Judy Reene Singer

4.5 stars.

Alternating back and forth between the present and the early '40s, In the Shadow of Alabama by Judy Reene Singer is a heartrending novel of complex and difficult relationships, race relations in the South and the lingering effects of wartime.

Rachel Fleischer's relationships with her family are fraught with tension and the last place she wants to be is her father's bedside as he refuses medical treatment for his failing heart. Marty Fleischer has always been a hypercritical, bitter, angry and deeply dissatisfied man whose hateful words continue to haunt her. At the urging of her farm manager and friend Malachi Charge, Rachel reluctantly goes to see her father one last time before his death. At his funeral, stranger Rowena Jackson presents them with a puzzling package from her father, Willie Jackson. Intrigued and wanting to understand a shocking allegation against her father, Rachel later goes to Boston to meet Willie where he recounts his tangled history with Marty.

Rachel's dysfunctional childhood left an indelible mark on her and even as an adult, she cannot escape the legacy of her father's painful words and lack of love. The owner of a horse farm, she lives with her longtime partner, David, and Malachi. Emotionally closed off and protective of her heart, Rachel is unable to fully commit to David and she soon becomes aware there are deep fractures in their relationship. Reluctant to discuss her fears and concerns with him, she ignores the growing distance between them and instead makes the decision to go to Boston to meet Willie.

Rachel knows absolutely nothing of Marty's experiences in World War II and she is quite shocked to learn that he was in charge of a colored squadron in Alabama. Neither man lived in the South prior to their assignment at Gunter Field so they are ill prepared for the reality of segregation and the animosity directed towards Jews. Although both men are college educated, they are assigned to a squadron that cleans aircraft engines. Marty is a benevolent leader who looks out for the men serving under him although his efforts are not at all appreciated by the white soldiers on the base. Despite Willie's best efforts to remain under the radar, he and Marty form a friendship of sorts that comes to an abrupt end following Marty's well intentioned but misguided efforts to treat his men as equals. The two men eventually go back to their regular lives but neither of them are able to escape the tragedies of their shared history.

Based on the real life experiences of Judy Reene Singer and her father, In the Shadow of Alabama is a deeply affecting and rather poignant novel of reconciliation and healing. After learning of the events that shaped her father into the haunted man who raised her, Rachel has a better understanding of herself, her mother and her sister. With newfound awareness of the negative effects of her behavior, Rachel tries to repair her tattered relationships, but is it too late to salvage the one that means the most to her?
… (altro)

Judy Reene Singer's historical novel moves from the present day to the days of WWII at an Army camp in Alabama. The present day story tells of a young woman's struggle to come to terms with her life with her father, to manage a horse farm, to cope with the death of her best friend and surrogate father, and to develop the courage to go forward. The historical story tells of a group of Negro soldiers relegated to the hanger to service the planes, of the Jewish sergeant who is in charge of them, of the rampant racism of the time, and of the difficulty that arises when the culture of one group of people meets the culture of another group of people.… (altro)