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Yours, Jean
“When she refused me,” Charlie says at his trial. “Well, I had that gun. What else was I to do?”
Lawrenceville, Illinois, 1952: Jean De Belle, the new high school librarian, is eager to begin the next phase of her young life after breaking off her engagement to Charlie Camplain. She has no way of knowing that in a few short hours, Charlie will arrive at the school, intent on convincing her to take back his ring.
What happens next will reverberate through the lives of everyone who crossed paths with Charlie and Jean: the hotel clerk who called him a cab, the high school boy who became his getaway driver, and the English teacher who was Jean’s landlady, her confidant, and perhaps more.
Based on a true crime and ideal for readers of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and Elizabeth Strout’s beloved Anything Is Possible, Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin's Yours, Jean is a powerful novel about small town manners and the loneliness that drives people to do things they never imagined.
Lawrenceville, Illinois, 1952: Jean De Belle, the new high school librarian, is eager to begin the next phase of her young life after breaking off her engagement to Charlie Camplain. She has no way of knowing that in a few short hours, Charlie will arrive at the school, intent on convincing her to take back his ring.
What happens next will reverberate through the lives of everyone who crossed paths with Charlie and Jean: the hotel clerk who called him a cab, the high school boy who became his getaway driver, and the English teacher who was Jean’s landlady, her confidant, and perhaps more.
Based on a true crime and ideal for readers of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers and Elizabeth Strout’s beloved Anything Is Possible, Pulitzer Prize finalist Lee Martin's Yours, Jean is a powerful novel about small town manners and the loneliness that drives people to do things they never imagined.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2020
About the author
Lee Martin
12 books130 followersLee Martin is the author of the novels, The Bright Forever, a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction; River of Heaven; Quakertown; Break the Skin; Yours, Jean; The Glassmaker's Wife; and the soon-to-be-released, The Evening Shades. He has also published four memoirs, From Our House, Turning Bones, Such a Life, and Gone the Hard Road. His first book was the short story collection, The Least You Need To Know, and he recently published another, The Mutual UFO Netwlrk. He is the co-editor of Passing the Word: Writers on Their Mentors. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in such places as Harper's, Ms., Creative Nonfiction, The Georgia Review, The Kenyon Review, Fourth Genre, River Teeth, The Southern Review, Prairie Schooner, and Glimmer Train. He is the winner of the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council. He teaches in the MFA Program at The Ohio State University, where he was the winner of the 2006 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 24, 2020
It is 1952 and Jean De Belle has broken off her engagement to Charlie, due to his erratic temper and excessive drinking. She is excited though, she has been hired by a high school in a small town in Illinois. But it is not to be as Charlie catches up to her, and shoots her when she will not take back his ring. This is based on a true case, and though a crime is committed the focus is on how violence and rumors change those in the path of this violence.
The atmosphere feels right, the judgemental people who gossip and those who play up their part in this tragic event. Ten minutes of fame. Life does go on and some people discover strengths they didn't know they had. Some gossip and this gossip costs one woman her livlhood. It's about change and the long reach of violence. About small town mores and teenagers who are involved in a complicated mess. Everyone must find a new path, forced to reevaluate their lives after this event.
Well written, with an important message, but also slowly paced. Worth reading and many have rated this higher.
The atmosphere feels right, the judgemental people who gossip and those who play up their part in this tragic event. Ten minutes of fame. Life does go on and some people discover strengths they didn't know they had. Some gossip and this gossip costs one woman her livlhood. It's about change and the long reach of violence. About small town mores and teenagers who are involved in a complicated mess. Everyone must find a new path, forced to reevaluate their lives after this event.
Well written, with an important message, but also slowly paced. Worth reading and many have rated this higher.
May 5, 2021
This was a well-written story with a relatively straightforward plot. It takes place in the 50s in the midwest. The consequences of Jean LaBelle's decision to break up with Charlie rebound across both the town she was from and the one she moved to for her first job as a school librarian. We see the drama unfold through the eyes of around 10 protagonists whose lives are impacted and we touch on social issues such as abortion and homosexuality.
I was not overly impressed by the book. It was a good read and relatively fast-paced, but it was a story that could have been written by Sinclair Lewis or Booth Tarkington and I didn't feel that the author had a unique voice like, say, Anne Tyler.
I was not overly impressed by the book. It was a good read and relatively fast-paced, but it was a story that could have been written by Sinclair Lewis or Booth Tarkington and I didn't feel that the author had a unique voice like, say, Anne Tyler.
January 7, 2020
Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
Loosely inspired by the real-life murder of Mildred Georgine Lyon, Lee Martin’s Yours, Jean is a thought-provoking story of intersecting lives.
Yours, Jean explores intimate human relationships, the bittersweet realities of familial loyalty, and the values we cling to when tested by situation and circumstance. Through a lens of small-town prejudice and troubled souls, Martin tasks his readers to understand flawed characters and the layered emotions of loneliness, pride, and love.
My favorite aspect of this piece is Martin’s writing. Fast-paced and fluid, the story is a true page-turner. That said, I’m a genre reader and while I appreciated the light historical notes of the narrative, I think the book more literary than initial marketing would have readers believe.
Engaging and provocative, I’d recommend Yours, Jean to fans of As I Lay Dying and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Loosely inspired by the real-life murder of Mildred Georgine Lyon, Lee Martin’s Yours, Jean is a thought-provoking story of intersecting lives.
Yours, Jean explores intimate human relationships, the bittersweet realities of familial loyalty, and the values we cling to when tested by situation and circumstance. Through a lens of small-town prejudice and troubled souls, Martin tasks his readers to understand flawed characters and the layered emotions of loneliness, pride, and love.
My favorite aspect of this piece is Martin’s writing. Fast-paced and fluid, the story is a true page-turner. That said, I’m a genre reader and while I appreciated the light historical notes of the narrative, I think the book more literary than initial marketing would have readers believe.
Engaging and provocative, I’d recommend Yours, Jean to fans of As I Lay Dying and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
January 19, 2020
Martin has the ability to make you forget the outside world and fully immerse yourself in the worlds of his characters. A murder may be at the center of this new novel, but it’s the fractious lives of the characters still alive that bring this story to life.
November 13, 2020
Jean De Belle has arrived in the small town of Lawrenceville, Illinois, to begin her new life as a high school teacher. She recently broke off her engagement to Charlie Camplain due to his excessive drinking and anger management issues, and holds high hopes for this new phase of her life. Unfortunately, Charlie has other ideas and follows her to Lawrenceville, where he confronts her on the first day of school and demands she reunite with him. When she refuses, he shoots her.
This is based on a true crime story and my guess is that these general events are based on the facts. The rest of the story I’m assuming is fictional, but it is just as compelling as the actual crime. There’s a lot going on in this little town on September 3rd, 1951: a teenage pregnancy; a female English teacher who perhaps has fallen in love with Jean; a cab driver who has to decide whether or not to follow his religious beliefs or save face in the community; a bachelor who wants to spend the rest of his life with a woman who might belong to someone else. All these characters have a lot going on in their lives, and then on top of it all they all become connected with Charlie on that fateful day and their encounters will impact the direction of their lives.
Lee Martin sets the tone beautifully as we watch the events unfold under the watchful eye of a small-town community that’s set in its ways. All the secrets and tangled connections slowly unwind after Jean’s death, and Martin gives us a front row seat into all the characters’ lives. Beautifully written.
This is based on a true crime story and my guess is that these general events are based on the facts. The rest of the story I’m assuming is fictional, but it is just as compelling as the actual crime. There’s a lot going on in this little town on September 3rd, 1951: a teenage pregnancy; a female English teacher who perhaps has fallen in love with Jean; a cab driver who has to decide whether or not to follow his religious beliefs or save face in the community; a bachelor who wants to spend the rest of his life with a woman who might belong to someone else. All these characters have a lot going on in their lives, and then on top of it all they all become connected with Charlie on that fateful day and their encounters will impact the direction of their lives.
Lee Martin sets the tone beautifully as we watch the events unfold under the watchful eye of a small-town community that’s set in its ways. All the secrets and tangled connections slowly unwind after Jean’s death, and Martin gives us a front row seat into all the characters’ lives. Beautifully written.
June 3, 2020
Outstanding!
Lee Martin has created a story that captures the moment between breaths. His gorgeous, simple writing, his ability to paint an intimate portrait with so few words, leaves me in awe.
Lee Martin has created a story that captures the moment between breaths. His gorgeous, simple writing, his ability to paint an intimate portrait with so few words, leaves me in awe.
September 8, 2020
I stumbled across this book through sheer serendipity. It appeared as a "staff recommendation" in an email I received from an independent bookstore. (Thanks, Interabang!) The novel is set in the county where my grandparents grew up – how could I pass it up?
Author Lee Martin starts with a true crime – the murder of a teacher on her first day – and spools his tale outward from there. We meet the victim, yes, and the killer. But we also glimpse the life of her landlady, teens at the school, the cabbie who took the killer there... It's a masterful portrait of small-town life with all of its secrets and tangled loyalties.
Highly recommended.
Author Lee Martin starts with a true crime – the murder of a teacher on her first day – and spools his tale outward from there. We meet the victim, yes, and the killer. But we also glimpse the life of her landlady, teens at the school, the cabbie who took the killer there... It's a masterful portrait of small-town life with all of its secrets and tangled loyalties.
Highly recommended.
February 19, 2021
Slowly, page by page, Lee Martin unfurls this leisurely murder / romance mimicking the pace of a 1950s mystery where setting the stage is as important if not more important than the crime. The story spins out from the beginning, hinting loudly the upcoming murder in the first half of the book (page 86 out of 236) and then describing the ramifications and repercussions of Jean’s death in the last half. As each character is introduced, their memories of where they were and how they perceived or interacted with the killer, Charles, is revealed. Yawn.
Feelings, innuendo, and reactions are described cautiously, as Jean’s murder nestles itself firmly in the reader’s mind. Throughout it all, the story is told in the past tense by an omniscient narrator. Nothing is hidden from the reader, not the motivation of the killer nor the reactions of the residents of Louisville. Each character is affected by the murder, each is haunted by the events of the day, just as each character is interconnected to the others.
Lee Martin, a prof in an MFA program, uses his craft to construct this piece of fiction. He's definitely playing with words, style, and more. Unfortunately, the writing style failed to engage me as I struggled to finish the book, which I did.
For a longer review see the Ohioana Library Association http://www.ohioana.org
Feelings, innuendo, and reactions are described cautiously, as Jean’s murder nestles itself firmly in the reader’s mind. Throughout it all, the story is told in the past tense by an omniscient narrator. Nothing is hidden from the reader, not the motivation of the killer nor the reactions of the residents of Louisville. Each character is affected by the murder, each is haunted by the events of the day, just as each character is interconnected to the others.
Lee Martin, a prof in an MFA program, uses his craft to construct this piece of fiction. He's definitely playing with words, style, and more. Unfortunately, the writing style failed to engage me as I struggled to finish the book, which I did.
For a longer review see the Ohioana Library Association http://www.ohioana.org
February 25, 2020
What happened one day in Lawrenceville, Illinois, 1952, traumatized and affected the lives of everyone who came across Charlie and Jean. Jean was a new high school librarian who was nervous but prepared on her first day of school. More importantly, her first day without Charlie. Jean used to be engaged with Charlie, well, until she ended it. Jean knows that it was the right decision. Why? Charlie's temper and his drinking problems led her to a destructive, love/hate relationship. Of course, after she broke free, she still had to endure countless phone calls from Charlie and deal with him stalking her around town. You can say, folks, letting go is the moral here. Anyhow, Jean's parents find out and her father threatens Charlie to stop and stop Charlie did. Hey, Jean thought he did! But, your past can get to you somewhere, somehow.
So, Charlie arrives at the school, following Jean around. It is obvious that he wants Jean to be his again and he even begs her to wear the ring. Jean, frightened, surprised, and definitely annoyed, says no. After wasting what could have been, Jean has learned to never offer Charlie a second chance, that was her promise. Charlie gets angry and shoots her. This, in turn, undergoes a series of changes for all the characters. Who's more heavily impacted? It depends on what you think, to be honest.
Moving on, I especially enjoyed the realistic depictions of each and every character. As for the plot, it was very detailed and complex. You can tell how Martin put in long hours for this novel. When a character resolves a problem, you want to salute them for their possible solution. And if a character is down, you want to encourage them. Basically, I was cheering each character to the finish line!
Mary Ellen was my favorite character. She was Jean's landlady and she was Jean's friend. I loved her determination because of the way she fought for justice. Even when she was faced at the trial, she was willing to speak up for herself and Jean. Her fate was decided in the end (no kidding), but instead of moving away and keeping to herself, she forced people to look her in the eye and went about town as she normally would. This shows how she isn't ashamed of her relationship with Jean nor the fact that she'll probably be the rumor of the neighborhood. Tough situations don't weaken Mary Ellen!
I was also inspired by Robbie and her kindness. Instead of moping around with jealousy, she tried to actually help with Millie's family crisis. All in all, a lot of strong emotions when reading this book. Personally, I think that's a good thing! Martin's work of art portray's powerful messages and real, delicate characters. I would highly recommend that you check this book out, it's a great read. Thank you to Michelle Dotter and the rest of the team at Dzanc Books for offering me an ARC. Be sure to check out the YouTube video of my book review and I'll see you all next time! Bye!
So, Charlie arrives at the school, following Jean around. It is obvious that he wants Jean to be his again and he even begs her to wear the ring. Jean, frightened, surprised, and definitely annoyed, says no. After wasting what could have been, Jean has learned to never offer Charlie a second chance, that was her promise. Charlie gets angry and shoots her. This, in turn, undergoes a series of changes for all the characters. Who's more heavily impacted? It depends on what you think, to be honest.
Moving on, I especially enjoyed the realistic depictions of each and every character. As for the plot, it was very detailed and complex. You can tell how Martin put in long hours for this novel. When a character resolves a problem, you want to salute them for their possible solution. And if a character is down, you want to encourage them. Basically, I was cheering each character to the finish line!
Mary Ellen was my favorite character. She was Jean's landlady and she was Jean's friend. I loved her determination because of the way she fought for justice. Even when she was faced at the trial, she was willing to speak up for herself and Jean. Her fate was decided in the end (no kidding), but instead of moving away and keeping to herself, she forced people to look her in the eye and went about town as she normally would. This shows how she isn't ashamed of her relationship with Jean nor the fact that she'll probably be the rumor of the neighborhood. Tough situations don't weaken Mary Ellen!
I was also inspired by Robbie and her kindness. Instead of moping around with jealousy, she tried to actually help with Millie's family crisis. All in all, a lot of strong emotions when reading this book. Personally, I think that's a good thing! Martin's work of art portray's powerful messages and real, delicate characters. I would highly recommend that you check this book out, it's a great read. Thank you to Michelle Dotter and the rest of the team at Dzanc Books for offering me an ARC. Be sure to check out the YouTube video of my book review and I'll see you all next time! Bye!
June 20, 2020
Lee Martin is one of my favorite writers and in his latest book, he takes readers back to a seemingly innocent time and place: 1952 in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Even here, trouble brews. There's a murder. There are rumors. There's an unexpected pregnancy of a high school girl--the father engaged to someone else. Martin rotates points of view, taking readers inside the heart of each character, enabling us not only to see from different points of view, but how each decision impacts someone else in the community. This book is not just a thoughtful study of human nature, but a real page-turner, particularly in the way Lee sets up multiple story threads.
Martin tells this story with compassion and insight. I've read some great books this year, but this is one of the best.
Martin tells this story with compassion and insight. I've read some great books this year, but this is one of the best.
May 22, 2020
Charlie stalked Jean and then he shot her. Based on the true story of Mildred Georgine Lyon and set in 1952, this tautly written literary novel explores what happens when things went upside down in a small town. Jean thought she was safe- her father threatened Charlie, she moved and took a job as a librarian, and rebuilt her life. But, she wasn't. While Charlie and Jean are the main characters, it's the others in town I found most well done. Each of them carries a burden as a result. Smith made the town of Lawrenceville feel real as well. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. I hope this gets the readership it deserves.
July 7, 2020
I was so disappointed in this book. It is a book club read for a local library. I have no idea who recommended the book. I am fairly certain none of them read it yet. The premise of the book is interesting, a young librarian is shot by her estranged fiancé and it tells the story of the effects in those left behind. But, the character development is weak. It is a juvenile style of writing. Also, one character is name Grinny, because he grins a lot. The author has won awards for prior writing and perhaps this is just a slip. But I would not recommend this book to anyone. I almost rated it one star.
May 4, 2022
I must admit that I am a fan of Lee Martin: I love the sentence-level beauty of his prose, his expert plotting, and stand in awe of his gift as a storyteller. "Yours, Jean" is a fine example of Lee's masterful and powerful ability to upend reader's expectations by crafting a story that begins with a murder-- that turns out to be, in some ways, a footnote to the way that tragic event upends the extraordinary lives of ordinary people left struggling in its wake. This is a great read, one that kept me turning the pages (and returning to some lovely lines, descriptions, and narrative framing.)
March 13, 2023
This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. This book was written about my mother's hometown and she was living there during this era. I only wish she were here to talk about it. I loved it. I really enjoyed reading about places I've heard her talk about. She was a telephone operator during that time so she knew the scoop! (book idea?) LOL........Can't wait to start my next book by Lee Martin. It is inspiring to me to continue writing. Easy read but thoroughly enjoyable.
December 20, 2021
Set in the 1950s yet so many topics apply to today. Rich with diverse controversy- relationships between teenagers, parents, lovers, married couples, co-workers, strangers, and more. Martin cleverly weaves it all together keeping me entertained all the while. I recommend to anyone looking for a good fiction read.
June 17, 2020
YOURS, JEAN is a mesmerizing novel based on a true crime story. Martin deftly weaves multiple character point of views with his typical beautiful prose, and subtly explores deeper themes at work, like love, loss, and rejection. Highly enjoyed this one.
May 31, 2020
Thought-provoking, community drama. Reaching into the foibles and weaknesses of individuals in a small, too familiar society. Will make you mad, sad, and glad.
June 14, 2020
This is a good book for a light, easy read. I felt the character development was lacking and the conclusion was rushed. Although, the premise I found interesting.
August 11, 2020
Lee Martin does it again!
This author just keeps getting better with each book he writes. He has such a way of drawing the reader in with familiar places and memories.
This author just keeps getting better with each book he writes. He has such a way of drawing the reader in with familiar places and memories.
Read
September 21, 2020DNF
January 12, 2024
Another book set in area where I was born
Loved it. It was recommended to me by a cousin
Loved it. It was recommended to me by a cousin
August 24, 2020
So quietly graceful and wispy that the reader might forget that the base of this novel is a gruesome murder. It reminded this reader that when a certain savagery is fed through a prism by a writer of Lee Martin's talent, refracting light always turns into magic.
June 16, 2020
Another great job Lee.! Having knowledge of the true life story did not interfere with enjoying your story and the characters you created. I do wonder why you changed the sentence Charlie received at his trial. Very enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews