Then Like The Blind Man Orbie Story edition by Freddie Owens Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : Then Like The Blind Man Orbie Story edition by Freddie Owens Literature Fiction eBooks 
Every once in awhile, you read a book in which every element fits together so perfectly that you just sit back in awe at the skill of the storyteller. Then Like the Blind Man is one of these books. -- San Francisco Book Review
While fiction about the 1950s Civil Rights era is far from rare, few capture the period and struggles from the perspective of a white child.
Synopsis
A storm is brewing in the all-but-forgotten back country of Kentucky. And, for young Orbie Ray, the swirling heavens may just have the power to tear open his family's darkest secrets. Then Like the Blind Man tells the story of a white youth cast aside in the segregated South of the 1950s, and the forces he must overcome to restore order to his world.
Nine-year-old Orbie already has his cross to bear. After the death of his father, his mother Ruby has off and married Victor, a slick-talking man with a snake tattoo. Orbie hates his stepfather more than he can stand, a fact that lands him at his grandparents' place in Harlan's Crossroads, Kentucky. Orbie grudgingly adjusts to life with his doting Granny and carping Granpaw, who are a bit too keen on their black neighbors for Orbie's taste, not to mention the local Pentecostal congregation of snake handlers. Soon, however, he finds his worldviews changing, particularly when it comes to matters of race, religion and the true cause of his father's death.
Equal parts Hamlet and Huckleberry Finn, Then Like the Blind Man is certain to resonate with lovers of literary as well as historical fiction, particularly in the grand Southern tradition of storytelling.
- (2013) ABNA Quarter Finalist
- Received IR Discovery Award for Best in Literary Fiction (2013)
- (2014 )Finalist for Book Review's Literary Fiction Award.
- Received Kirkus Review's STAR for exceptional merit. Featured in Kirkus Reviews Magazine (January, 2014)
- Retailers, Libraries and Educators can get the book through Ingram Wholesale.
- An Bestseller.
- Now Available In Bookstores!
Down for Reviews...
Then Like The Blind Man Orbie Story edition by Freddie Owens Literature Fiction eBooks
After I finished reading this title, I was almost surprised by how much I realized I liked this book. If the book had not been a Kindle freebie, there is a good chance that I would have passed it by without much thought. Not sure exactly why…but usually this type of book would escape my book radar.This wasn’t an easy book to read either. I don’t imagine that’s hard to imagine as saying that this book was full of racial tensions would be an understatement. It definitely made the reading experience uncomfortable, even despite how well written and interesting this book was. Even as much as I tried to brace myself…it was still uncomfortable and infuriating at times.
There were a few sections in the book, where it delved into a supernatural tone…and those bits did get a bit confusing. I had to reread several pages to try and make some sense out of those bits…and quite honestly, I wasn’t sure if Orbie was a credible narrator at all times. Did those things really happen? Did Orbie dream them? Those bits could have potentially brought this book down but luckily they didn’t.
Product details
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Then Like The Blind Man Orbie Story edition by Freddie Owens Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
I found this a book a bit hard to get into. The story is set in the 1950’s. The main characters are Victor, Ruby, Orbie, Missy and Ruby’s parents.
Victor is a manager at a steel plant in Detroit which appears to be a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. He told the family he has some time off and he and Ruby are going to travel down to Florida while Orbie stays with Ruby’s parents in Kentucky.
If you have a problem with strong language and “on-point” dialogue of the era, trust me, you aren’t going to enjoy the story. Think along the lines of the book, “The Help,” and you know what I’m referring to.
The dialogue is dead on for the time frame. It is brilliantly executed.
As stated, Orbie is dropped off at Grandpa and Granny’s house. The only child he’s able to befriend is a local colored boy named, Willis and his donkey, Chester. Orbie is extremely prejudiced since his encounter with several of the black boys back in Detroit and his step-dad Victor has no regard for them. He is corrected on more than one occasion by his grandma that, “They folks just like us. Only difference is their skin color.”
As the story progresses he does begin appreciating the coloreds and seeing racism from a new set of eyes. That doesn’t mean he fully embraces them, but he becomes much more tolerable and accepting especially after Willis is attacked by five of the local white boys.
Cons
As for the plot, I’m not sure about that. I found myself asking myself through the majority of the story, what’s the point? Where is this headed and why do we care? I wasn’t able to answer any of those questions.
Is this supposed to be about racism? Is a commentary on American culture in the 50’s? Or is it a coming of age story? I have no idea. At times it came across as a modern version of “Huckleberry Finn”, but even Huck and Jim knew where they were going.
The ending of the story was more mystical then resolved. Still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
I’m not hooked enough to read the second book
Three stars
Orbie is a young boy growing up in Detroit. He is often bullied and he has very prejudiced ideas.
Orbie's father is killed. A short time later Orbie's mom marries the man who was his father's boss. Orbie doesn't like him. He has good reason. Orbie's new stepfather Victor is very abusive. He is physically abusive and molesting Orbie's sister. Victor doesn't like Orbie. He decides they are moving to Florida and he doesn't want to take Orbie with them. They drop him off at his mother's parent's house. Orbie feels deserted for good reason. He soon learns how prejudiced he was raised and that his grandparents truly do want the best for him. This is a realistic look at life in the early 1950's. The pacing is great. You don' t have a problem and then a sudden solution. It moves gradually so that everything flows smoothly and naturally. I would recommend this to people who love those coming of age stories set in a time period before most of us were born. I would warn that because of the time period there is the use of the "n" word, as well as other coarse language. The author did a great job with bringing everything to a VERY satisfying ending.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Orbie takes us on a great ride from one state, culture and life to another. On the way, we meet a manageable number of characters possessing real, if sometimes eccentric, qualities. Some of those characters are despicable, the kind I love to hate. Some are loveable. All of them are complex and entertaining. The plot is rich and captivating. The themes are about important social and domestic issues. But what I enjoyed most was Orbie's mystical, magical discovery of a world where a young boy can find new skills that mature him. This is a warm adventure story grounded firmly in real life but edging into the fantastic. It has heart without being melodramatic. This is the kind of novel that keeps me buying new books.
After I finished reading this title, I was almost surprised by how much I realized I liked this book. If the book had not been a freebie, there is a good chance that I would have passed it by without much thought. Not sure exactly why…but usually this type of book would escape my book radar.
This wasn’t an easy book to read either. I don’t imagine that’s hard to imagine as saying that this book was full of racial tensions would be an understatement. It definitely made the reading experience uncomfortable, even despite how well written and interesting this book was. Even as much as I tried to brace myself…it was still uncomfortable and infuriating at times.
There were a few sections in the book, where it delved into a supernatural tone…and those bits did get a bit confusing. I had to reread several pages to try and make some sense out of those bits…and quite honestly, I wasn’t sure if Orbie was a credible narrator at all times. Did those things really happen? Did Orbie dream them? Those bits could have potentially brought this book down but luckily they didn’t.
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