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Showing posts with label Southern Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Novels. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2021
Historical Southern Novel Is Absorbing, Atmospheric, and Assured
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Until 16-year-old Ada Morgan ran away with her boyfriend, she had never known true freedom. The last thing she wants to do now is return home to the squalor of her stilt house on the swamp. She knows her father—a coarse and cruel trapper—will be thrilled to have her back. Not only will he have someone to wait on him again, but he will also delight in punishing her for leaving him. If she had any other option, she would never return to him. With nowhere else to go, she has no choice but to go back to Mississippi, back to the Trace, back to her father.
Matilda Patterson is also anxious to leave her home on the Natchez Trace. The Black teen is the daughter of poor sharecroppers who eke out a meager living in a place that will never allow them to get ahead. With local bootleggers making things even more difficult for the family, Matilda's ready to take her secrets and run. A more promising future awaits her in the north; she just has to make it there.
When their lives converge one fateful night, Ada and Matilda are shocked to find themselves partners in crime. Literally. Their tenuous bond is the only thing keeping both of them safe, but it's a tenuous sisterhood that could break at any moment. As their linked past becomes more apparent, the two begin to realize just how much danger they're really in. When more trouble comes calling, it's up to them to protect themselves and each other against deadly odds.
It's no secret that I love me an absorbing historical story, the more atmospheric the better. The Girls in the Stilt House, a debut novel by Kelly Mustian, ticks all these boxes. Its vivid, visceral setting is a character in its own right, exhibiting all the beauty, danger, and contradiction inherent in every human. As untamed as the swampland surrounding them, our heroines are sympathetic because of their impoverished, hardscrabble lives. What makes them admirable is the fiery grit that burns deep inside them, giving them strength, courage, and the will to keep fighting. Plot-wise, this is a slow-burning tale. While this device takes a little patience, it also ensures that by the time the story's action really amps up, the reader cares deeply about what's going to happen and to whom. Although it's not a happy, all-tied-up-with-a-bow story, The Girls in the Stilt House is compelling, moving, and beautifully written. I loved this assured debut.
(Readalikes: The Girls in the Stilt House reminds me a bit of Emily Carpenter's novels. I've also seen it compared to Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Girls in the Stilt House from the generous folks at Sourcebooks via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, December 07, 2020
Southern Horror Novel Unique and Fun
Feeling bored with her mundane life and inconsequential to those who share it, stay-at-home mom Patricia Campbell turns to true crime books for excitement. Although she gathers with a group of like-minded women to discuss the tomes, their book club is about more than just reading. It's a refuge for Patty and her pals, a place for commiseration and camaraderie, friendship and support.
When a handsome newcomer arrives in the neighborhood, Patty's friends are immediately atwitter. James Harris awakens long-dormant feelings in Patty, too, but she's wary. Something about the man is not right. He's cagey about his past, strangely allergic to sunlight, and has a weird magnetism that is almost ... supernatural. Then there are all the odd occurrences in the neighborhood that just happen to coincide with James' arrival. No one else seems alarmed, but Patty is convinced James is a vampire. Now, she has to prove it to her friends and get their help expelling the creature. So what if they all think she's crazy? Patty has to protect her neighborhood from the evil that's stalking it. Can she stop the charming bloodsucker before he destroys everything—and everyone—she loves?
Based on the title and plot summary, I expected The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix to be a funny, light-hearted read. And it is in some ways. It's also deeper than it appears, with some very astute commentary about motherhood, female friendships, sexism, and gender roles. Although my experiences with men and community politics don't really align with those of Patty and her friends, I still related strongly to the women at the center of this novel. Hendrix brought them to life for me, making me care about what happened to them. I was so invested, in fact, that I burned through The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires in one day. And it's not a slim novel! The slow-burn story, which is more psychological thriller than horror fest (although there's plenty of gore), is engrossing and compelling. It definitely kept me riveted to the page. While the book wasn't exactly what I expected it to be, I ended up really enjoying it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another fine find
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
"Windy" Murder Mystery Gets a "Meh" From Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A Bataan death march survivor, 43-year-old Pete Banning has been home in Clanton, Mississippi for a year. As a war hero, a cotton farm owner, a husband, a father, and a quiet, serious man, he's respected among the townsfolk. It comes as a complete surprise, then, when Pete walks calmly into the Clanton Methodist Church and shoots Dexter Bell, its popular pastor. When asked why he murdered the 39-year-old minister, Pete simply replies, "I have nothing to say." Everyone is baffled by the crime, which has them all asking, "What makes one good man kill another good man?"
This simple, but intriguing premise is at the heart of John Grisham's 2018 novel, The Reckoning. The story recalls Pete's life and military service, all en route to explaining his role in Dexter's death. Although the novel rambles on for far too many pages, its compelling premise kept me reading. In spite of the wordiness (or "windiness" as Grisham likes to say), I definitely wanted to know why Pete did what he did. I can't say I felt a lot of attachment to the characters in this one, though. Nor did I find its finale satisfying. Overall, The Reckoning is a sad, depressing read that's well-written, but boring and not very memorable or enjoyable. My conclusion? Meh.
(Readalikes: the war chapters reminded me of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand)
Grade:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Beloved Author's Final Novel Not Up to Par
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Over the last fifteen years, four women have made it an annual tradition to gather at the beach for a week of R&R. Dubbing themselves "The Girls of August," they have bonded over everything—from the woes of being doctors' wives to the trials of motherhood (and infertility) to the pains of aging. When one of the women dies tragically, the group starts to drift apart, halting their cherished girls' weekends for years. Then, the dead woman's widower remarries and his young bride insists on resurrecting the tradition in an attempt to become a "Girl" herself. Reluctantly, the group gathers at a remote South Carolina island for a week's vacation. Along with their beach umbrellas and bathing suits, the women have brought secrets, desperation, grief, and anger—ingredients that will make for a dramatic and unforgettable Girls of August reunion.
I've read and enjoyed a fair number of Anne Rivers Siddons books over the years and it makes me a little sad that the author will never write another (she died in 2019 at 83 years old). So, when I saw Siddons' most recent book, The Girls of August (2014), in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble, I snatched it up. Written when she was in her 70s, the tale is definitely not on par with those she penned in her earlier years. Still, the novel bears evidence of Siddons' trademark warmth and wit. The "Girls" are a likable lot, even if they're not fleshed out enough to feel like real people. As far as plot goes, there's not much here, which makes the book a little dull. In the past, I've found Siddons' novels sumptuous and immersive—this one isn't that way, although it worked for an easy, breezy summer read. Although there's nothing memorable or outstanding about it, The Girls of August is an okay novel. Far from Siddon's best, it is, sadly, her last.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language and violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Girls of August from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, October 03, 2019
Historical Gentrification Novel Intimate and Poignant
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
To outsiders, it may look like a grungy, aging slum. To others, Brooklyn—a mostly Black community in Charlotte, North Carolina—is a vibrant, colorful neighborhood full of good folks, long-time residents whose families have lived, loved and died in the close-knit area. When the city decides to raze Brooklyn, the community erupts. Despite promises of new housing and the relocation of businesses, local families know nothing will ever be the same for them. It may have its problems, but Brooklyn is their home. Losing it will change their lives irrevocably.
Tomorrow's Bread by Anna Jean Mayhew is told from three viewpoints—that of Loraylee Hawkins, a single mom who must keep her relationship with her child's white father a secret; Ebenezer Polk, the aging reverend of Brooklyn's St. Timothy's Second Presbyterian Church; and Persy Marshall, the sympathetic wife of one of the white men in charge of "redeveloping" the community. Through their eyes, the reader comes to know Brooklyn in all its variety and its people in all their complexity. With this intimate knowledge, the reader really feels the tragedy of the neighborhood's demise. Based on real events, the story brings the conflicts and controversy surrounding gentrification to life. That's the beauty of Tomorrow's Bread. The novel doesn't have much of a plot and the storyline it does have is at times disjointed, confusing, and slow, making the read a bit of a slog. In the end, then, I liked this one but didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, mild sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, April 15, 2019
Atmospheric, Affecting YA Novel Teaches Powerful Lessons About Fitting In and Standing Out
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Atlanta, Georgia, feels as foreign as the moon for Upper East Side native Ruth Robb. At first, the 16-year-old can't help comparing everything about her new home to New York City, where her family was complete and happy. Living in her grandparents' guesthouse in the sweltering South sans her beloved father, whose sudden death has left her numb with grief, will never feel right. Still, Ruth finds that she desperately wants to fit in with the "pastel posse," a group of wealthy debutantes whose lives revolve around weekly etiquette lessons, shopping for the perfect tea dress, and vying for the honor of being crowned Magnolia Queen. Ruth's mother and older sister eschew such frivolous frippery; is it so wrong that Ruth longs for that life with every beat of her shallow little heart?
It's 1958 and one thing stands in the way of Ruth "passing" as a member of this exclusive club—she's Jewish. Keeping her secret under wraps becomes more and more difficult as Ruth's eyes are slowly opened to the ugliness that lurks beneath the pastel posse's genteel veneer, a snake in the magnolia bushes that mirrors the tension simmering all over the South. With increasing demonstrations of discrimination, hate, and violence against Negroes, Jews, and other minorities happening all around her, Ruth finds herself caught between two worlds. When push comes to shove, which one will she choose?
In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton is an atmospheric, affecting YA novel that teaches some effective lessons about the dangers of conformity, the necessity of compassion, and the power of crusading for what is right. With plenty of fascinating historical details, the setting comes to vivid life, helping the reader really feel the tension, hypocrisy, and confusion reigning in Ruth's world. The characters are complex, the plot engaging, and the prose skilled. I whipped through this engrossing novel in a matter of hours, eager to know what was going to happen next. Not only is the story absorbing, but it's also relevant and thought-provoking. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: No specific titles are coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, depictions of underage drinking, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of In the Neighborhood of True from the generous folks at Algonquin Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Quirky and Compelling, Jackson's Novels Are Always Winners in My Book
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Despite my tendency to overwrite and overshare when I craft them, I generally like to write my own plot summaries for the books I review. In some instances, however, the professional version is done so well that I don't even bother. Case in point: Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson. This says everything you need to know about the novel in one succinct, but intriguing paragraph:
Nonny Frett understands the meaning of the phrase "in
between a rock and a hard place" better than any woman
alive. She's got two mothers, "one deaf-blind and the
other four baby steps from flat crazy." She's got two
men: a husband who's easing out the back door; and a
best friend, who's laying siege to her heart in her front
yard. And she has two families: the Fretts, who stole her
and raised her right; and the Crabtrees, who won't forget
how they were done wrong. Now, in Between,
Georgia, a feud that began the night Nonny was born
is escalating and threatening to expose family secrets.
Ironically, it might be just what the town needs...if only
Nonny weren't stuck in between.
I've enjoyed every book I've read by Jackson and Between, Georgia is no exception. It tells a poignant story, but one that's filled with humor, heart, and hope. Like Jackson's other novels, this one is filled with unique, interesting characters doing unique, interesting things in a quirky, atmospheric Southern town. The plot skips along at a steady pace, making Between, Georgia a hard-to-put down saga. In traditional Jackson style, this story hits on themes like identity, tradition vs. new ideas, and the true meaning of home and family. Although this one isn't my favorite of Jackson's (that would be The Almost Sisters), I really enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Joshilyn Jackson, including Someone Else's Love Story; A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty; and The Almost Sisters. Although sassier, Jackson's novels also remind me of those by Karen White and Anne Rivers Siddons)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Between, Georgia with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, June 15, 2018
Newest Karen White Novel As Atmospheric and Warm-Hearted as the Rest
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After being humiliated as an 18-year-old, Larkin Lanier fled her Lowcountry home for New York City, vowing never to look back. Although the women who raised her have kept in touch, their pleas for her return have fallen on deaf ears. When Larkin receives news that her mother—a free-spirited painter—has gone missing, however, she knows it's time to go back to Georgetown, South Carolina. At 27, Larkin is a slim, successful businesswoman, not the awkward, overlooked girl she once was, but she's still leery about returning. She'll stay in the South only long enough to do what needs to be done, then return as soon as possible to her lonely life in the Big Apple.
When Ivy Lanier is found in the ruins of her family's burned-out plantation home, injured and unconscious, Larkin fears the worst for her mother. As she lingers in the hospital, unresponsive, Larkin can't help but wonder what the older woman was doing at Carrowmore. Ivy seemed to have been looking for something, but what could she possibly need from the crumbling shell of her former home? When Larkin questions Ceecee—the 77-year-old woman who raised both Ivy and Larkin—the old lady acts cagey and suspicious. What is Ceecee keeping from her? Ivy was trying to tell Larkin something before her accident, something about the past. Only Ceecee and Bitty, her grandmother's childhood friends, know the truth and it just might be the truth that finally sets Ivy free. Desperate to wake her mother up, Larkin will stop at nothing until she uncovers the truth about a trio of friends and the secrets that have bound them together for the last fifty years.
I'm always up for a Southern family secrets novel and no one defines the genre quite like Karen White. Although I like some of her books more than others, I appreciate her atmospheric, warm-hearted stories, and always look forward to a new one. Dreams of Falling takes place in a typical Lowcountry setting populated by quirky folk who value family, friendship, and foiling nosy attempts to sniff out the skeletons in their closets. The tale oscillates between narrators and time periods, which makes both the plot and the cast a bit confusing at times. While I loved Ceecee, Bitty, and some of the other fringe characters, the three women at the novel's core didn't appeal to me at all. The Darlingtons (Margaret, Ivy, and Larkin) are a selfish, fickle, unlikable lot, which made it tough for me to care what happened to them. Despite my reservations, though, I found Dreams of Falling compelling and, overall, enjoyable. It's not my favorite of White's many novels, but it definitely kept me reading.
(Readalikes: other novels by Karen White as well as those by Dorothea Benton Frank, Joshilyn Jackson, and Anne Rivers Siddons)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, innuendo, and (non-graphic) references to sex and prostitution
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Dreams of Falling from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, May 21, 2018
Flight Patterns Another Compelling Southern Family Saga From An Old Favorite
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
After fleeing the small tourist town of her birth ten years ago, Georgia Chambers swore she'd never return to Apalachicola, Florida. The 35-year-old has made a life for herself as an antiques expert in New Orleans, where no one knows about her wild child youth or the estranged family members she left behind. Her past comes calling, though, when a customer brings Georgia an heirloom teacup with a unique pattern she knows she's seen before. Although the bee motif doesn't appear in any antiques catalogs, Georgia recognizes it instantly—her mother owns a matching piece. The item has always been shrouded in mystery and suddenly, Georgia is intent on finding out why. Since "Birdie" no longer speaks, Georgia can't exactly call her mother up on the phone. As much as she hates to admit it, a trip to Florida is the only way she can get the answers she needs.
To Georgia's surprise, her client—a handsome New York City real estate developer named James Graf—insists on coming along to investigate the history of his teacup. Irritated, Georgia vows to make the road trip as quick as possible. Of course, fate has other plans.
As Georgia hunts for her mother's missing piece of china, she unintentionally uncovers a dark secret from her family's past. Although she's warned to leave well enough alone, Georgia won't stop until she gets the answers she seeks, even if it means shattering her mother's fragile psyche and breaking the already-frail bonds that still tie her to her family. When the shocking truth finally comes to light, Georgia will have to decide what to do with the newfound knowledge that could forever change everything, for all of them.
I've long been a fan of Karen White's Southern novels, but some of them definitely appeal more than others. Although it is compelling, Flight Patterns falls into the latter camp. Since I know nothing about beekeeping or antique china, I found those aspects of the story intriguing. The characters less so. They are sympathetic certainly, but I didn't feel a strong connection to any of them. Plot wise, the novel kept my attention, even though certain aspects of it seem contrived and far-fetched. I appreciate, though, the story's themes of forgiveness and redemption and the fact that Georgia's life doesn't wrap up in a perfect, unrealistic way. Overall, then, I liked Flight Patterns, but I didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other Southern novels by Karen White; also of books by Joshilyn Jackson and Dorothea Benton Frank, although theirs tend to be more R-rated than White's)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scenes of peril, and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Flight Patterns from Costco with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Top Ten Tuesday: Titular Gold in Southern Fiction
Today's Top Ten Tuesday is all about trends in book titles. Remember the recent feminist uproar over popular mystery/thriller books using the term "girl" instead of "woman"? That's what I'm talking about. Titles are important and it's interesting to see how the trends change from year to year and vary from genre to genre. The topic du jour, then, is Top Ten Most Frequently Used Words In [Insert Genre/Age Group] Titles.
Before we get to my list, though, I encourage you to join in the fun. Top Ten Tuesday really is the best time! It's easy to participate—just hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few guidelines, make your own list, then click around the book blogosphere and enjoy reading other people's lists. It's a fantastic way to find new book blogs, give old favorites some love, and just enjoy chatting about our favorite subject.
Since I read so many mystery/thrillers, I started brainstorming a list for that genre. With words like death, secrets, lies, kill, dark, etc. piling up, it quickly got too depressing! So, I turned to a genre whose lighter nature is reflected in softer, more reflective titles that evoke memories of home, family, and summering by the seaside. Without further ado, here's my list of Top Ten Most Frequently Used Words in Southern Fiction Titles:
1. Home/House—Southern novels are often about the draw of the land and how, in the end, it always lures its children home. Think Falling Home and The House on Tradd Street, both by Karen White; Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe; A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash; Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler; etc.
2. Sweet—Must be something in that most iconic of Southern beverages ... Think Sweet Tea Tuesdays by Ashley Farley; Sweetwater Creek by Anne Rivers Siddons; Secrets Over Sweet Tea by Denise Hildreth Jones; Sweet Unrest by Lisa Maxwell; The Sweetness of Honey by Alison Kent; etc.
3. Girl—Think Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg; The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe; The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen; The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg; etc.
4. Glory—Southern pride being what it is, this one makes perfect sense. Think The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells; Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood; No Grits, No Glory by Elaine Calloway; etc.
5. Sister(s)—Think Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells; The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson; The Hurricane Sisters by Dorothea Benton Frank; Her Sister's Shoes by Ashley Farley; etc.
6. Beach/Tide/Island/Ocean/Sea—It's all about the sand and surf in the South, apparently! Think The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy; Sea Change by Karen White; Folly Beach by Dorothea Benton Frank; The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe; Up Island and Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons; Beach Music by Pat Conroy; etc.
7. Tree—I'm not sure what it is about trees in the South, but they appear to be titular gold. Think Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns; The Beach Trees by Karen White; Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons; The Sweet Gum Tree by Katherine Allred; A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner; etc.
8. Garden—Think Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt; Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen; The Ladies of Garrison Gardens by Louise Shaffer; etc.
9. Café—Everyone loves a warm, quirky café. Think Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg; The Ballad of the Sad Café and Other Stories by Carson McCullers; The Second Chance Café by Alison Kent; The Calamity Café by Gayle Leeson; etc.
10. South/Southern—Naturally. Think South of Broad by Pat Conroy; The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks; Southern Comfort by Fern Michaels; Bound South by Susan Rebecca White; Five Miles South of Peculiar by Angela Hunt; etc.
I'm sure I've missed tons of great Southern novels. Do you have any to add to my list? What genre did you pick for today's list? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment and I will gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Heartfelt Southern Romance Authentically Messy and Satisfying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Living with her mother has been a blessing for 21-year-old Shandi Pierce as she tries to finish college and raise her young son on her own. As reluctant as she is to leave the only home she's ever known, Shandi knows it's time. She needs to be closer to the GSU campus in Atlanta and her brilliant boy needs the kind of education that can't be had in the small town where they now live. While she tries to stay out of her parents' bitter post-divorce battles, this time Shandi's father has made her an offer she can't refuse—a condo in the city. It's far enough away to allow her and her 3-year-old some independence, but also close enough for little Nathan to visit both of his maternal grandparents often. As much as she will miss her mother, Shandi knows making this move is the right thing to do.
She doesn't get very far away, however, before disaster strike. A gas station robbery turns ugly, trapping Shandi, Nathan, and several others inside the mini-mart with a very agitated gunman. It's a strange place for romance, but Shandi can't help but fall hard for the handsome stranger who bravely steps between Nathan and a loaded gun. The alarming incident may be over, but Shandi's relationship with William Ashe is just beginning. Although the 33-year-old geneticist is haunted by an aching loss and watched like a hawk by his disapproving bulldog of a best friend, Shandi's determined to make him hers. She's willing to fight for her unexpected hero, even if it means embracing someone else's love story instead of her own.
I've enjoyed several of Joshilyn Jackson's heartfelt Southern novels and this one, Someone Else's Love Story, is no exception. It's not my favorite of those I've read, but I still found the story authentic, touching, and realistically messy. The characters are sympathetic, their challenges compelling. While none of them get neat, perfect endings, the novel still feels satisfying. Yes, I could have done with a less sexed-up, more PG-13 version, but all in all, I liked this one.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other Joshilyn Jackson novels, especially The Almost Sisters)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Dual-Timeline Southern Ghost Story An Enjoyable, Moving Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Nothing could take a devoted desert conservationist away from her beloved Arizona—except for true love. Marielle never intended to fall for someone who doesn't live locally, but that's what happened when she accidentally met Carson Bishop online. Despite their quick courtship, she's thrilled to be marrying the 40-year-old widower and becoming stepmom to his two young children. She's not quite as pumped about moving into Holly Oak, Carson's first wife's ancestral mansion in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It's a beautiful, stately home steeped in history, and the only one the kids have ever known. Hudson and Brette will inherit Holly Oak when its current owner dies. Until then, the children will continue living there with Carson and his new wife. Undaunted by the salacious Civil War ghost stories that surround the old estate, Marielle's a little more concerned about its living relic—Carson's 89-year-old grandmother-in-law, Adelaide McClane. Marielle and her new family will be the intimidating old lady's house guests until she passes.
With little else to occupy her mind while her husband works in D.C. and her stepchildren are at school, Marielle decides to investigate Holly Oak's (alleged) resident ghost. Sullied by rumors that she worked as a spy for the North, Susannah Page was branded a traitor to her Southern roots. Does the old apparition seek vengeance by cursing her female ancestors? Considering the fates of all the women connected to Holly Oak, a place which seems "stuck in a strange limbo of regret" (24), it certainly seems so. Good thing the mansion's newest resident doesn't believe in ghosts. Or does she?
A Sound Among the Trees (2011) is one of Susan Meissner's older novels, but one whose premise especially appeals to me. Give me a mysterious old home brimming with tragedy, ghosts and family secrets and I'm one happy reader! While this one didn't turn out to be my favorite of this type of novel (Kate Morton is the queen of this genre, in my [not so] humble opinion), I still enjoyed it. With a rich, atmospheric setting and a compelling plot, it was easy to get absorbed in the tale. True, the characters are a little blah, but their problems still interested me. Overall, A Sound Among the Trees tells a beautiful story about redemption, resilience, and making peace with the past. It's a clean, moving read that I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys dual-timeline novels set in the American South.
(Readalikes: The structure/style remind me of other dual-timeline novels by Susan Meissner as well as books by Kate Morton)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and brief, non-graphic references to sex and rape
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Southern Family Secrets Novel Engrossing, Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When you come from a line of strong women who've been scandalizing your small Mississippi town for the last 45 years, your reputation is pretty much doomed from the start. It doesn't matter that 15-year-old Mosey earns stellar grades and stays away from boys. She's a Slocumb, which means she'll end up barefoot and pregnant before she has a chance to graduate high school. Just like her mother, just like her grandmother. No one expects anything less. Except Mosey, who refuses to follow the future-less path fate has laid out before her.
Still, everyone knows big trouble comes calling for the Slocumb women every fifteen years. This year is no exception. While digging a swimming pool on their property, a worker unearths a rusted treasure box with a tiny skeleton inside. Mosey's as shocked by the discovery as her grandmother is, but the revelation causes Mosey's mother to utter the first intelligible word she's said since her recent stroke—mine. Struggling to make sense of that startling proclamation, Mosey begs her grandmother for answers. Ginny "Big" Slocumb doesn't have them—at least not all of them—but she'll die before she lets the scandal destroy her family. Big will do anything, risk everything, to protect Mosey and her stroke-ravaged mother. Even if it means covering up a shocking secret from the past.
I love me a lush multi-generational novel brimming with family secrets and Southern charm. I've recently discovered Joshilyn Jackson, whose novels deliver just that. Although I didn't enjoy A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty nearly as much as The Almost Sisters, I still found it engrossing. Centered around three headstrong, intriguing women, the story pulled me in and made me care about what happened to this dysfunctional, yet devoted family. The mystery at its core kept the novel interesting, even if the Big Reveal didn't feel all that surprising. While A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty definitely gets sad and depressing—way more so than you'd expect judging by the book's light, frothy cover—it's a compelling read that kept me turning pages. It's not my favorite Jackson novel, but overall I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson. Also reminds me of novels by Anne Rivers Siddons and Karen White, although White's books are gentler—more in the PG-13 range—but with less personality than those by Jackson and Siddons.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, sexual content, violence, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, February 08, 2018
Promising Mystery Series Opener Convinces Me to Read More
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Earl Marcus left Coulee County, Georgia, twenty years ago with no intention of ever going back. Scarred—both physically and emotionally—from growing up in the snake-handling obsessed Church of the Holy Flame, he's cut ties with the "church," his cult leader father, and his haunted past. Now a private investigator in North Carolina, he's compelled to return only when a photograph of his dead father surfaces with a recent time stamp. The man in the picture is no corpse. It appears as if the powerful, legendary R.J. Marcus is still alive. Either that or, as his followers believe, he's come back from the dead. Earl has experienced the mystical power of his father's presence enough to believe almost anything. Thing is, he can't put his own demons to rest until he knows for sure.
R.J. isn't the only person missing in Coulee County. "Rebellious" teenage girls from the Church of the Holy Flame's congregation are also disappearing, only to return changed. The strange marks on their skin could be signs of almost anything. Hoping to find answers before another girl is traumatized, Earl starts digging. Unearthing old secrets doesn't sit well with some people and Earl finds himself in danger once again.
Heaven's Crooked Finger by Hank Early is a debut novel and the first in a promising series. The novel tells a tense, compelling story that's both atmospheric and suspenseful. Although the tale feels a bit flimsy and far-fetched, it's still engrossing. In the end, I didn't love Heaven's Crooked Finger, but I liked it enough to continue with the series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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