Diane McKinneyWhetstones lyrical first novel <strong>Tumbling</strong> vividly captures atightly knit AfricanAmerican neighborhood in South Philadelphia during ... » 

Diane McKinneyWhetstones lyrical first novel Tumbling vividly captures atightly knit AfricanAmerican neighborhood in South Philadelphia during theforties and fifties.Its central characters Herbie and Noon are a loving butunconventional couple whose marriage remains unconsummated for many years asNoon struggles to repossess her sexuality after a brutal attack in herpast.While she seeks salvation in the church Herbie gains sexualgratificationin the arms of a bewitching jazz singer named Ethel a woman whoprofoundly affects bothNoons and Herbies lives when she leaves with themfirst a baby girl and then later afiveyearold named Liz.When a road planned by the city council threatens to break up this SouthPhiladelphianeighborhood the community must band together.Unexpectedly Noonrises up and takesthe lead in the opposition fighting for all shes worth tokeep her family and community together.Tumblingis a beautiftilly rendered poignant story about the ties that bind usand the secretsthat keep us apart.With striking lyricism Diane McKinneyWhetstone keenly guides us throughthe world of community family and the humanheart. «