Tena Clark | Southern Discomfort
Combining the spirit of poignant coming-of-age memoirs such as "The Glass Castle" and evocative Southern fiction like Fried Green Tomatoes, "Southern Discomfort" is about the people and places that shape who we are. Author Tena Clark will be in conversation with Susan V. Booth, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director at the Alliance Theatre. Clark will be signing copies of "Southern Discomfort" following the discussion.
About the Book
Tena Clark was born in 1953 in a tiny Mississippi town, where the legacy of slavery and racial injustice still permeated every aspect of life. On the outside, Tena’s childhood looked like a fairytale. Her father was one of the richest men in the state; her mother was a regal beauty. The family lived on a sprawling farm and had the only swimming pool in town; Tena was given her first car—a royal blue Camaro—at twelve. By the time she was three, her parents’ marriage had dissolved into a swamp of alcohol, rampant infidelity, and guns. Adding to the turmoil, Tena understood from a very young age that she was different from her three older sisters, all of whom had been beauty queens and majorettes. Tena knew she didn’t want to be a majorette—she wanted to marry one. On Tena’s tenth birthday, her mother, emboldened by alcoholism and enraged by her husband’s incessant cheating, walked out for good, instantly becoming an outcast in society. Tena was left in the care of her black nanny, Virgie, who became Tena’s surrogate mother and confidante—even though she was raising nine of her own children and was not allowed to eat from the family’s plates or use their bathroom. It was Virgie’s acceptance and unconditional love that gave Tena the courage to stand up to her domineering father, the faith to believe in her mother’s love, and the strength to be her true self.
A Cappella Books is the official bookseller for this event.
If you are unable to attend this event, you may still pre-order a signed copy below.
