Echoes of a Distant Summer

Do we have to get find and send a director to Guy Johnson with a planeful of actors... someone get this to the big screen! If Tyler Perry can commercialize Madea, I am confused why we can't have these books made into a movie. Heck, I have someone willing to do it! Let's face it, the world isn't a perfect place and less than perfect personalities bring out some interesting public discourse (Black women made Madea). Not all our inspirational people are noble God fearing and pious so why should our make believe "larger than life" folk be any different. One reviewer examined the historic accuracy of the book. While being a noble observation it misses the point that Black Folk, African Americans ...and for that fact Americans and the world need to be able to tell the truth in real historic events let alone the fictional stories. Further, in bring on a sense of Black Folk place in this world, there is still much to do with dismantling the rediculous vision of the timid, unlearned, unpatriotic, lazy, morally bankrupt Black Male that American has underwritten for all these hundreds of years. How long will these perpetuate? Answer: Until Black Folk change these images and begin telling their own stories... one by one; fiction and non-fiction alike. Lord knows, currently there aren't enough Black Historians to undo the less than honest works of the legions of half-truth historians America has seen and not enough Jewish historians to care (much Black is written by our Jewish friends). These stories will, like the lies that preceded them, go a long way toward gaining a foothold on the destiny of human kind everywhere.. not just Black Folk! Our destiny is tied together and human kind will never be whole nor great until nobody is allowed to be viewed as "less than."

Bravo to Mr. Johnson for writing such an engaging story! The characters were written so real, I literally lived in their world for two weeks. My only submission of release of Tremain and all the cast characters, was in knowing that I would encounter them again in Mr. Johnson's next novel...so please don't let your fans down. Give us more please!

Wow! I cried like a baby at the end of this book. Who cares how long it is, you don't even realize it while you're reading it. The story of the relationship between Jackson and his grandfather, King, is so wonderful and amazing. I wish my son could have memories like that - not the violence, but the love and bonding. Again, Guy Johnson, has written an amazing novel of family love, loyalty, and drama! This is a must read, but please read Standing at the Scratch Line first! My book club decided to read this sequel and I'm so glad we did, because we had all fallen in love with King in the first book and now Jackson is there to take his place. These books would be a great mini-series or movie.

If you read the first book "Standing in the Scratch Line", then you will be familiar with the saga of King Tremain. This book picks up where the last one left off. It is now 1982 and King Tremain's orphaned grandson, long estranged from both of his grandparents, is pulled back into the family fold when King is assisnated. I won't give it away, but many characters from the first book return in this one, and this book also fills in the gaps from 1947, where the last book stopped. It's a long read but you will not be disappointed. Johnson has a rare talent for character and plot development, and it's a shame that he is not a household name like his Mother (Maya Angelou).

This sequel to Standing at the Scratch Line is as good as, if not better than, Standing.. It is superb!! For those who have read Standing At The Scratch Line, this novel continues with the saga of the Tremain family. This story picks up with the adult grandson, Jackson, who has been estranged from his grandfather King Tremain for several years. As King is near death, Jackson flies to Mexico to see his grandfather and leaves with a mission and desire that proves he truly is the grandson of King Tremain, whether he likes it or not. Although this is a lengthy novel, the auhtor uses every word, phrase,page, etc., to draw an in-depth, complete and wonderful picture of who Jackson is, but more importantly the Tremain legacy and past that King has left to his grandson...whether he wants it or not. Although King is assassinated very early on in the book, through well placed, smooth and poignant flashbacks to the 1950's and 1960's, the reader gets much more insight into King Tremain and his life and legacy. Finally, to sum it up "you better ask joe 'cause you sho' don't know" what you are missing if you miss out on the chance to read this wonderful novel.