Crossing Over Jordan

Spanning from the post-Civil War era to the mid-21st century, this new novel by the author of Rainbow Roun Mah Shoulders follows four generations of African American women bound by convention, religion and abuse. Georgia McCloud, born a slave, lives to see her daughter Sadie wed to a man from a neighboring plantation, troubled preacher Jacob Temple. Their child, Story, witness and victim of her father's beatings and her mother's helplessness, works to escape the volatile household. Her plans are derailed when a brief, misguided marriage produces a daughter, Hermine. Unable to admit to motherhood, Story masquerades as Hermine's aunt and becomes a strict, unyielding guardian. Strong-willed Hermine and her mother test each other ceaselessly, developing in the process a grudging mutual respect as they pry confessions and surprising truths from each other. Brown creates an absorbing character in complex, imperfect Story, ``too much hurt to know love.'' Hermine is a strong foil, who becomes involved in the tumultuous events of recent history. Brown is less attentive to the development of her other characters, and her chronological shifts are initially confusing. However, readers who get past the somewhat tedious first third of the novel will be rewarded with this pair of extraordinarily vibrant characters. (Feb.)