Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

Black Water Rising is the first novel by screenwriter, Attica Locke. Set in Houston, it begins on the night of the Jay's birthday party for his wife. They are sailing down the river when they hear screams and shots and Jay rescues a woman. Jay, now a lawyer and formerly a black student radical, is concerned about being involved but the case follows him and he needs to meet with his former girlfriend, now the mayor, to set things right.

It is hard to believe that this is a first novel, extremely well written and plotted with interesting insights about the civil rights movement and the emergence of student radicalism as the mayor herself a former student radical.

An excellent read with a strong sense of place and time and an engaging and very real character in Jay.

Introduction

I have kept a book journal for about 20 years. Each year, I start a new journal and record what I have read, who wrote it, when I finished it and a little bit (or a lot, depending on my time and the book itself) about the book.

I have enjoyed going back over the journals to remember what I read and rediscover authors and books that I only dimly remembered. People often ask me for recommendations and I cannot always remember what I liked or what books affected me the most. This blog is intended to keep track of what I am reading, have reading and what books I am looking forward to read.