The Funeral Dress: A Novel

This is the first book that I have read written by Susan Gilmore. It was recommended to me by one of her author friends. It is a Southern Story about the struggles of a young woman caught up in a cycle of poverty in a rural area of the Sequatchie valley of Tennessee. I found it to be a very sad story. The young woman lost her mother. She is left to be raised by a worthless father who carries a negative reputation in the small rural community. His primary source of income is working for the local funeral home picking up the dead and digging their graves. To exacerbate things, the father refuses all assistance, particularly in raising his daughter.The young woman finds employment at a cut and sew textile operation that makes women's clothes. As in many, small, rural, Southern communities, this was really the only work available to women who sought jobs outside of the home. She is taken under the wing of the most skilled sewer in the factory, Leona Curtis. Leona teaches her the ropes and turns her into a skilled seamtress.Leona has had her share of heartbreak in life. She lost a son as a baby. Her grief went on for years. She harbored undeserved blame on her husband.The young woman, Emmalee, becomes pregnant from sexual encounters with the funeral director's son. She protects her lover by keeping his name a secret. An unwanted pregnancy by an un-married girl is an enormous burden for this character to bear in a small, conservative town in the midst of the Bible Belt.A tragic event, the death of her friend Leona in a car accident is the key event that drives the action of the story. Emmalee takes it upon herself to make the dress for Leona to wear for her funeral. Many try to discourage her from this task. But Emmalee overcomes the objections, even those of the local preacher, to perform this final task of thanks and love.Emmalee struggles as a young mother. She lacks the resources and the support of a mother to care appropriately for a newborn.A childless uncle and aunt maneuver to take away her baby. Emmalee resists, and struggles to complete her task while holding onto her child. To her surprise, the community of sewers surround Emmalee with the support she needs to be successful as a mother. By moving out of the shack she calls home with her father in "Red Chert" and into the home left by Leona, the book closes with a ray of hope that this young mother will overcome poverty, underemployment, and prejudice to provide a better life for her child.This is a universal story set in a southern context. A good read.

I have a policy to never buy a book titled: "xxxx: A novel." Something about that iritates me. I guess I didn't notice the complete title on Kindle books, and I purchased this "novel." For the most part, it was enjoyable - well written, great characters, and horrifiying to think people actually live in such abject poverty. Then came the ending. which, of course, was the problem. I was left thinking the writer had, (1) no idea how to end the book, (2) was tired of writing, or (3) had a deadline to meet and needed to send in the book, as is. It is left to your imagination as to how you want the book to end. In the sci-fi genre, this is commonplace - it means you have to purchase another 20 books to see how it ends, but in southern fiction? Please.I don't want to ruin it for anybody else, because it is a good read, and Ms. Gilmore is a good writer, I give you that. BUT - what happens. Does the heroine "make it" or not? Does her lover come back and make an "honest woman" of her or not? Is she able to build a life for her and Kelly Faye, or does "the law" come in and make her give up her child?I ended up frustrated and angry. If Ms. Gilmore was going to tell a story, then she should have a beginning, a middle, and an ending. If she didn't want to at least do that, then she should not have written the book.

I recently finished all three of the books written by the same author. All three were good but the theme of all the books was similar. Young girl needs to figure out how to grow up and become a successful woman as well as accept the circumstances that are dealt to them

Emmalee is a poor "white trash" teenager living in rural eastern Tennessee in the mid 1970's. She lives alone with her alcoholic widower father in a shack without running water, heat and, it would seem, any hope. Emmalee drops out of school to work at the textile factory sewing collars and getting paid by the piece. She is mentored by Leona, who teaches her all of her seamstress skills, and it is Leona who is there for her when Emmalee goes into labor after trying to hide her pregnancy. Leona makes plans to open her home to Emmalee and her baby girl, but tragedy prevents the plan from coming to fruition and Emmalee is left to battle her father, a community that shuns her, and those with ulterior motives disguised as concern for what is best for the baby.This book is beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. Having spent some time growing up in Tennessee, I found the author's description capturing the beauty of the landscape and the clashing waste of abject poverty completely captivating and accurate. She also paints very beautiful, complex characters who seem to lead simple lives, but have the same battles and worries as the rest of us. The backwoods small town is its own universe, full of politics, judgement and scandal.I will recommend this book to everyone!

I liked the way the women supported the young mother at the end but where were they when she was growing up?

A very moving story about a teenage girl who lives in Tennessee's Appalachian area in a very hardscrapple existance. Emmalee's Mother died young and she has been "raised" in an indifferent and at times abusive situation by her Dad, a hard and stubborn man. Her only solace is her friendship with Leona, a fellow worker at the clothing factory, who is kind to her and who was planning on offering her and her child a home. When a tragedy happens, she has to learn how to be a mother quickly.

If you thought you knew about the issue of rural poverty in the US, you don’t until you read this. It will also show you hope,determination, despair and dignity, with a touch of Christian charity for good measure. Emmalee is a character for the ages.

very interesting about life and customs in the area - and shows how far society has come to help some of these poor teenagers. Liked the writing, and characters came to life. thank you

A beautiful, lyrical story of a young mother learning to love, of friendships born and lost. And most importantly, of strength.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The characters are well-drawn and believable. The story is heartening without being sappy. Highly recommended.