him. I think the author said it best in the notes at the beginning of the book. She mentions tales are not good or bad it is simply what it was. Her descriptive writing style allowed me to smell the collards's, taste the heat and feel the rain on my face. The title was cleverly weaved into the tale and I smiled to myself when it happened. Memorable, poignant and powerful Passing through Perfect is a tale that will stay with you, long after the book is closed.
Copy provided by author.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Crosby clearly captures Alabama in the early 50’s and segregation. Passing through Perfect is told from a few perspectives each delivered in separate chapters. Benjamin’s is the predominant voice and I quickly connected with him. Delia and folks from Wyattsville are the others. I wondered how Crosby was going to bring Wyattsville into the story and she did so brilliantly. I laughed with these characters, felt pain for them and shed a few tears right alongside them. Benjamin is clever, soft-spoken and has this dignity about him that I could not help but admire. Delia story touched me, from her strength to her yearning for a better way of life just over the horizon.
Passing through Perfect flowed wonderfully as Crosby brought their daily lives to life while relating a powerful story about prejudice and intolerance during this period. Free but not equal. She managed to capture both the worst of man and the best of him. I think the author said it best in the notes at the beginning of the book. She mentions tales are not good or bad it is simply what it was. Her descriptive writing style allowed me to smell the collards's, taste the heat and feel the rain on my face. The title was cleverly weaved into the tale and I smiled to myself when it happened. Memorable, poignant and powerful Passing through Perfect is a tale that will stay with you, long after the book is closed.
Copy provided by author.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
When Benjamin Church returned to Grinder's Corner, Alabama after the war, he dreamed of becoming a mechanic. But days turned into months, and months turned into years, and Benjamin finds himself stuck working on his father's farm to support his young family. The tragic death of his wife changes his life forever and Benjamin must find a way to get his only son, Isaac, out of the South with its deep-rooted racial prejudices to a place where he can build a future in spite of the colour of his skin.
I picked up this book free for review via ebooksforreview.com mainly because I have been on Bette Lee Crosby's mailing list for a while and I wanted to find out what she really writes about (can't remember when/how I got on the list anymore).
It seems that I have been reading an amount of historical fiction relating to the race relationships in America lately, starting with [b:Touched with Fire|18165421|Touched with Fire|Christopher Datta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396108451s/18165421.jpg|25472616] and [b:Fire and Dust|23602069|Fire and Dust|Christopher Datta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416777972s/23602069.jpg|43149547]. While those two are written about events in the middle of the war itself, Passing Through Perfect is an excellent "follow up" story of events that take place almost a hundred years after the abolishment of slavery in America. I think it says something about humans that, even though the law has been changed decades prior, the attitudes and traditions of the communities and the prejudices they hold had hardly changed at all.
Passing Through Perfect presents a little slice of life of that time and age, demonstrating how one man's prejudice can destroy a life and how another's open-mindedness and generosity can help rebuild it.
I picked up this book free for review via ebooksforreview.com mainly because I have been on Bette Lee Crosby's mailing list for a while and I wanted to find out what she really writes about (can't remember when/how I got on the list anymore).
It seems that I have been reading an amount of historical fiction relating to the race relationships in America lately, starting with [b:Touched with Fire|18165421|Touched with Fire|Christopher Datta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396108451s/18165421.jpg|25472616] and [b:Fire and Dust|23602069|Fire and Dust|Christopher Datta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1416777972s/23602069.jpg|43149547]. While those two are written about events in the middle of the war itself, Passing Through Perfect is an excellent "follow up" story of events that take place almost a hundred years after the abolishment of slavery in America. I think it says something about humans that, even though the law has been changed decades prior, the attitudes and traditions of the communities and the prejudices they hold had hardly changed at all.
Passing Through Perfect presents a little slice of life of that time and age, demonstrating how one man's prejudice can destroy a life and how another's open-mindedness and generosity can help rebuild it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I have read the first book in the Wyattsville series by Bette Lee Crosby (Spare Change) and I enjoyed it. I was confident that I would like this book as well. I was right. Passing Through Perfect is a well written book with memorable characters that make this book a wonderful read. The story begins in rural Alabama in the mid 20th century with Benjamin Church, a young black man with hopes and dreams, whose life doesn't go quite as he thought it might. His journey and that of his family and friends will draw you in and you will only emerge when the story ends.
I love books most that evoke strong emotion from me and Ms. Crosby has certainly delivered with this story. I laughed and I cried. I felt anger and sadness over the cruel injustice of racism that this family was forced to endure. I felt happiness and joy for them in the good times. This story made me feel!
Even though this book is part of a series, it definitely stands on its own. And if you are a fan of Historical Southern Fiction, I would especially recommend this next edition in the Wyattsville series to you. Thank you Ms. Crosby for this extraordinary story.
I love books most that evoke strong emotion from me and Ms. Crosby has certainly delivered with this story. I laughed and I cried. I felt anger and sadness over the cruel injustice of racism that this family was forced to endure. I felt happiness and joy for them in the good times. This story made me feel!
Even though this book is part of a series, it definitely stands on its own. And if you are a fan of Historical Southern Fiction, I would especially recommend this next edition in the Wyattsville series to you. Thank you Ms. Crosby for this extraordinary story.
I just finished Passing through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby. It the third book in The Wyattsville Series. It is 1946 and Benjamin Church has just returned to Twin Pines from the war. He has returned to his father’s (Otis Church) farm (they are sharecroppers) to help him out. Since they live in Alabama, Benjamin believes he can have money producing crops all year round. While at a local dance, Benjamin meets Delia Finch. She is the pastor’s daughter. They immediately fall in love and wish to marry. Pastor Finch does not approve of Benjamin for his daughter. Pastor Finch is a college graduate and has made sure that his daughter had a private school education despite her color. Delia has had a good life and has been sheltered from the harshness of being a non-white in Alabama. When Delia turns up pregnant, her father calls her a bad name and throws her out of the house. Delia and Benjamin marry the next day. Delia sacrifices her family for her love.
Life will not be easy for Delia, Benjamin, and Otis. When the worst happens, Benjamin will have to make a choice. A choice that will change life for Benjamin. Passing through Perfect is just a lovely novel to read. Passing through Perfect is well written and the novel flows beautifully. I liked the characters (except Delia’s father). It is interesting to see life from a different perspective and I was glad for the epilogue that wrapped up the novel nicely. I give Passing through Perfect 4.25 out of 5 stars. The only thing I did not enjoy was the periodic chapters told from the first person perspective of various characters. I did not always feel that the enhanced the story. While Passing through Perfect is the third book in the series, it can easily be read alone (though you will want to go back and read the other two novels).
I received a complimentary copy of Passing through Perfect from the author in exchange for an honest review.
For additional information, check out my blog! http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/10/passing-through-perfect.html
Life will not be easy for Delia, Benjamin, and Otis. When the worst happens, Benjamin will have to make a choice. A choice that will change life for Benjamin. Passing through Perfect is just a lovely novel to read. Passing through Perfect is well written and the novel flows beautifully. I liked the characters (except Delia’s father). It is interesting to see life from a different perspective and I was glad for the epilogue that wrapped up the novel nicely. I give Passing through Perfect 4.25 out of 5 stars. The only thing I did not enjoy was the periodic chapters told from the first person perspective of various characters. I did not always feel that the enhanced the story. While Passing through Perfect is the third book in the series, it can easily be read alone (though you will want to go back and read the other two novels).
I received a complimentary copy of Passing through Perfect from the author in exchange for an honest review.
For additional information, check out my blog! http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/10/passing-through-perfect.html
1946 Alabama is racially divided. Benjamin Church returns from the war to help his dad, Otis, in the farm. One night, he meets Delia at a dance and falls deeply in love. However, Delia’s father, a pastor, wants Delia to attend college and not marry a poor farmer.
Delia and Benjamin get married and have a son, Isaac. A series of tragedies and heartbreak follow their lives. Benjamin experiences racism by whites on many occasions.
Ultimately, this is a story of triumph, and of people who like you for who you are, vs. the color of your skin.
Delia and Benjamin get married and have a son, Isaac. A series of tragedies and heartbreak follow their lives. Benjamin experiences racism by whites on many occasions.
Ultimately, this is a story of triumph, and of people who like you for who you are, vs. the color of your skin.
Miss Bette, you have outdone yourself with PASSING THROUGH PERFECT! Southern fiction at its finest.
Top 50 Books of 2015 "Best Southern Fiction and Southern Storyteller."
Wyattsville Series, Book 3, an inspiring story and gripping series (the best yet), assured to win your heart, and one you will not soon forget. When a twist of fate intersects, and hearts of compassion unite among races, delivering a powerful and emotional story of love and loss.
For fans of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Help, Julie Kibler’s, Calling Me Home, David Johnson's, The Tucker Series, Catherine Hyde, Wiley Cash or the many early southern books of Charles Martin (my all-time favorite author), this book is for you! A heartfelt novel of bigotry, racial injustice, and poverty, set in the late 40’s and 50s in the Deep South, in rural Alabama.
Following World War II, African-American Benjamin returns to his hometown of Grinder’s Corner to find everything is still the same – a hole in the road. His father is a proud farmer, a good man who has lost his wife and now his only son has returned to offer his help and support. He wanted to leave this poor hometown good-bye and be an engineer or mechanic of aircraft; however, he knows this will never happen.
Benjamin is no longer concerned about the future and career he once dreamed of. The responsibility of taking care of his father and the farm is his top priority and he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. However, he attends a local dance with his father and some friends, and meets the girl of his dreams. He falls in love quickly and knows this is his wife and future.
However, her dad is the pastor and his heart is not so giving, to a poor farmer. Forcing her out and now Benjamin shoulders the responsibility for his dad, his new wife, and a baby (s) on the way. However, when rough times come, and the farming dries up, there is nothing to do but pick up and move from all he knows and loves.
Before this occurs there are many tests of patience, sadness and grief as Benjamin wonders why God is allowing this to happen, after the night when he loses part of what is most precious to him in a corrupt world of injustice. On the road from Alabama to Pennsylvania he passes through what later seems like Perfect and his life is about to change in ways he never dreamed possible. (priceless)
Bette is a master storyteller of tales of the south, stories of triumph over tragedy, and faith. PASSING THROUGH PERFECT tops the charts! Having had the opportunity to read the other books in the series: Spare Change (#1) and Jubilees Journey (#2), highly recommend all; filled with characters you come to love and cherish as if neighbors, friends, and family.
I would recommend reading the series in order, as you will meet up with Jubilee and Paul the orphan brother and sister team, and their adopted parents, (wonderful people you meet in Book #2,who will make you laugh and cry), for a powerful twist of fate and love bringing these two families together (about sixty percent through the book).
One of the best books I have read this year, PASSING THROUGH PERFECT will warm your heart with this love story crossing many genres from Alabama to Pennsylvania as Benjamin Church and his son, Isaac find their path to happiness and acceptance.
Fans of historical fiction,women's fiction, romance, drama, Christian, and suspense, you will enjoy Crosby's writing. We never know who, what and where. God puts people in our path at just the right time, as He has a bigger plan in mind than we as humans can conceive.
A special thank you to the author for an early reading copy in exchange for an honest review. A treasured gem. Not only are her books engaging and insightful, she is a genuine and lovely person and enjoy connecting with her through social media. If you have not read her books, you are missing out on a rare treat!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Be sure and check out The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd #4 Wyattsville Series, Coming, June 15, 2016. (5 Stars)
Top 50 Books of 2015 "Best Southern Fiction and Southern Storyteller."
Wyattsville Series, Book 3, an inspiring story and gripping series (the best yet), assured to win your heart, and one you will not soon forget. When a twist of fate intersects, and hearts of compassion unite among races, delivering a powerful and emotional story of love and loss.
For fans of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Help, Julie Kibler’s, Calling Me Home, David Johnson's, The Tucker Series, Catherine Hyde, Wiley Cash or the many early southern books of Charles Martin (my all-time favorite author), this book is for you! A heartfelt novel of bigotry, racial injustice, and poverty, set in the late 40’s and 50s in the Deep South, in rural Alabama.
Following World War II, African-American Benjamin returns to his hometown of Grinder’s Corner to find everything is still the same – a hole in the road. His father is a proud farmer, a good man who has lost his wife and now his only son has returned to offer his help and support. He wanted to leave this poor hometown good-bye and be an engineer or mechanic of aircraft; however, he knows this will never happen.
Benjamin is no longer concerned about the future and career he once dreamed of. The responsibility of taking care of his father and the farm is his top priority and he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. However, he attends a local dance with his father and some friends, and meets the girl of his dreams. He falls in love quickly and knows this is his wife and future.
However, her dad is the pastor and his heart is not so giving, to a poor farmer. Forcing her out and now Benjamin shoulders the responsibility for his dad, his new wife, and a baby (s) on the way. However, when rough times come, and the farming dries up, there is nothing to do but pick up and move from all he knows and loves.
Before this occurs there are many tests of patience, sadness and grief as Benjamin wonders why God is allowing this to happen, after the night when he loses part of what is most precious to him in a corrupt world of injustice. On the road from Alabama to Pennsylvania he passes through what later seems like Perfect and his life is about to change in ways he never dreamed possible. (priceless)
Bette is a master storyteller of tales of the south, stories of triumph over tragedy, and faith. PASSING THROUGH PERFECT tops the charts! Having had the opportunity to read the other books in the series: Spare Change (#1) and Jubilees Journey (#2), highly recommend all; filled with characters you come to love and cherish as if neighbors, friends, and family.
I would recommend reading the series in order, as you will meet up with Jubilee and Paul the orphan brother and sister team, and their adopted parents, (wonderful people you meet in Book #2,who will make you laugh and cry), for a powerful twist of fate and love bringing these two families together (about sixty percent through the book).
One of the best books I have read this year, PASSING THROUGH PERFECT will warm your heart with this love story crossing many genres from Alabama to Pennsylvania as Benjamin Church and his son, Isaac find their path to happiness and acceptance.
Fans of historical fiction,women's fiction, romance, drama, Christian, and suspense, you will enjoy Crosby's writing. We never know who, what and where. God puts people in our path at just the right time, as He has a bigger plan in mind than we as humans can conceive.
A special thank you to the author for an early reading copy in exchange for an honest review. A treasured gem. Not only are her books engaging and insightful, she is a genuine and lovely person and enjoy connecting with her through social media. If you have not read her books, you are missing out on a rare treat!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Be sure and check out The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd #4 Wyattsville Series, Coming, June 15, 2016. (5 Stars)
Inspirational story set in the segregated South after WWII. Not as deep as some of the books I've read about the era, but a good read.
Passing Through Perfect is book #3 in The Wyattsville Series and introduces us to new characters as well as takes us back to Wyattsville to revisit some wonderful characters who we have already come to know and love. I have been a huge fan of Bette's since the very first book of hers that I read and I am always so excited when she has a new book out.
This story takes us to the very hard times of the south during the 40's and 50's when it wasn't easy to live as a black person in the white man's world. Benjamin and his family stuggle day to day and try to live the best that they can. But some things are just out of their control.
Even though it is hard to read about the unfair way blacks were treated back then, it happened and it is part of our history. Bette is able to use her talent of writing to weave a story that shows us both the good times and the bad times of that era. She fills her stories with such great characters and in such a way that they become our friends. We really care about what happens to them and it is always a pleasure to see them pop up again in another story.
Bette's stories are written in a gentle, loving way but with so much emotion. I know I am going to have a wonderful story floating around in my head when I am immersed in one of her worlds. She continually takes the reader on an emotional ride, but trust me, that is a good thing.
I love to highlight sentences as I am reading a book; thoughts and phrases that jump off of the pages and touch me in some way. Bette's stories are always filled with these and there are so many amazing lines that I just want to savor. Here are a few of them that I love but there are so many more just waiting for you to discover when you read Passing Through Perfect.
'Unfortunately time is the master of all; it takes what it will, and often there are no words to ease the emptiness of what is gone.'
'The odd thing about happiness is that it doesn't make a big show of leaving. It just slips away silently. You continue moving through the days expecting it to be there, but it isn't.'
'Crying is a lot easier than not crying. Crying cleans out the misery in your soul and pulls the knife stuck in your heart.'
"I wish we could a' stayed there," he said. "The place was perfect."
"Perfect ain't a place," he said. "It's a time when everything's good and we're happy. Folks don't live in perfect, they just get to pass through every so often."
This story takes us to the very hard times of the south during the 40's and 50's when it wasn't easy to live as a black person in the white man's world. Benjamin and his family stuggle day to day and try to live the best that they can. But some things are just out of their control.
Even though it is hard to read about the unfair way blacks were treated back then, it happened and it is part of our history. Bette is able to use her talent of writing to weave a story that shows us both the good times and the bad times of that era. She fills her stories with such great characters and in such a way that they become our friends. We really care about what happens to them and it is always a pleasure to see them pop up again in another story.
Bette's stories are written in a gentle, loving way but with so much emotion. I know I am going to have a wonderful story floating around in my head when I am immersed in one of her worlds. She continually takes the reader on an emotional ride, but trust me, that is a good thing.
I love to highlight sentences as I am reading a book; thoughts and phrases that jump off of the pages and touch me in some way. Bette's stories are always filled with these and there are so many amazing lines that I just want to savor. Here are a few of them that I love but there are so many more just waiting for you to discover when you read Passing Through Perfect.
'Unfortunately time is the master of all; it takes what it will, and often there are no words to ease the emptiness of what is gone.'
'The odd thing about happiness is that it doesn't make a big show of leaving. It just slips away silently. You continue moving through the days expecting it to be there, but it isn't.'
'Crying is a lot easier than not crying. Crying cleans out the misery in your soul and pulls the knife stuck in your heart.'
"I wish we could a' stayed there," he said. "The place was perfect."
"Perfect ain't a place," he said. "It's a time when everything's good and we're happy. Folks don't live in perfect, they just get to pass through every so often."
Oh y’all, these characters Mrs Bette creates, I fall in love with them. I fall for how truly amazing they are, the trials they go through and still remain good people. This was number 3 in the Wyattsville series.
Passing through Perfect allows us to meet Benjamin, the most perfect husband and man, we also meet his beloved Delia and his son Isaac. The hardships this family goes through are difficult and truly hard to understand, unless you lived in the time period.
Racism still exists today, that’s a fact but, I’d like to believe we’ve changed more than how we were back in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This book made my heart hurt for the injustices that were bestowed upon people of color.
However, with all of Bette Lee Crosby’s books, Love is what emerges. In spite of all the bad the characters endure, they also are left with Love and that’s the best thing in life. Thank you for sharing your writing with the world. I’m a fan for life!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Passing through Perfect allows us to meet Benjamin, the most perfect husband and man, we also meet his beloved Delia and his son Isaac. The hardships this family goes through are difficult and truly hard to understand, unless you lived in the time period.
Racism still exists today, that’s a fact but, I’d like to believe we’ve changed more than how we were back in the 1940’s and 1950’s. This book made my heart hurt for the injustices that were bestowed upon people of color.
However, with all of Bette Lee Crosby’s books, Love is what emerges. In spite of all the bad the characters endure, they also are left with Love and that’s the best thing in life. Thank you for sharing your writing with the world. I’m a fan for life!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️