Standing at the Scratch Line: A Novel
Jun 2001 · Villard
4.9star
86 reviewsreport
Ebook
576
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About this ebook
Raised in the steamy bayous of New Orleans in the early 1900s, LeRoi "King" Tremain, caught up in his family's ongoing feud with the rival DuMont family, learns to fight. But when the teenage King mistakenly kills two white deputies during a botched raid on the DuMonts, the Tremains' fear of reprisal forces King to flee Louisiana.
King thus embarks on an adventure that first takes him to France, where he fights in World War I as a member of the segregated 369th Battalion—in the bigoted army he finds himself locked in combat with American soldiers as well as with Germans. When he returns to America, he battles the Mob in Jazz Age Harlem, the KKK in Louisiana, and crooked politicians trying to destroy a black township in Oklahoma.
King Tremain is driven by two principal forces: He wants to be treated with respect, and he wants to create a family dynasty much like the one he left behind in Louisiana. This is a stunning debut by novelist Guy Johnson that provides a true depiction of the lives of African-Americans in the early decades of the twentieth century.
King thus embarks on an adventure that first takes him to France, where he fights in World War I as a member of the segregated 369th Battalion—in the bigoted army he finds himself locked in combat with American soldiers as well as with Germans. When he returns to America, he battles the Mob in Jazz Age Harlem, the KKK in Louisiana, and crooked politicians trying to destroy a black township in Oklahoma.
King Tremain is driven by two principal forces: He wants to be treated with respect, and he wants to create a family dynasty much like the one he left behind in Louisiana. This is a stunning debut by novelist Guy Johnson that provides a true depiction of the lives of African-Americans in the early decades of the twentieth century.
Ratings and reviews
4.9
86 reviews
Craig Register
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November 10, 2022
Completely surprised by this novel. I read it while in confinement during a recent period of incarceration. I was hooked after 5 pages, LeRoy "King" Tremaine is a badass dude. The story follows him from the swamps of Louisiana to the front lines of war, to the mean streets in NYC where King carves out a name for himself as a savage killer, businessman and one who demands respect. It's a great read, give it a try!
Neva Netherly
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November 21, 2017
By far one of my favorite novels of all-time! An EPIC story filled with grit, guts, and glory all against the backdrop of racial inequality in America. The historical references give credibility to this cast of characters & allows each story to stand on its on. But when put together, the novel reads like an a movie!!!
11 people found this review helpful
J Lyons
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November 7, 2015
One of the best reads I've ever encountered. Guy Johnson is a genius in the making a truly riveting saga of life in the Deep South. A must read by anyone intrigued with an action packed thriller. I could not put it down, and the saga " echoes of a distant summer" was just as amazing. A five star read
1 person found this review helpful
About the author
After completing college in Ghana, Guy Johnson managed a bar on Spain's Costa del Sol, ran a photo-safari service from London through Morocco and Algeria, and worked on oil rigs in Kuwait. Most recently he worked in the local government of Oakland, California, for more than twenty years. He lives in Oakland with his wife and son. He is the son of the author Maya Angelou.
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