The Day's Heat

Set in the early sixties against the backdrop of impending national integration, the novel followsLee James, a dark-skinned, Catholic, Lebanese girl who comes to a small south Georgia town. Leehas already seen the partiality shown her younger, fairer sister Ray, and experienced prejudice evenin the Catholic church that she dutifully attends with her two daughters, who both have their father'sblonde hair and blue eyes. She must confront the prejudices of her husband's family and thecommunity toward her nationality and religion, at a time when there were no birth control pills, nointernet, no cell phones, and when a woman's place was in the home. Lee struggles with her owngrowth as a wife, mother, and an individual in an unfavourable place and time.