Published: Feb. 28, 2012
Words: 114,096 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781466028647

Short description

Ruth Clayton has a dangerous secret to keep. Living in an all-white town in Alabama at a time of charged racial emotions, she is pregnant—and the baby is half black. "Wells Without Water" chronicles the coming of age of Ruth’s son, Theodore Clayton, and the one boy in town who dares to befriend him.

Extended description

In the all-white town of Sardis, Alabama, during the civil rights era, Ruth Clayton has a dangerous secret to keep. She is pregnant—and the baby is half black. Upon her child's birth, her brother drives her from Sardis with intentions to do away with her son. But he has a change of heart, and decides to raise the boy in the very town that wants him dead.

"Wells Without Water" chronicles the turbulent coming of age of Ruth's son, Theodore Clayton, and the one boy in town who dares to befriend him: Caleb Frost, the troubled son of a prostitute and a fugitive.

Though Caleb has no friends himself, his relationship with Theodore comes at a great cost. No longer just ignored by the other children, he becomes the target of bitter and tireless persecution. In a cyclone of public and personal hysteria which leads him to question his values, his loyalties, and even his faith in God, he is forced by the people of Sardis to choose sides.

But when Ruth Clayton returns to town, she has diffe.. (Read more) In the all-white town of Sardis, Alabama, during the civil rights era, Ruth Clayton has a dangerous secret to keep. She is pregnant—and the baby is half black. Upon her child's birth, her brother drives her from Sardis with intentions to do away with her son. But he has a change of heart, and decides to raise the boy in the very town that wants him dead.

"Wells Without Water" chronicles the turbulent coming of age of Ruth's son, Theodore Clayton, and the one boy in town who dares to befriend him: Caleb Frost, the troubled son of a prostitute and a fugitive.

Though Caleb has no friends himself, his relationship with Theodore comes at a great cost. No longer just ignored by the other children, he becomes the target of bitter and tireless persecution. In a cyclone of public and personal hysteria which leads him to question his values, his loyalties, and even his faith in God, he is forced by the people of Sardis to choose sides.

But when Ruth Clayton returns to town, she has different ideas for her son.
(Less)

Tags

coming of age, historical fiction, southern gothic

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Reviews

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Review by: Melissa Chen on April 19, 2012 :
Wells Without Water is a captivating tale with a broad cast of very well-developed characters. Allen does a great job of painting each character's cultural and circumstantial differences to strike just the right amount of tension in his scenes, without ever making any interactions seem forced.

The novel also delves into some pretty heavy material and provides some food for thought on the topics of race, religion, parenting, loyalty/friendship and psychology. What was most interesting was the author's exploration of outcasts who are shunned for a variety of reasons in a stagnant society such as Sardis, and how they come to find each other.

Though ambitious, Allen has managed to pay thorough homage to each of these themes while providing a truly great story that is still very much plot-driven and approachable. This one will leave you thinking, perhaps even re-examining your own beliefs, and wishing there was more. Very much looking forward to reading the author's next work!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Melissa Chen on April 19, 2012 :
Wells Without Water is a captivating tale with a broad cast of very well-developed characters. Allen does a great job of painting each character's cultural and circumstantial differences to strike just the right amount of tension in his scenes, without ever making any interactions seem forced.

The novel also delves into some pretty heavy material and provides some food for thought on the topics of race, religion, parenting, loyalty/friendship and psychology. What was most interesting was the author's exploration of outcasts who are shunned for a variety of reasons in a stagnant society such as Sardis, and how they come to find each other.

Though ambitious, Allen has managed to pay thorough homage to each of these themes while providing a truly great story that is still very much plot-driven and approachable. This one will leave you thinking, perhaps even re-examining your own beliefs, and wishing there was more. Very much looking forward to reading the author's next work!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: booklover101 on April 16, 2012 : (no rating)
This book is very interesting, and will keep you reading; gripping. A very good read.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Courtland Allen on April 10, 2012 :
This isn't the kind of book you take to the beach for a light summer read. On one hand, it has the solemn and ambitious feel of a classic. But on the other, it moves quickly, with an emphasis on plot, keeping you turning the pages as few titles from the "literary" tradition manage to do. If you like stories that leave some sort of mark on you after you've put them back on the digital shelf, this one's for you.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Courtland Allen on April 10, 2012 :
This isn't the kind of book you take to the beach for a light summer read. On one hand, it's got the solemn and ambitious feel of a classic. But on the other, it moves quickly with an emphasis on plot, keeping you turning the pages as few titles from the "literary" tradition manage to do. If you like stories that leave some sort of mark on you after you've put them back on the digital shelf, this one's for you.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Michigan Book Lover on March 23, 2012 :
Great read! The characters are well developed - you feel as if you know them personally. The story is familiar enough to readers that already know about the Civil Rights era, but fresh and interesting in a way that will keep the book open on your ereader!
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Tim Kohrumel on March 09, 2012 :
I was afraid this genre might be played out, but Allen's novel provided a fresh perspective on the civil rights era in a personal, bottom-up way. Good read.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Profound_Knowledge on Feb. 29, 2012 :
I really enjoyed reading Wells Without Water. There was a number of real life situations masterfully articulated. I look forward to reading more books by Channing Allen.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by: Eva Hill on Feb. 29, 2012 :
This is an excellent book - very interesting and will keep you on edge. You will not want to put it down as it's very thought provoking. A great read.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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