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Insightful,
Dramatic,
Interesting

22 reviews

The Pecan Man

by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

Published: 2012-01-01
Paperback : 144 pages

12 members reading this now
73 clubs reading this now
13 members have read this book

Recommended to book clubs by 20 of 22 members

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Introduction

The Pecan Man is a work of Southern fiction whose first chapter was the First Place winner of the 2006 CNW/FFWA Florida State Writing Competition in the Unpublished Novel category. In the summer of 1976, recently widowed and childless, Ora Lee Beckworth hires a homeless old black man to mow her lawn. The neighborhood children call him the Pee-can Man; their mothers call them inside whenever he appears. When the police chief’s son is found stabbed to death near his camp, the man Ora knows as Eddie is arrested and charged with murder. Twenty-five years later, Ora sets out to tell the truth about the Pecan Man. In narrating her story, Ora discovers more truth about herself than she could ever have imagined.This novel has been described as To Kill a Mockingbird meets The Help.

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

SPOILER ALERT if you have not read the novel yet.

•What is the significance of “the lie that never ends” for the story?

•What is the main reason Ora Lee doesn’t tell Grace the truth after her mother dies?

•Why is Ora Lee not able to remember her life with Walter?

•Was Ora Lee really kind to Eddie? Does it matter?

•Does Eddie really think he’ll have to get justice because he’s innocent? Why does he later change his mind?

•Does the friendship between Patrice and Dovey Kincaid’s daughter signify that all is now well between the races in the South?

•Why does Ora Lee believe “we were partially to blame” for losing Grace?

•Why does Ora Lee decide not to bury her lie with Eddie, “no matter what the cost”?

•According to the story, what good does it do to learn right from wrong if we fail to insist on doing the right thing?•Why did Ora Lee let the Pecan Man take the blame for the murder of the rapist when she knew the real killer was Blanche’s son, Marcus? (from the author)

Suggested by Members

What impact did skin color have on Blanche at birth and as a mother?

by BookClubKF (see profile) 02/28/15

Weblinks

»	Authors web site

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 20 of 22 members.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"The truth comes out"by liz p. (see profile) 01/14/23

In 1976, in a small southern town, a white, childless widow hires a homeless black man to mow her lawn and do odd jobs. When he is around, the mothers in the neighborhood make their children come inside.... (read more)

by DeDe R. (see profile) 03/26/18

by Kathleen M. (see profile) 01/22/18

by Debbie G. (see profile) 06/21/17

"The Pecan Man"by Linda C. (see profile) 05/05/17

A good southern fiction with a lot of surprising turn of events all the way through to the end.

by Honor C. (see profile) 04/04/17

by Kimberly G. (see profile) 12/15/16

by Debbie M. (see profile) 11/16/16

"The power of strength in human relationships"by Kim A. (see profile) 08/17/16

One of the best books books we have read this year. It will stay with you for a very long time. Try doing the immersion reading, the Southern accent of the narrator really draws you into the story.

"The Pecan Man"by amanda w. (see profile) 07/06/16

Short and sweet, but it's story and subject stay with you for a long time. Very insightful of race relations in the South in the mid-late 1960's
yet in a very kind way.

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