Seven Laurels
Free Book Review

Free Book Review: Seven Laurels

Brewster McAtee's father told him "a boy becomes a man when he has his own house." Young Brewster took this to heart and spent his teenage years working, staying out of trouble, and saving money so he could buy his own piece of land.

The land he finally does buy he calls "Ole Summit" and it's the foundation on which Brewster builds his life. Through years of loss, marriage, celebration, new family, and the struggle of the Civil Rights Movement, Ole Summit is the rock in Brewster's world.

This is a novel that spans a lifetime and for more than just one character. The story lies not only in the fact that Brewster is a good man living a blessed life, but that he works hard for what he has and is able to touch the lives of many.

Free Book Review: Seven Laurels Opinion

Brewster McAtee is the kind of man who touches your heart forever. His steady certainty that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to is entirely lovable. I kept waiting for "the other shoe to drop" so to speak, but it never did. Yes, he suffers heartbreaks. No, his life is not easy. But he continues to remain optimistic and strong, even through the worst of times.

I enjoyed that the novel spanned his entire life so that we could see where he began and where he ended up. It seems to me that he was fortunate to have lived in Low Ridge during the tumultuous sixties and I wonder if life was really as described in the book.

One of the most interesting things about the book is that the narrator is a black male and his creator, Linda Busby Parker, is a white female. She does a fantastic job of writing the voice of Brewster. I felt like I knew him personally by the time the story ended and I felt fortunate to have met this unique man.

Free Book Review: Seven Laurels Discussion Questions

1. Do you believe that life could be as "good" for a black man living in the south during the 60s as it was for Brewster?
2. Why do you think Deak was so willing to take Brewster under his wing?
3. How do the Seven Laurels bring Brewster's family back to life?

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