Hillary Jordan

Hillary Jordan is an American novelist best known for her debut novel "Mudbound" (2008) and her dystopian work "When She Woke" (2011). She holds degrees from Wellesley College and Columbia University's MFA program in Creative Writing. "Mudbound," which earned Jordan the 2006 Bellwether Prize for Fiction, explores racial tensions on a Mississippi Delta cotton farm in 1946. The novel received widespread recognition, including a 2009 Alex Award, and was adapted into an acclaimed film in 2017. Jordan's second novel, "When She Woke," reimagines Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" in a dystopian American setting where criminals are punished by having their skin genetically altered to match their crimes. More recently, she co-edited the anthology "Anonymous Sex" (2022) with Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan. Jordan grew up in Dallas and Muskogee, Oklahoma, and currently resides in Brooklyn. She continues to write and is working on a sequel to "Mudbound."

Readers connect strongly with Jordan's character development and historical authenticity in "Mudbound," while "When She Woke" draws attention for its contemporary social commentary. What readers liked: - Multiple narrators in "Mudbound" giving voice to different perspectives - Vivid descriptions of farm life and post-WW2 Mississippi - Tight pacing and building tension - Fresh take on "The Scarlet Letter" concept in "When She Woke" What readers disliked: - Some found "When She Woke" heavy-handed with its messaging - Parts of "Mudbound" called too predictable - Ending of "When She Woke" felt rushed to some readers Ratings across platforms: Mudbound - Goodreads: 4.2/5 (76,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,800+ reviews) When She Woke - Goodreads: 3.7/5 (24,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.0/5 (800+ reviews) "The characters felt so real I forgot I was reading fiction," notes one Goodreads reviewer of Mudbound. Another writes, "The dystopian elements overshadowed the story" in When She Woke.

Mudbound (2008) Six characters narrate the story of two families - one black, one white - whose lives intersect on a Mississippi Delta farm in the aftermath of World War II, exploring themes of racism, family duty, and the brutal realities of farm life.

When She Woke (2011) In a future American theocracy where criminals' skin is genetically altered to match their crimes, a woman convicted of abortion is turned bright red and must navigate a hostile world while confronting questions of faith, love, and personal identity.

Anonymous Sex (2022) - Co-editor An anthology collection of erotic short stories by established authors who kept their identities hidden from readers and each other.

Barbara Kingsolver Her works like "The Poisonwood Bible" deal with family dynamics and social issues in rural settings. She addresses themes of justice and prejudice through multiple narrative perspectives, similar to Jordan's approach in Mudbound.

Margaret Atwood Her dystopian novels examine gender politics and reproductive rights in oppressive societies. The themes in "The Handmaid's Tale" parallel Jordan's exploration of gender and punishment in "When She Woke."

Sue Monk Kidd Her novel "The Secret Life of Bees" examines racial relations in the American South during the 1960s. She focuses on female characters navigating social barriers and prejudice, following similar thematic territory as Jordan.

Octavia Butler Her science fiction works tackle issues of race, gender, and power structures in transformed societies. Her novel "Kindred" combines historical elements with speculative fiction, bridging genres like Jordan does in her work.

Jesmyn Ward Her novels set in Mississippi explore racial dynamics and family relationships in the American South. Her work "Salvage the Bones" examines similar themes of poverty and survival that appear in Jordan's "Mudbound."