The Books Inc. Book Club reads Mississippi Sissy

Description

Books Inc. in the is pleased to announce our next Book Group selection: Mississippi Sissy by Kevin Sessum

The American South of the 1960s was no place to be different, much less a freak. Back then, boys grew up to become football heroes and marry girls who were taught to be perfect Southern belles. Segregation ruled, and you never voted for a Democrat in a national election, especially not a Kennedy. As far as music was concerned, you never sang anything in public other than a hymn. But Kevin Sessums knew he was different. His hero wasn't Mickey Mantle. It was Arlene Francis. He knew the lyrics to Broadway show tunes as well as he knew the Baptist hymnal, and his grandmother's African American maid, Matty May, taught him that the color of a person's skin was not as important as what was underneath.

In his growing up, Kevin Sessums was a decidedly different resident of Forest, Mississippi, a solitary little boy whose parents died by the time he was eight years old. But he learned how to survive by drawing his family close to him, keeping dark secrets others feared to tell, and learning how to turn the word sissy on its head, just as his mama had taught him.

* * *

Our next Book Group meeting is Wednesday, November 12, at 7 PM at Books Inc. in the Castro, 2275 Market St.. As always, I'd like everyone to come with any observations they may have as well as at least one question to pose to the group. Also, please come equipped with any title suggestions for our next joint venture. Hope to see you there. The Books Inc. Book Group is free and open to everyone. We encourage inclusiveness and promote diversity. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

More Info

Call

415.864.6777