In Common by Norma Watkins
TITLE INFORMATION
In Common
Norma Watkins
Black Rose Writing, 593 pages
9781684339235, 4.14.22
BOOK REVIEW
Overall Rating = 4.33
Storyline & Concept = 4
Writing & Delivery = 4.5
Editorial = 4.5
In Common is a literary fiction novel about the lives of two women and the sacrifices they make for a man who does not return their devotion. The story begins in 1933 and is set in Mississippi where we are introduced to two young women: Lillian, a hotel owner and operator outside of Jackson, and Velma, a young girl living on a farm in small-town Picayune. As the story progresses, Lillian falls head over heels for a handsome suitor she meets in Jackson and dreams about her idyllic future with a husband to call her own. Velma, wishing for more than a loveless marriage with someone in her hometown, moves to Jackson to excel as a secretary for a prestigious law firm. Both women have different upbringings and lives, but their paths are intricately connected.
Norma Watkins pens an excellent portrayal of both romantic and familial relationships and highlights the choices two women must make during a challenging era. It is difficult to not become emotional while reading about the hardships the characters encounter and the frustration of unrequited love. Watkins’ words pull the reader in and build empathy towards the narrators. Although it is a lengthy book, it is true to its time and place as it covers the life span of these women. Taking place in the American south throughout the mid-1900’s, this story references the civil rights struggles and uneven power dynamics that dominated the period. The representation of discriminative southern ideals is reflected by the ‘unattainable man’ in this story. I would recommend this book to any woman who has experienced the woes of an unrequited love or someone in the mood for a well-written novel about relationships.
Sublime Line: “In a beautifully-written literary fiction novel set throughout the mid-1900’s, Watkins takes the reader on an emotional journey through the lives of two women who sacrifice everything for love.”
Sublime Book Review
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