Praise Jerusalem!

By Augusta Trobaugh

Book Overview

Fans of southern novels that explore the complex relationships between white families and their black hired help will find a compelling story about race relations in PRAISE JERUSALEM. Amelia, an aging Georgia matron forced by money woes to move in with two other women--outlandishly preachy Maybelline and take-no-nonsense Mamie, who is black--begins to confront her childhood memories of the black women who worked for her family.

Their lives, both tragic and yet sublimely proud, haunt Amelia even now, as she searches for a way to make peace with the sorrows she innocently observed.

PRAISE JERUSALEM is a rare mix of poignant drama but also wry humor. Both the elder Amelia and her childhood self are primly rebellious and irrepressible; Amelia's sharp eye for petty human foibles never fails her.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1611940184
• ISBN13: 9781611940183
• Release Date: March 2011
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 15 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 10 and higher

Customer Reviews

Praise Jerusalem

This is a wonderful book. I think it tells the story that we all want the respect of society no matter what socioeconomic group we belong to. The writer has told a powerful and gentle story about love. In the end it is all about love.

Southern Beauty & Charm

Mrs. Trobaugh is truly a gifted writer. This book is a treat of sweet memories of times gone by. Loved it & recommend it highly.

Along for the ride

This novel is a treasure of times-gone-by Southern atmosphere. As the three central characters journeyed to their new home in Jerusalem, Georgia, down rutted dirt roadways enveloped in kudzu wines, I traveled with them through my own rural upbringing. The novel focuses on the emotional journey of Miss Amelia as she makes sense of her past and reconciles it with her future. It is a pleasure to go along for the ride, marveling at Trobaugh's rich and specific language and her considerable talent for telling a story.

A thoughtful and engaging book

Praise Jerusalem was a marvelous book. The three main characters are believable and captured my interest from the start. The story was surprisingly suspenseful for such a gentle, thoughtful book. Trobaugh's writing is simple and elegant, and she deals with serious themes deftly. And she has a great gift for humor. I enjoyed this book greatly, and would rank among the best books I've read in the past few years.

A wonderful book of pithy observations and memories.

Praise Jerusalum! is my favorite book of the year. After getting it at the library, I had to buy my own copy. This is a story of an elderly woman facing a lot of changes in her life and life style while trying to live up to her mother's ingrained training of "maintaining appearances". It is funny, touching and has several interesting twists and turns.