Torched: Summer of '64 by Joe Edd Morris

TITLE INFORMATION

Torched: Summer of ‘64

Joe Edd Morris

Black Rose Writing, 178 pages

9781684334748, 5.21.20

BOOK REVIEW

Overall Rating = 4.95

Storyline & Concept = 5

Writing & Delivery = 5

Editorial = 4.85

Torched: Summer of ’64, set in Mississippi, tells the story of three friends, two black and one white, who become friends as children, go their separate ways, and meet again in 1964 at a civil rights rally. Their reunion culminates in a tragedy involving the Klan and results in two murders, setting in motion a lifetime of guilt and the search for redemption.

There is not enough to be said for the quality of this novel, both in the writing and the story itself. To say it is timely is obvious. It’s also touching, thought-provoking, explosive, heart-breaking, and riveting. It explores the complexities of interracial friendship and romance through the eyes of a white pastor who is torn and confused by duty, guilt, love, and loyalty. It immerses the reader in the time and setting of Mississippi with the expertise of a true Southern writer. Each character is created and drawn with a soft and skilled touch. This novel is highly recommended and will remain among my favorites.

Sublime Line: “A highly recommended, riveting tale of interracial friendship and love and the challenges they incite, written with an authentic Southern flair.”

Sublime Book Review

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