On Woodward by Joyce Van Haren (English) Hardcover Book

Description: On Woodward by Joyce Van Haren It is 1930, and budding artist Alma Combs is terrified of losing her father to a coal mining accident. Her worst fear nearly comes true when her father barely survives a mine explosion, prompting him to pull up his familys Kentucky roots and flee to Detroit, where he hopes to find better work, save money, and return home to buy a farm. But as Alma arrives on Woodward Avenue with her family in the midst of the Great Depression, she soon realizes that nothing will ever be the same again. As her father finally secures a job, Alma and her brother attempt to shed their hillbilly image and begin school. Their mother faces a difficult pregnancy. It is not long before the challenges of the times overwhelm the family, leading them to experience prejudice and tragedy as never before. (But there are happy times, too) As Alma grows up, she must learn to deal with a vulgar uncle, whose lustful looks frighten her; a pitiful aunt who is hiding a shameful secret; and her younger sister, whose promiscuity may lead to heartbreak. On Woodward tells the colorful tale of a young artist searching for beauty in her life as her family bravely faces monumental tribulations in Detroit during a turbulent time in American history. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description It is 1930, and budding artist Alma Combs is terrified of losing her father to a coal mining accident. Her worst fear nearly comes true when her father barely survives a mine explosion, prompting him to pull up his familys Kentucky roots and flee to Detroit, where he hopes to find better work, save money, and return home to buy a farm. But as Alma arrives on Woodward Avenue with her family in the midst of the Great Depression, she soon realizes that nothing will ever be the same again. As her father finally secures a job, Alma and her brother attempt to shed their hillbilly image and begin school. Their mother faces a difficult pregnancy. It is not long before the challenges of the times overwhelm the family, leading them to experience prejudice and tragedy as never before. (But there are happy times, too) As Alma grows up, she must learn to deal with a vulgar uncle, whose lustful looks frighten her; a pitiful aunt who is hiding a shameful secret; and her younger sister, whose promiscuity may lead to heartbreak. On Woodward tells the colorful tale of a young artist searching for beauty in her life as her family bravely faces monumental tribulations in Detroit during a turbulent time in American history. Excerpt from Book Alma May Combs lay on her back near the edge of the mountain ridge, her open sketchbook at her side. the wild fescue grass was rough on her bare arms, but she didnt care: the air was fresh and clean and sweet smelling here. Facing in this easterly direction, she could almost forget that she was part of the community down in the valley below and behind her. She could gaze up at the yellow-green leaves of the huge maple fluttering in the autumn breeze and almost forget about the grimy buildings of the Independent Coal Mining Co., that she and her family lived in one of the row-after-row of company owned shacks. She could almost forget, too, that just two weeks ago the whistle had blown, signaling disaster. Three miners had been killed, but her father had escaped again. "Reckon Im too cussed ornery to die," hed quipped with a grim half-smile when his partners pulled him out from the rubble of timber and coal. She stretched her long overall-clad legs. to her right, she saw the reddening leaves of the sumac; to her left, the crimson seed cones of the ear-leafed wild magnolia. the sun soothed and warmed her face and body. She was almost, as her father would say, as "happy as a possum up a simmon tree with a dog a mile off." Alma May shifted her body now and thought about the mine explosion. As much as she tried, she could not push it completely from her mind. If anything ever happened to Pa, she knew shed die, too. This place belonged to her. Shed told no one but her father about it. Sometimes on Sundays, his day off, theyd sneak away for a little while and climb up here. Shed sketch the surrounding Kentucky foothills and the tree-crowned crest of Big Black Mountain, several miles south. Chet Combs would never fail to peer over her shoulder as she worked, and say in his best art critics voice: "Some day, Miss Alma May Combs, youre going to be a famous artist." If he got the urge, hed bring along his worn guitar. Hed pick up the instrument and sit with his back resting against the trunk of the tree. Alma May would watch his long-fingered, graceful hands play as he sang in a clear tenor voice. Maybe hed sing one of the old Elizabethan favorites of the region, "Lovin Nancy" or "Hangmans Song." Then theyd lie on their backs and make believe that the clouds above them were really the Farm. "See that big cloud to the right and back a ways?" her father would ask. "Thats the barn. and that medium-size cloud in front a it? Thats the house." "Whats that little bit a cloud to the left, Pa?" "Why, cant you tell, Alma May? Thats the tractor, a course." After theyd worked out in minute detail such things as where the trees would be, and how many chickens and hogs theyd buy the first year, the conversation would end with Alma May asking, "Pa, are we really going to have a farm someday?" "Sure as a skunk stinks we are, Alma May. Dont we already have a hundred and fifty-thee dollars saved for it?" After a moment, hed add, "A course, wed have to find a place near the mountains. Aint never going to live no wheres for very long without we see mountains." Now Alma May raised her head a little and nestled her hands behind it. the outline of her developing breasts under the bib of her cotton overalls repeated the outline of two foothills in the distance. She smiled at the comparison. There were so many things happening with her body that she didnt yet know the reason for. It was all so confusing. Who could she ask? There were some things she couldnt talk to Pa about. Like the way Uncle Darcas had been looking at her lately, with that funny smile twisting his lips--it made her skin crawl and her stomach creepy-feeling. She ought to be able to talk to Ma about these things. Several times Alma May had tried, but her mother had looked down and cleared her throat, then quickly changed the subject. One time shed opened the Womans Home Companion to a page advertising Lydia Pinkhams Vegetable Compound. She took it to her mother and asked, "Ma, what they mean by female weaknesses an irregular an painful menstruation, inflammation an ulceration a the womb?" Her mother had tucked her head further down over the washboard where she was scrubbing the overalls of Alma Mays eight-year-old brother, Jimmie Lee. Her face blushed as red as Pas red-and-white polka dotted handkerchief hanging on the line behind her. "Ill tell you when your time comes, Alma May." Well, Alma Mays time had come, more than four months ago, and her Ma still hadnt told her any-- the whistle blasted now in the valley below. Alma May jumped to her feet. Forgetting about the sketchbook, forgetting about everything but her father, she ran as fast as she could--down, down toward the valley. the whistle blowing during working hours meant only one thing: someones Pa was dead. the brutal sound shouted its cruel message: "Your Pa-a- a-a! Your Pa-a-a-a!" Details ISBN1458210502 Author Joyce Van Haren Pages 450 Publisher Abbott Press Year 2014 ISBN-10 1458210502 ISBN-13 9781458210500 Format Hardcover Publication Date 2014-03-21 Imprint Abbott Press Country of Publication United States Short Title ON WOODWARD Language English Media Book UK Release Date 2014-03-21 AU Release Date 2014-03-21 NZ Release Date 2014-03-21 US Release Date 2014-03-21 Illustrations Illustrations Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:86734558;

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