On The Roof Top

Adult historical fiction 

     Margaret Wilkerson Sexton's On The Roof Top takes readers back to 1950s San Francisco.  It's a story of family, exploring the complexities of mother-daughter and sibling relationships.  It's also a narrative of a marginalized community struggling to keep their homes, workplaces, and churches from being legally (but not ethically) stolen.

     Vivian has seen more than her share of tragedy.  She'd fled racial violence earlier in life, moving from the deep South to California.  She'd married the love ❤️ of her life, only to lose him shortly before the birth of their third daughter.

     These three now grown girls are Vivian's world.  As she supported them working as a nurse she cultivated them as a singing trio, coaching them, getting them bookings, creating their costumes, refereeing their spats... It looks like all her hard work is about to pay off.  She's landed them a very auspicious audition.

     But you know kids aren't always willing to play their designated roles in a parent's plans.  First oldest daughter, Ruth, announces that she's pregnant and determined to marry the father of her baby.  Then Esther begins to find herself in social activism.  Even baby Chloe, Vivian's miracle child, may have ideas of her own.

     While all this is going on the family and their community are in a David vs Goliath struggle against gentrification in the guise of urban renewal.  High ranking officials, white men in gray flannel suits, have declared their neighborhood blighted.  At first making buy out offers to home and business owners, they're now resorting to the legal theft known as eminent domain.

     This finely tuned drama of family and home will strike just the right note with historical fiction affecianados.

On a purrrsonal note, I volunteered last evening at community garden.  The late summer crops are coming in.  I was able to bring home cauliflower, green beans, zucchini, and a cucumber.  I learned something about Lyme disease.  I was talking to someone who has had it 20 years.  There is no cure.  It goes between flare ups and dormancy for the rest of your life.  That is seriously scary because Eugene doesn't like it when I don't go to camp (like my anxiety is suggesting).  Why can't staying safe be simple?  (Jules)

It was a really nice day.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to the community garden crew.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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