Sap Rising

by Christine Lincoln

Book Overview

In this spare and mesmerizing debut, Christine Lincoln takes us inside the hearts and minds of African Americans whose lives unfold against a vividly evoked rural community. As they navigate between... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375421408
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Pantheon
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.6" x 0.7" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A new voice taking root

Date Reviewed: April 1, 2003A new voice in literature is screaming to be heard, as I learned from reading SAP RISING by Christine Lincoln. A collection of short stories reminiscent of Maxine Clair's Rattlebone, SAP RISING incites a hunger in the reader that is satisfied only by turning page after page. The stories center around characters living in the South during a post World War II America, but their voices are even more resonant than the setting. In these pieces, whose names flow poetically with their storylines, events take place that make you suck in your breath in wonderment, and, at times, heartbreak.Rather than tell you about each story, its plot, and the key players, I will tell you that if you enjoy fierce writing and in-your-face characters, this is a book you will want to read.Reviewed by CandaceKof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Mystical and Enlightening!

Christine Lincoln?s debut novel, Sap Rising, is rooted in the mystical, rural Grandville where the tales of its townspeople are captured in 12 intertwining short stories. The sagas are told from varying viewpoints: fathers, grandmothers, young boys, nosey neighbors, teenaged girls, etc. and are rooted in themes of self-discovery, escapism, and hope. All of the stories are symbolic and appealing, but a few that really struck this reviewer were the title story, ?Sap Rising? and ?A Very Close Conspiracy?. In ?Sap Rising?, we meet a very restless young woman, Ebbie Pinder, who runs away from the mediocrity of life as a homemaker in Grandville to the bright lights of the big city. She returns home alone and with her child, Pontella, in ?Like Dove Wings? and Pontella?s plight is recounted in ?A Hook Will Sometimes Keep You?. In ?A Very Close Conspiracy?, we meet the town drunk, Hiron Fuller, who retraces his life, loves, and views as a black man as he succumbs to a fatal injury.The author demonstrates her depth and range of character development by taking the reader deep inside the psyches of Hiron, a man worn down by racism and poverty, the self-doubting Pontella who was abandoned by her mother, Ebbie, and the painful episodes of Boag?s and Cinny?s coming-of-age transformation. She paints a picture of the human condition and adds insight and emotion into each story. Ms. Lincoln is a great storyteller with a style akin to J. California Cooper?s yet distinctively her own. She has made her mark with a successful debut ? I am looking forward to her next release.Reviewed by PhyllisAPOOO BookClub, The Nubian Circle Book Club

Wonderful!

I saw the author for this book on a local t.v. program and decided to give it try and I am very glad that I did. Sap Rising is a series of short stories surrounding the people in Grandville, Maryland. The stories are very interesting, poetic and vivid. Lincoln's style sort of reminds you of J. California Cooper. Each character holds a different significance and importance to the next story. The characters share they hopes and fears on racism, class, status, family positions, friendship, dreams and the ever changing world. I think we will see a lot more of Ms. Lincoln. Congratulations!!Peace and Blessings!!

Great Stories!

I first heard about this book on The Oprah Winfrey Show about a year ago, and although I don't usually share the same fervor on books that Oprah does, I did enjoy this collection of 12 short stories on the lives on Grandville, MD residents. I found the stories to be heartfelt and I was left with thought after reading each story. I especially enjoyed the stories about Boag and also Cinny. The writing was very descriptive in a lyrical sort of way and I was able to visualize the surroundings as if I were there. What majic words can bring to the imagination. Great debut of short stories.