Bark of the Dogwood

Bark of the Dogwood: A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens
by Jackson Tippett McCrae

4 of 5 stars

I loved the beginning of this book as much as any book I’ve ever read: A man remembering himself as a young boy, treating in the worst possible way the one who loved him most ; the victim doing nothing, allowing the boy to remember and regret that moment forever--and teaching him a lesson. That moment sets the tone for Bark of the Dogwood.

McCrae tells the story of an eccentric boy, Strekfus, growing up in the South with some messed up parents and a wonderful housekeeper, and creates some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. That boy grows up to be a writer for a magazine that allows him to explore the events of his childhood and family history that had the most impact on him, many of them -- not so funny. Bark of the Dogwood is really two stories that could be read independently. One story (told as a series of magazine articles) takes place in the past, the other in the present, each told in distinctly different styles.

At times, it feels like a story about child abuse and neglect, but, for me, in the end it was a story about a very strong, loving woman who took great risks to protect and care for someone she loved.

One caveat: Bark contains one of the most graphic and disturbing scenes of infanticide that could ever be described. I would even rank it above the Dead-Baby Tree in Blood Meridian. McCrae goes too far.

If you liked Behind the Scenes at the Museum, you will probably like this book. My recommendation: Read this book while wearing your mother’s evening gown and high heels and standing on a stool in the kitchen.