Praying for Sheetrock : A Work of Nonfiction

Rating:
Summary: This was very interesting....
Review: As I began this book, I was drawn in by the powerful imagery that Green created. This didn't continue throughout the book. It became more of a "he said, then he said, then he said" narrative. The beautiful language that Greene uses vanishes as she gets more deeply into the story. I was intrigued by the politics involved. Not being very politically astute, I was amazed at how the sheriff controlled everything in that county. I was also captivated by the tale of civil rights struggles in backwoods Georgia. This was such an interesting book, but Greene's talent at using language seemed to be subverted by her need to tell the story. This was our book group's topic of discussion for this evening; it made for a lively talk. Next time I'm on my way thru Georgia, I DO intend to drive down 17 thru McIntosh County. I may not stop, though.

Rating:
Summary: This was very interesting....
Review: As I began this book, I was drawn in by the powerful imagery that Green created. This didn't continue throughout the book. It became more of a "he said, then he said, then he said" narrative. The beautiful language that Greene uses vanishes as she gets more deeply into the story. I was intrigued by the politics involved. Not being very politically astute, I was amazed at how the sheriff controlled everything in that county. I was also captivated by the tale of civil rights struggles in backwoods Georgia. This was such an interesting book, but Greene's talent at using language seemed to be subverted by her need to tell the story. This was our book group's topic of discussion for this evening; it made for a lively talk. Next time I'm on my way thru Georgia, I DO intend to drive down 17 thru McIntosh County. I may not stop, though.

Rating:
Summary: Great story of civil rights
Review: I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It had the benefits of a novel with the descriptive, eloquent writing style of the author, but with the added value of learning a true historic tale. It became a bit jumbled at times, not knowing where the author was going, and getting in to some unnecessary detail (the lawyers and GBI, etc.) but in the end, it was a compelling, though depressing tale and I feel I'm a better person for reading it.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT STORY, BUT THERE IS MORE TO TELL, I LIVED IT.
Review: I grew up in Mcintosh County and was a teen during the years of Uncle Tom, he and his right hand man (deputy) may have done somethings above the law, but he watched out for us kids. We respected them and there is alot more to this story. I have good and bad memories of that time and would love to tell it to Melissa. Melissa there is alot more to tell, your book is great and there should be a movie made, but there also needs to be more of the story told.

Rating:
Summary: I live in McIntosh County. Is there a sequel?
Review: I live in McIntosh County and recognized many of the characters in the book as well as familiar places. The late Tom Poppell was in fact, a legend, bigger than life in real life. Actually, McIntosh County is populated with legends and people who are bigger than life. It's a great place to live! Practically everyone has a story to tell about life in this small fishing town... Melissa, three questions: 1) will there be a sequel, 2) what happened to the parts that were edited, and 3) is there to be a movie?

Rating:
Summary: GOOD BOOK - A LITTLE TEDIOUS
Review: I read 'Praying for Sheetrock' as a text for one of my college classes. The book was intrieging from the very beginning, but was slightly boring at first. It takes a while for the reader to be able to get into the book - the first few chapters were tedious reading. As for the content - this was the first time I'd read a book on the Civil Rights Movement, and it was quite an enlightening experience. Not having travelled on US 17, but having taken I 95 instead while driving through Georgia, but still being able to smell the paper mills, there was new meaning to me when I went through Georgia after reading this book. Ms.Greene goes into minute detail in certain parts of the book, but seems to skim over other events - some which might have been interesting to read. She is a good writer, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most facinating book i've ever read!
Review: It's an eye opening book that deserves much more acknowledgment and interesting to read about the courroupt practices that was happening in the main land America...and honestly i think its a muts read!

Rating:
Summary: The More Things Stay The Same
Review: My mother was born and raised in McIntosh County Georgia. She confirms the truck crash incident along with the Sheriff's drug cartel and other corruptions. She admitted that many blacks in the County looked up to Sheriff Tom Poppel and considered him a good man. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Upon recommendation by a doctor my mother moved home to McIntosh County. I became a citizen of McIntosh County in 1983 and experienced an extreme culture-shock. The housing was inadequate, education was minimum, employment was scarce, race relations were very much segregated and people still spake Gullah. As a matter of fact in 1983 there was a separate prom for white and black students. It is fatally ironic that Thurnell Alston was caught in a drug sting. The truth of the matter is he became a victim of his own circumstance. I visited him in the hospital before he succumbed to cancer. His sons and I were close friends and I never really understood the significance of who he was until I read the book (Praying for Sheetrock) and consider it to be a well-written book for all to read especially citizens of McIntosh County. However because the lack of education exists many in McIntosh County will not read the book. Unfortunately the more things change the more they remain the same.

Rating:
Summary: The More Things Stay The Same
Review: My mother was born and raised in McIntosh County Georgia. She confirms the truck crash incident along with the Sheriff's drug cartel and other corruptions. She admitted that many blacks in the County looked up to Sheriff Tom Poppel and considered him a good man. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Upon recommendation by a doctor my mother moved home to McIntosh County. I became a citizen of McIntosh County in 1983 and experienced an extreme culture-shock. The housing was inadequate, education was minimum, employment was scarce, race relations were very much segregated and people still spake Gullah. As a matter of fact in 1983 there was a separate prom for white and black students. It is fatally ironic that Thurnell Alston was caught in a drug sting. The truth of the matter is he became a victim of his own circumstance. I visited him in the hospital before he succumbed to cancer. His sons and I were close friends and I never really understood the significance of who he was until I read the book (Praying for Sheetrock) and consider it to be a well-written book for all to read especially citizens of McIntosh County. However because the lack of education exists many in McIntosh County will not read the book. Unfortunately the more things change the more they remain the same.

Rating:
Summary: Never belive everything you read.
Review: Never belive everything you read unless you lived it. I wish I had a dollar for every different opion of how things were in McIntosh county in the 1970's. Anyone can write an opion but that is what it is "an opion" nothing more nothing less. People have a lot easier time beliving the bad things about people than than the good. Someone might go to McIntosh county and ask around about the late Sheriff. Opions will vary. Maybe each person who lived in McIntosh county during these "bad times' should write a book. I live in McIntosh county and although I was very young during this era I have a hard time beliving all the Bull in this book. If you read it wear hip boots because belive it or not as the pages turn the Bull rises.