A #DDRevs Diamond Read
Mystery
WWII
London and Virginia
John Copenhaver’s debut novel gives readers a gorgeous, critical look at
the LGBTQ community in post-WWII society, revolving around a murder. In Royal
Oak, VA, three friends - Jay Greenwood, Bunny Prescott, and Ceola Bliss - spend
the summer of 1945 trying to solve the apparent murder of a young woman whom Jay
had photographed. As they investigate, it becomes clear that there are multiple
layers of deceit involving Jay, the woman in the photo, and Ceola’s brother,
who had gone missing in action in the Pacific theater two years earlier. As
events unfold, Jay’s wartime traumas surface, causing distress and confusion to
all around him, including Ceola. She also struggles to understand and incorporate
what she learns about the beloved brother she thought she knew, fighting
against social and parental pressure and judging those against what she feels
is right. Finally, Bunny sets into motion a chain of reactions that will have
decades-long ramifications for them all.
Dodging and Burning has some truly lovely writing, filled with deep imagery
and complex, living characters. The society is richly depicted, from the salt
of the earth working poor to the upper middle class people of the town to the
gay and lesbian people in the DC underground. The novel mirrors social mores of
the time regarding the way the LGBTQ community was portrayed, so that made for
some really intense and upsetting scenes in some places. People were, and still
are, awful to each other. There is a lot of excellent, much-needed social
commentary woven throughout. One character speaks for the LGBTQ community when
he says, “If you’re afraid for long enough, you grow numb to it” (289). That
really struck me on a number of levels, because I can’t imagine living my whole
life being afraid - literally mortally afraid - every moment of the day, and
yet that is how it as for many people. Another character later on summed up
much of mainstream society when he said, “You’ve been blind from the beginning.
When you look at Cee or me or anyone, all you see is what you want” (312). So true, for so many people even today. The final
few pages were an absolute gutpunch, one which was vital. This is a book that
must be read and discussed with as many people as possible.
Very highly recommended.
© Kristen
McQuinn
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