3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Alien in the Delta by Thankful Strother is a memoir of notable events and observations from the author's life. It is a short, yet entertaining book which gives readers a glimpse into a particular period of American history.
Thankful Strother shares a series of memorable events from throughout his lifetime. Some of them feature well-known events, such as his reaction to JFK's assassination, while others are personal memories. The stories run the gamut from early home life to first kiss, from a stint in the US Air Force to the purchase of income property. The combination of facts and the author's thoughts and feelings, make for interesting reading. Several personal photos are scattered throughout the book.
I really enjoyed reading about Thankful's life. He is a good storyteller and has a knack for sharing the lessons he has learned in life. I could not believe some of the things he experienced, such as the escapades he had in Europe (inappropriate for younger readers). Also, it was quite interesting to learn about his experiences as a black man in the South, in the U.S. Air Force, in Europe, and marrying a German woman. I was gratified by how much Thankful was able to accomplish in his life, despite the obstacles present to black men during that time period in the U.S.
The format of this book is somewhat unique. It does not follow the typical chapter model, but is divided into topical sections by headings. Each section is fairly short. The concise sections make this an ideal book to read in small increments. The writing style could be classified as conversational. It is as if the author is simply telling readers a series of life stories. Unfortunately, there were several errors in the text, including incorrect word usage, missing words, and misspellings.
I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I didn't give this book a 4, because the writing could have used more editing and there were a fair number of errors. Thankful's life story is an interesting and colorful narrative of what life was like for one black man during the Civil Rights era. The story is aimed at adults because of themes having to do with sex, alcohol, drugs, etc. There is also a sprinkling of swear words. I would recommend it to people who enjoy historical memoirs or first-hand accounts of life during the Civil Rights era.
******
Alien in the Delta
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like BookBuffoonery's review? Post a comment saying so!