Charlotte Carter's mystery, Jackson Park, occurs in the midst of Chicago in the aftermath of the MLK assassination where Black people are still angry and disillusioned, politicians are very nervous, and the city is still smoldering from the riots. Carter's unlikely 'shero' is Cassandra, a college coed; a witty, hippi-ish misfit who is raised by her great-aunt and uncle. Despite the volatile atmosphere, she clings to optimism and hope so when a request to assist a family friend presents itself, she jumps at the opportunity to help.

Danger befalls Cassandra and her family as the seemingly harmless appeal to find a missing girl leads to a decades old murder of a white schoolteacher by a black mentally challenged boy. While on this adventure, she discovers the boy was wrongly accused, learns of her uncle's shady past, and matures on many levels. We follow a trail that leads to a Black vigilante group (The Roots), dirty politicians, police brutality/corruption and are reminded that as much things change, some things remain the same.

I enjoyed the way in which Carter intermingled the old with the new throughout the novel. She paired the young, idealistic, energetic Black youth with the older, cautious, realistic generation to teach the lessons of discretion and patience. Through Cassandra's eyes and ears, we heard the music of Marvin and Aretha; we saw glimpses of war protesters, civil rights activists, and the emerging women's liberation movement. In as much as this was a walk down memory lane, it was an amusing and suspenseful story that was entertaining and easy to read.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO Book Club, The Nubian Circle Book Club

Her mother abandoned Cassandra to her grandmother, who did her duty but had no love to give to the young child. When her grandmother died, her great-uncle Woody and his wife Ivy took her in and treated her like the child they wanted but could never have. The Isle's took Cassandra out of the ghetto that was Forest Street and moved her into their upscale apartment hotel in Cook County Hyde Park.

During a family reunion, a man who lives on Forest Street drops by to beg Woody who has a lot of political and criminal connections to help him find his missing granddaughter who was last seen at a local grocery store. When Woody and Ivy go to the store where the granddaughter was last seen, the owner gives them a ring she left behind. That piece of jewelry is tied to a murder case that took place years ago, one in which many people felt the wrong man was convicted. As Woody, Ivy, and Cassandra delve further into the two cases, somebody is out to keep them quiet at any cost.

The protagonists are black, the year is 1965 eight days after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Riots have erupted in Chicago and the national guard is called in to restore order. Charlotte Carter gives her readers a fine sense of place and time through a strong descriptive story that seems common for that era. Told from the perspective of a twenty-year-old college student, the audience learns how blacks felt about their position in society back them. JACKSON PARK is the Her mother abandoned Cassandra to her grandmother, who did her duty but had no love to give to the young child. When her grandmother died, her great-uncle Woody and his wife Ivy took her in and treated her like the child they wanted but could never have. The Isle's took Cassandra out of the ghetto that was Forest Street and moved her into their upscale apartment hotel in Cook County Hyde Park.

During a family reunion, a man who lives on Forest Street drops by to beg Woody who has a lot of political and criminal connections to help him find his missing granddaughter who was last seen at a local grocery store. When Woody and Ivy go to the store where the granddaughter was last seen, the owner gives them a ring she left behind. That piece of jewelry is tied to a murder case that took place years ago, one in which many people felt the wrong man was convicted. As Woody, Ivy, and Cassandra delve further into the two cases, somebody is out to keep them quiet at any cost.

The protagonists are black, the year is 1965 eight days after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Riots have erupted in Chicago and the national guard is called in to restore order. Charlotte Carter gives her readers a fine sense of place and time through a strong descriptive story that seems common for that era. Told from the perspective of a twenty-year-old college student, the audience learns how blacks felt about their position in society back them. JACKSON PARK is the first installment in what looks to be a great new series.

Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner

There's an immediacy, a you-are-there quality to JACKSON PARK that makes it a truly extraordinary reading adventure. Far more than just another 'mean-streets' narrative, this hard-hitting thriller captures the violence and tensions of post-King-assassination Chicago in stunningly realistic detail through dialogue that literally crackles with authenticity. Its plot centers around middle-aged Woodson "Woody" and Ivy Lisle who are currently living comfortably in Hyde Park, one of Chicago's oldest integrated areas, and enjoying the company of their twenty-year-old grandniece (the story's narrator) Cassandra whom they've raised from early childhood and who is presently a student at Debs College in the Loop where she has become peripherally involved with a black militant group. After a somewhat checkered past, Woody has achieved a solid position...almost Godfather status...in the black community while still maintaining his ties with the white political establishment. When Clay Jackson from their old neighborhood comes to him for help after his granddaughter, Lavelle, has apparently been arrested and subsequently vanished, he agrees to make some inquiries. On the surface, there seems to be little more to the matter than a part-time hooker who fell victim to her lifestyle until Ivy and Cassandra follow a lead of their own which uncovers a ring that somehow connects Lavelle to a decade-old murder of a white teacher by a black man. Because the past is now no longer safely buried, the present suddenly explodes in violence. Ivy is shot and Woody and Cassandra are attacked, costing Woody's nephew, Hero, his life. No more Mr. Nice Guy! Hot on the trail, Woody finds himself hamstrung by Chicago's long history of racism, venery and corruption until fate takes a hand in a clever twist of the plot that allows him to right old wrongs, put paid to some old scores and give Cassandra a new vision of her life and future.

Do you have to be a Chicagoan to fully appreciate all the nuances of this compelling novel? No! It stands alone beautifully on its own considerable merits as an exciting, enthralling mystery. But speaking from the POV of both having lived in Hyde Park and taught in the inner city during the Sixties, I was completely blown away by Ms. Carter's knowledgeable recreation of the people...the place...and the period. It held me spellbound, brought back so many memories, and made me eager to read more about the lives of the Lisles.

I am very disappointed to see that this book is out of print. I borrowed it a couple of years ago from my local library and have been looking for my own copy ever since. It is a highly enjoyable romance, with realistic and likeable characters. The story involves a young woman returning to her family farm (ranch?) in the American West after becoming jaded with city life. It provides light and escapist reading, without being sugary or silly.

This is a nice collection of short stories, some detective stories, some not, some murders, and various other crimes. I like Max Bittersohn and Sarah Kelling, so stories featuring them are always great. I also like Peter Shandy, and he's here too. But there are several other short stories, some light-hearted and some a little more serious. This is a great collection.

If you are looking for a good dramatic Interpretation piece, don't use this;I didn't find it at all suitable. There isn't enough dramatic content, and it is too sing song. It might do for a good humorous interpretation piece though. If you are simply a freak who likes to read plays, go for it. It is an interesting twist to the Hansel and Gretel stories...

This book is well written and it satisfies one's craving for learning more about the Queen Charlottes. As a salmon fisherman, I felt the chapter titled "Old John" was worth the price of the book.

When I first read this book, I thought that it was going to be one of those books that bore you in a second. Nevertheless, I was wrong, this book was wonderful. The plot is not very realistic, but it is so cute that you cannot resist turning the page. The best thing about this book, is the fact that it is like a fairytale, only in the 90's, about two people who have nothing in common but passion and love for each other. This book is great because it portrays the fantasy that opposites attract and that they can actually overlook the differences of education and social status. It is the perfect romance novel for all those people who live a controversial love life and would like to think that it can be fixed with the drop of a hat. I recommend this book to everyone.

This book, in maximum detail, explained eskimo life and the basic forms of igloos. It is quite an orginal book, wiht no specific plot, but its a great to read.

The happiest moments of a liberal arts education usually take place late in the evening in a dormitory lounge or in a local bistro over several cups of coffee. They're conversations, often between two similarly minded people, that explore a favorite subject. Browsing through Imagining Characters is like lingering in a seat at the next table.

The works selected are an English major's hit list of mainly nineteenth century women's novels. Byatt and Sodre bring their experience as a fiction writer and a clinical psychologist, respectively, to their understandings and develop complementary insights rather than rigorous debates.

This isn't everyone's cup of java. The reader who enjoys this volume probably relishes at least half of the novels discussed, smiles at being called a feminist, and prefers discussion to formal criticism.

I found this book to be absolutely wonderful in the way they displayed the clothes and accessories so beautifully. You can see the true elegance, pomp, and magnificence in which the royal family dressed, yet also see how normal they were in that they wore common clothes just like the commonfolk. I highly reccomend this book.

This was a required text for a course I took in bilingualism. I had high hopes for the book but was unfortunately disappointed at its narrow scope. And, it is horribly out of date. The first chapter, even in its newest edition, refers to Russia as USSR. There are a lot of theories of bilingualism discussed, mostly explained well enough to get the idea. But sometimes, it seems as though the author gets caught up in the explaining and forgets to get to the point. On a positive note, there are numerous examples of bilingual speech presented, many from the author's own experience. The case studies in the latter half of the book are quite interesting as well.

All in all, I would say if you're getting started in the study of bilingualism, this is an okay book to get your feet wet. Howeve, I wouldn't depend solely on this work.

This is a wonderful introduction into bilingualism. This book takes the reader on a journey along the exciting and controversial land of bilingual speakers, countries, researches, and case studies. It includes clear maps and graphs. It is incredible background material for students and a reference for those who have spent some time doing reaserch in any aspect of bilingualism. As you move from chapter to chapter the reading is engrossing and one does not need to interrupt it to check with Oxford English Dictionary for obfuscating words or notions. The text flows. Plus, this book provides a wonderful bibliography that is very useful for linguists, sociolinguists, researchers and students. The reading is enjoyable .