Worthy's Town: A Novel

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Overview

The story of a family and its small Illinois town from 1925-50.

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More About This Book

Overview

The story of a family and its small Illinois town from 1925-50.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Old Kane, Ill., is ground zero for this folksy, smalltown narrative, a first novel rife with resilient do-gooders, town idiots and villains, sexual initiations, dubious parentage and two possible cases of murder. In 1925, Worthy and Willa Giberson, a farm couple in middle age, rear their grandson Cappy after his single 14-year-old mother, Chastity, dies in childbirth. Evil Drayton Hunt presents himself almost immediately as Cappy's father, vowing to "claim what's mine." He's rebuffed by grouchy-but-honorable Worthy and saintly Willa, but over the next several years swoops in periodically to menace Worthy and the town's other denizens as they gather around the stove at Pick's General Store to drink coffee and gossip. Inquisitive and irrepressible Cappy turns a childhood propensity for good-natured lying into a career as a fledgling journalist at the county newspaper. His slow-witted uncle Tick leaves home with the traveling Rev. Art Gimmy and becomes a performing "healer"--developing his own, lucrative brand of storytelling. By 1944, when Cappy's boyhood friend Beany Ozbun returns on leave from the army, Old Kane simmers with sinister undercurrents, racing toward tragedy, and Cappy plays amateur sleuth to uncover the biggest story of his life. With the backdrop of the Depression and WWII to provide a sure sense of time and place, the tale overflows with characters exhibiting country-folk quirkiness. Often awkward but humorous and engaging dialogue punctuate this nostalgic story of rural America, in which the complexity of smalltown human relationships brings depth to the murder-mystery plot that ensues. (Oct.) FYI: Worthy's Town was selected by Barnes & Noble for its Discover Great New Writers Program. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
Rolens dips heavily into nostalgia for her first novel, a charming coming-of-age tale set in southwestern Illinois in the years before and during World War II. Worthy and Willa Giberson adopt their illegitimate grandson, Cappy, following the death of their daughter in 1925. A simple farmer, Worthy plans for Cappy to join him in working the farm as soon as he is old enough. When Cappy wins an eighth-grade essay contest, however, he is able to parlay his vivid imagination and love of a good story into a job at the local newspaper office, ultimately leading to his finishing high school and his first real job. But questions surrounding Cappy's parentage, Willa's death, and the murder of Cappy's best friend make Worthy's Town far more than a simple teenage success story. It becomes a beautiful view of the Great Depression and America at home during World War II; a finely honed character study of a town and its inhabitants, good and bad; and a classic tale of orchestrated retribution. The over-50 generation may especially enjoy this reminiscence of a simpler time, deftly combined with an engaging story of human foibles that never stoops to sentimentality. Recommended for all public libraries.--Thomas L. Kilpatrick, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale Lib. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\
More Reviews (1) Fewer Reviews
From The Critics
Novels praising the spirit, friendship, and little triumphs of small town folk are certainly not rare, but seldom is it captured with the kind of easy grace and understanding that Rolens shows in this first novel. In stripped-down prose as beautifully simple as a cornfield at dusk, the author tells the story of small town Old Kane from the Depression to World War II.At the center of the work, and a roaring force in an otherwise quiet place, is Cappy Giberson, whose grandparents, Worthy and Willa, take him in after the death of their daughter. Cappy is the kind of go-getter all-American boy that advertisers love to photograph and girls love to date. In Old Kane, he's at the center of a distinct cast of characters, from the shadowy Drayton Hunt in his beloved moon car to a pair of daft, mean twins who aren't even twins at all. One of the most fascinating citizens of the town is, appropriately enough when considering the title, Cappy's grandfather Worthy. At first, Worthy appears an ignorant man, full of discrimination and hatred, but soon it's apparent that he's simply following the old ways, taught to him by his own father. In an exchange with his wife about letting their daughter continue past the eighth grade, Worthy takes an ultra-traditional position: "I ain't arguing but what she's smart, but that don't change my thinking. You know as well as I do that females belong in the home, raising babies and cooking meals. The world would be a sorry state of affairs if females forgot their place." Cappy, with his tolerance and empathy, represents the changes going on in the town, how a community must bend with the times or it'll break. Through the lives of these interlinked neighbors, Rolens gives a flavor of the heartland during its dark and hopeful times. This is a well-written, sweetly told first work that captures a time and a place worth remembering.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781882593354
  • Publisher: Bridgeworks
  • Publication date: 8/21/2000
  • Edition description: 1 ED
  • Pages: 224
  • Product dimensions: 6.00 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

Sharon Rolens, raised in rural Illimois, is a professional muscian living in Denver, Colorado and author of published short stories and poetry, Worthy's Town is her first novel.

Sharon Rolens, raised in rural Illimois, is a professional muscian living in Denver, Colorado and author of published short stories and poetry, Worthy's Town is her first novel.

Read an Excerpt

In January 1925 not one man among the five hundred citizens of Old Kane, Illinois, was without a job unless he wanted to be. Some found work at the local ball bat factory or grain elevator, and some worked at the cartridge factory in Alton or the oil refinery in Wood River. Others managed to engage themselves profitably in enterprises of their own ingenuity: raising night crawlers, breeding and selling raccoons for pets or pelts, playing musical instruments for round and square dances. Booze, stilled to perfection, continued to bring a good price; the favorite carrying place was the heel of a shoe, or a flask formfitted to a lady's thigh. Dairy farmers and feed growers, getting along tolerably since the prosperous war years ended, filled out the remainder of Greene County's countryside. Outsiders looking at Old Kane might have thought life moved at a snail's pace, but to the people who lived there, events came one after the other with hardly a breath between. Given the choice of living any place in the country, each man, woman and child would have chosen to stay in Old Kane. Of all the farmers around Old Kane, Worthy Giberson was one of the most respected—known throughout the county for his honesty and hard work. Not once did he sell a cow suspected of coming down with the mad staggers, nor did he ever trade a horse that was showing signs of being stringhalted. Worthy always gave a fair deal and expected the same in return. He raised his boy, Cappy, in that tradition, without regret.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 25, 2002

    AN OKAY BOOK

    I enjoyed this book while I was reading it. The faithfulness of Worthy and his wife raising Cappie stands as a testament to loyalty and strong family ties. As soon as I finished reading this book, however, I promptly forgot about it. I guess it wasn't real memorable.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2001

    Small town folk

    Absolutely enjoyed this wonderful story about small town folk....gossiping about the latest news while standing around the general store's potbelly stove. A book about a town growing up as well as it's young people maturing. My favorite reading is of new authors, and Barnes and Noble have never steered me wrong. Read this book....it's exceptional.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 1, 2001

    Terrific.

    Sort of reminded me of 'Cold Tree Sassy'...lovely book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2000

    Small Town America

    An excellent look at small-town midAmerica during the 40's and 50's. Willa and Worthy tow the line and do what any self-respecting, faithful family might do. Cappy is the fruit of their love and labor.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
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