Jo Joe

"Jo Joe" is a captivating story of a woman forced to return to Black Bear, her childhood home. Once there, she reflects on happy memories with Joe and her Grandparents and then sad and painful memories of suffering at the hands of bigotry. Judith (Jo) was the daughter of a white Christian mother and a black Jewish father. After her mother's death she moved to Black Bear to live with her maternal Grandparents. Her color and religion singled her out and she was constantly bullied and tormented with racial prejudice. Joe, her best friend, became her protector until one day he suddenly pushes her away. Devastated, Judith leaves Black Bear vowing never to return. Upon the death of her Grandmother Judith breaks her vow and returns to settle the estate, and in turn, discovers hidden truths and deep secrets are revealed. She finds more questions than answers about the racism that scarred her childhood.
A vividly haunting tale that is very insightful and emotionally abundant.

Suzy Wilson's review Aug 31, 13 · edit 4 of 5 stars bookshelves: coming-of-age, family-issues Read from August 18 to 31, 2013

JoJoe is a story about the ties that bind.

Raised in Balck Bear Pennsylvannia, Judith known (only to her best childhood friend and protector Joe) as Jo, returns to her childhood home upon the death of her Grandmother (Gramma). Always perceiving herself as an outsider, Judith has set herself a week to wind up her grandmother's estate (several properties, including a farm) and get back to her real life.

What follows is a tightly-written exposé of that week, as Judith learns about and begins to understand some fundamental (yet hitherto hidden) truths about her life.

Determined not to cede control, Judith nevertheless finds herself spinning rapidly out of kilter. No one is entirely who they say they are, and nothing entirely as it seems.

Beautifully written and evocative, Ms Weiner Gotta has managed to capture the claustrophobia of small town existence, yet counterpointed its introspection with faith, support and community.

This is an exemplary, multi-layered piece, cutting as it does across the fallacies of perception. There are none so blind, said John Heyward, in 1546, as those who will not see. This novel explores, with a light but tempered touch, the questions of prejudice, self-delusion and discrimination - exposing to the reader the choices inherent in all our belief systems.

Who amongst us, I asked myself upon completing this work, ever really understands the motivations and innermost thoughts of those around us, including ourselves. How simple it is to allow our realities to colour and be coloured by perceptions. In this novel, there are no certainties. Religion, colour, status, love, honour, sacrifice, purification and reality are all tested, and found to be wanting. It is the differences we seek to wedge between us as people, as well as the fear and hate manifested by our own uncertainties that determines our path, and the faces we show to others.

I really enjoyed this novel. Couldn't put it down. I think the last couple of chapters are a little too 'pat' for my liking - the epiphany is a little too convenient and convincing to be completely believable. However, I would recommend reading this novel to everyone.

On the whole, a good, solid, interesting, if not somewhat densely-packed read.
Enjoy it. I did.