The book Poke Greens For Breakfast?
is a collection of memories of a woman who grew up in rural Arkansas in the early 1900s. It is an excellent antidote for those who might overly romanticizing of that kind of life. The author, Walta Sorrels Jennings, belonged to a privileged class. Her step-father owned land, cattle and businesses. He hired people. And life was still a relentless, physical grind. Step-mothers and step-fathers were the norm due to high mortality rates. Some girls married at age 13. (The reason given was that they had “kissed”, but likely that was code for intimate relations.)
The title comes from when her step-father buys the milch cow from a down-on-their luck family. He was invited to stay the night due to the late hour and the terrible roads. Breakfast was a smidgen of cornbread, poke greens, and some black coffee.
The writing is not fabulous. It has continuity breaks and you will read some of the same information in two or three places. But the information is riveting. – Joe H.
