Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor
Penguin Books 1985
LJ’s Rating: 4 ****for Excellence
Linden Hills poses American Dream for African-Americans…
Linden Hills is a fictitious place which originated in the 1800s, when an ex-slave named Luther Nedeed bought some unattractive land, built a two-room cabin, and began an undertaker business. Afterwards, this industrious man built wooden shacks and rented out to the local blacks. Business quickly prospered and Nedeed built a large, white clapboard house with a concrete morgue in the basement. His new wife blessed him with a son whom he named Luther, and the story of the Nedeeds began. With each succeeding generation, and a wife bearing exactly one named Luther, they were able to construct a beautiful residential neighborhood which contained some of the most expensive property in Wayne County. Linden Hills now represented the ultimate in black achievement. Ambitious blacks from all over the county filled out applications after applications so that they too could feel like they really made it.
This story is told through the eyes of two young street poets in search of Christmas money one winter.
However, what they stumble upon during their pursuit of odd jobs in this wealthy community, is that beyond the facade of great houses and well manicured lawns lie lost souls trapped in the American dream.
Linden Hills earns 4 **** for Excellence from me, LJ, because quite simply it is a well-presented piece of fiction that deserves to be read over and over again.