Tumbling

Diane McKinney-Whetstone

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Diane McKinney-Whetstone's lyrical first novel, "Tumbling," vividly captures a tightly knit
African-American neighborhood in South Philadelphia during the forties and fifties. Its central
characters, Herbie and Noon, are a loving but unconventional couple whose marriage remains
unconsummated for many years as Noon struggles to repossess her sexuality after a brutal
attack in her past. While she seeks salvation in the church, Herbie gains sexual gratification
in the arms of a bewitching jazz singer named Ethel, a woman who profoundly affects both
Noon's and Herbie's lives when she leaves with them, first, a baby girl and then later, a
five-year-old named Liz.
When a road planned by the city council threatens to break up this South Philadelphia
neighborhood, the community must band together. Unexpectedly, Noon rises up and takes
the lead in the opposition, fighting for all she's worth to keep her family and community together.
"Tumbling" is a beautiftilly rendered, poignant story about the ties that bind us and the secrets
that keep us apart. With striking lyricism, Diane McKinney-Whetstone keenly guides us through
the world of community, family, and the human heart.

Book Details

Publisher: Harper Perennial
Publish Date: Jun 29th, 2010
Pages: 368
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 8.00in - 5.30in - 1.30in - 0.75lb
EAN: 9780061792120
Categories: • Literary• Historical - General• Family Life - Marriage & Divorce

About the Author

McKinney-Whetstone, Diane: -

Diane McKinney-Whetstone is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Our Gen, Tumbling, Lazaretto, Tempest Rising, Blues Dancing, Leaving Cecil Street, and Trading Dreams at Midnight. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Literary Award for Fiction, which she won twice. A past lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, her work has appeared in the Atlantic, Essence Philadelphia magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her husband.

Praise for this book

"Even the air is palpable in TUMBLING. . . . The story moves forth on the power of Ms. Mckinney-Whetstone's characters. Ms. McKinney-Whetstone captures the formidable struggle to protect both a community and a family." -- New York Times Book Review

"A densely textured narrative that proves as rich and filling as a well-cooked meal. McKinney-Whetstone's remarkably skillful first effort should place her at the forefront of a generation of emerging African-American women novelists. McKinney-Whetstone is clearly a smart, careful writer who's created a page-turner of a novel with abundant style and irresistible charm." -- Washington Post Book World

"An accomplished novel, with sharply drawn characters, exuberant prose, plenty of period detail and a wise, forgiving outlook on family life." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

"[A] beautifully written tale [and] a lyrical read." -- USA Today

"[A] remarkable first novel. . . . The story probes beneath its residents' lives to tell a powerful tale of damage and healing." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A bouncy, moody, musical debut by an author who, like a good blues singer, is strong on style and interpretation. . . . A gifted prose writer with a tremendous sense of place." -- Kirkus Reviews

"McKinney-Whetstone . . . has a true talent for strong characters, effortlessly natural dialogue, and prose that flows." -- Kirkus Reviews

"In an era when most writers bank on hype and hook to grab a reader's attention, McKinney-Whetstone has amassed an enthusiastic cadre of readers by writing engaging characters supported by enchanting language." -- BET Weekend