Tobacco Queen
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The early hours of Sunday, March 11 of 1962 did not bring any particular signs, omens, or transcendental presence to the life of Sally Helen Bryant. At about three o'clock thunder and lightning woke her up; abundant rain followed, much needed rain. The rhythmic crackling of raindrops tapping on her window made her smile and go back to sleep. Only a few hours later, around six o'clock, the clarity that preceded sunrise triggered Winston's sonorous celebration of light. He announced the new day three times, no more no less, then went on his business with the hens. Sally woke up and smiled at Winston's now rusty voice; he was Sally's favorite rooster, now five years old, but still vigorous. She could see his proud red crest, his golden neck feathers and his dark brown wings and legs. His breast was also golden, like a broad tie that went up and down with his singing. Sally got out of bed and walked to the window. Her long, blond and naturally curly hair covered most of her nightgown's back and moved to one side and the other with rhythmic grace. On an impulse, she went to her dresser, brushed her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. She found no traces of aging, her blue eyes were still shining like when she was twenty, and she felt young and energetic. She could not understand authors who wrote about the crisis of the fifties, or forties, or sixties. It seemed to her that crises were more complex than just having birthdays. Six feet tall, she cut an imposing figure with her well-shaped body showing no traces of fat, but without being muscular. She could have played a Greek goddess with her deep blue eyes, oval face, straight nose and expressive lips. Contrary to routine, she went back to bed. After all, it was her fiftieth birthday, a very special day in the life of a woman. She had over one hour before breakfast, enough time to reflect about her life and make plans about her future. She rested her head on a high pillow and let her mind scan for the happiest moment of her life. Without hesitation, she saw the party at the end of the Fall semester of 1930, just before Christmas break. She was Sally Harrod then, attending Radcliffe College, only one semester away from graduation. She was a hard working student, majoring in English, with a minor in French. Her precise speech and sound ideas had made her one of the best debaters on the college's team. There was no time for romance; perhaps the right man had not appeared in her life. But now it happened. Helen Lewis came to her accompanied by a handsome man, and said, "Sally, I want you to meet Bill Bryant, a man from Kentucky!"
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This novella is addressed mainly to parents and parents-to-be, although the general reader may enjoy trying to find out what it is all about in the first 40 pages, before the storm hits the ground. The hidden premise is "Mental disease is insidious." The message is, "Be careful, this may happen to you."
This is a carefully constructed picture of a soul who hides the truth from himself, and tries to conceal it from his beloved mother. No matter, the forces of nature have "no pity, no mercy." The price of neglect and stupidity has to be paid. And, unfortunately, it is. This is a book to laugh, to cry, to suffer, and to enjoy with the characters. Life is a mysterious chain of events impossible to predict. The author challenges the readers to figure out what would they have done to change any of the events that took place.
About the Author
An enemy of big novels, José Feola is fond of paraphrasing Jorge Luis Borges, "If I can say it in 500 words, why should I waste fifty thousand?" Born in Argentina, Feola holds a Master’s degree from the University of Rochester, NY, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. A U.S. citizen since 1974, he has written over 100 scientific papers, edited 3 books, and published one book, PK: Mind Over Matter, long out of print. José lives in Kentucky, not far from where the action of Tobacco Queen begins.