Passing through Perfect: A Wyattsville Novel, Book 3

I just finished Passing through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby. It the third book in The Wyattsville Series. It is 1946 and Benjamin Church has just returned to Twin Pines from the war. He has returned to his father’s (Otis Church) farm (they are sharecroppers) to help him out. Since they live in Alabama, Benjamin believes he can have money producing crops all year round. While at a local dance, Benjamin meets Delia Finch. She is the pastor’s daughter. They immediately fall in love and wish to marry. Pastor Finch does not approve of Benjamin for his daughter. Pastor Finch is a college graduate and has made sure that his daughter had a private school education despite her color. Delia has had a good life and has been sheltered from the harshness of being a non-white in Alabama. When Delia turns up pregnant, her father calls her a bad name and throws her out of the house. Delia and Benjamin marry the next day. Delia sacrifices her family for her love. Life will not be easy for Delia, Benjamin, and Otis. When the worst happens, Benjamin will have to make a choice. A choice that will change life for Benjamin. Passing through Perfect is just a lovely novel to read. Passing through Perfect is well written and the novel flows beautifully. I liked the characters (except Delia’s father). It is interesting to see life from a different perspective and I was glad for the epilogue that wrapped up the novel nicely. I give Passing through Perfect 4.25 out of 5 stars. The only thing I did not enjoy was the periodic chapters told from the first person perspective of various characters. I did not always feel that the enhanced the story. While Passing through Perfect is the third book in the series, it can easily be read alone (though you will want to go back and read the other two novels). I received a complimentary copy of Passing through Perfect from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book from November 13 to 22, 2014. I have been reading a lot lately, thanks to baby not making me nearly as sick as she/he was doing. I have been thinking a lot about this book and the characters in it, analyzing them even after the book is done. The first thing I noticed about this novel was that it was written to tell a story and it was written in such a way that it took me a good while to realized that the main characters in the novel were black. I am no bigot myself, so some of the things that the main characters went through made me sick to my stomach. While I have no doubt that this is how it was back in the 1940-50’s, there were many times where I wanted to climb into the book and beat someone up. It made me sad to realized that this issue is still alive in some areas today, even if it is not nearly as bad as it was back then. I came to love Benjamin as a friend and he goes through so much that at times I may have pitied him, but I never lost my respect for him. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I felt a moment of remorse, it was over… and that was all that I got. Bette Lee Crosby is so amazing at writing stories that you really do get attached to the cha

I have read several of Bette's books and loved them all - but this one captivated and moved me so profoundly I am out of words. Beautiful characters, but still the presence of the horrible bigotry and segregation of the times and place. This is my all time Bette favorite and everyone should read it immediately if not before! I guarantee it will make you reflect and look at your own values and habits. A beautiful, beautiful story!