The Well and the Mine

I will honestly admit up front that the only reason I requested this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program is because Fannie Flagg wrote the introduction. The description sounded acceptable, but really, it all came down to Fannie Flagg for me. I love Fannie Flagg and all of her books, and I thought, 'Fannie Flagg hasn't written anything in quite awhile now, but at least I'll get to read an introduction by her!' Well, how wrong I was. I not only got an introduction by Fannie Flagg, but I also got a book that is honest, funny, poignant and touching all wrapped up into a story that I won't forget anytime soon. Taking place in 1931, The Well and the Mine tells the story of Albert and Leta Moore and their family, daughters Virgie and Tess and young son Jack. The Moore's own land, so do not struggle as much as some of their neighbor's during the Depression, but still, like it is for everyone, times are not easy. Albert works in the coal mines, a fate that he doesn't want to have happen to his son. Leta cooks and cleans and takes care of her family, sometimes doing without for herself to make sure her children want for nothing. The children help out with day to day chores, but live a rather sheltered life at home, not knowing how bad it is for some of their own neighbors during this time. One summer evening, Tess witnesses a woman throw a baby into the family well. No one believes Tess, thinking the event is a result of her overactive imagination, until the next day when a dead baby is pulled from the well. What transpires from this event is an amazing journey for the entire family, as they come to terms with their changing views of their own lives and the changing world around them. The two girls find themselves most at odds with their changing perspectives on the world. Tess comes to terms with the fact that the world is not necessarily always a perfect place. Virgie begins to question her role as a woman, as the event makes her wonder what it would take for a mother to want to kill a child, and whether she wants her 'self' tied down to a child or family. The story is told from the first-person perspective of each member of the family, with each chapter being broken into segments from each person's point of view. This gives an interesting insight into the growth of not only each character, but in their own interactions with their family. Phillips easily writes in the local dialect without overwriting the accents and local colloquialisms that can so easily happen when an author tries to mimic a speech pattern from an area. She tells her story fluidly, and while some of the aside stories seem to veer a little too far from the main flow of the story, overall, she wraps the book up nicely, not leaving the reader feel like they've missed out on anything in the story. I am very happy to have read The Well and the Mine. I love how Phillips adds more and more layers to her story, yet never makes it feel like she is adding too much. The story unf

"The Well and the Mine" is a book that you will want to treasure like a family heirloom. Like an old pocketwatch your great grandfather gave you or a locket you keep close to the heart, this story is a rare gem. Even though short at a respectable 250 pages, this novel easily stands beside the classics of Steinbeck, Faulkner, or Welty. Told with multiple first person narratives and without one spare word, it rolls along effortlessly. Reading it is like spending the evening on the front porch with a friend you haven't seen in a long time. Sprinkled with humor, the charm of old Alabama, and a touch of mystery along the way, you won't be able to resist Tess Moore and her unforgettable family. This literary gift is a welcome addition to our most loved Alabama writers such as Vicki Covington, Fannie Flagg, and Rick Bragg. Buy it now!

This lovely story of ordinary people, doing ordinary things, in extraordinary times is a beautiful example of southern life where poverty is common yet never an excuse. People work hard, they take care of each other, and they find joy in simple things. This book captures the dialect of the South and the reader feels the cold, wet darkness of the mine as well as the sunny fields essential to the family's life. I loved it!

What a beautifully written book. Readers will find this new author's first novel refreshing in so many ways. The characters are well developed, the words are carefully chosen and the story is captivating. Gin Phillips is an exceptional talent whose work is being noticed.

It's no wonder this book is getting huge buzz--it's a fantastic read that would appeal to anyone who loves Southern literature from the work of Fannie Flagg to Flannery O'Connor's; from Anne Rivers Siddon's books to William Faulkner novels. Really, this book appeals to anyone who loves a good story, rendered well. Phillips writing is somehow simultaneously fluid and hard-edged, and she knows her characters well enough to make their lives feel real to readers. This is one of the best books I've read in 2008. Highly recommended.