👶👶👶👶👶: The Calamity Club

Well color me happy, Kathryn Stockett has done it again! That’s right, the one and only @kathrynstockettauthor, famous for her beloved novel The Help from 2009, is back with yet another incredible underdog story! I just love how this author captures the essence of girl power and had me cheering out loud for these amazing gals right from the start!

This new novel shines a light on the harsh options available to girls and women in the 1930s, often forcing many of them to make high-risk decisions with their limited options.This book was so heartfelt, and each character was incredibly memorable. I honestly believe characterization is Kathryn Stockett's superpower; every time I pick up one of her books, I feel like I’ve made new best friends. She has a knack for crafting protagonists who may be downtrodden and flawed but are undeniably good at heart - it makes it impossible not to root for them!

And y'all know I'm a sucker for a good southern fiction novel - and this one had all the elements that I look for in this genre: rich dialogue between eccentric characters, a slow atmospheric unfolding of family secrets, thought-provoking racial and religious dynamics, and an exploration of social change. Of course, a young spunky southern girl always enhances the narrative, and 11-year-old Meg definitely fit the bill!

What a joy to be #gifted this early review copy from @spiegelandgrau & @netgalley ! Thank you so much! This was my NUMBER ONE MOST ANTICIPATED READ of the year, and boy was it worth the wait! Kathryn Stockett, you're a QUEEN!

Read 5/5/26

👶👶👶👶👶: Spare Change, by Bette Lee Crosby

👏Well, Bette Lee Crosby has gone and done it again! I'm a sucker for good Southern fiction, and "bless her little heart," she had me glued to this treasure of a novel from page one!

😢Boy did I run the gamut of emotions with this book. If you want to sit down with an old friend to enjoy a slice of humor, settle down with a sip of heartache, take a bite of sweet surrender, and sprinkle it all with a dash of hope... then this is the novel for you.

🥰Bette Lee has created characters with just enough southern flair to make you grin from ear to ear, and enough grit to make your jaw drop. By novel's end, I felt as though these characters had become dear friends, and I was ready to pick up the next book in the series to continue the journey!

🙏Many, many thanks to @betteleecrosby for gifting me with this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for filling my heart yet again!

Also, I borrowed the audio version because I just didn't want to stop reading while in the car, and the voice actors are AMAZING💯!!!

Read 3/31/22

👶👶👶👶👶 The Red Dirt Hymnbook, by Roxie Faulkner Kirk

Roxie Faulkner Kirk hits it out of the park in her debut novel, The Red Dirt Hymnbook. She kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end... never a wane in the storyline. I appreciated the author's ability to soften the blow as we are taken on this bumpy ride in the traveling revival bus that became home for sweet Ruby Fae. Her gentle introduction to the terror brewing within the walls of the bus allows the reader to feel the ascending fear that Ruby Fae experienced. It is amazing how well she depicted the slow, yet deliberate measures taken by domestic abuse offenders. It was terrifying, and I had a knot in my stomach much of the time. In the same breath, the reader experiences the cognitive dissonance felt by this young mother; the central tenets of her strong faith don't quite reconcile with the malevolent events occurring in her life. It's so hard for an outsider such as myself, to understand the decisions of a victim of domestic abuse, but Ms. Kirk does a stellar job of allowing readers several "aha" moments. Stunningly, she even leads readers to feel a bit of compassion for the perpetrator, though not enough to excuse the behavior in any way. Bravo Roxie Faulkner Kirk!

So although some readers should be aware that there is a trigger warning of domestic abuse, it was certainly one of my top reads of 2019.

Many thanks to BookSirens and Fine Dog Press for a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Read 10/29/19

👶👶👶👶👶 Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens

How to write a review on sublimity? I absolutely adored this novel. Its beauty was palpable; the characterization was splendid. Kya wove her way into my heart and has found a place to stay. Delia Owens is masterful in her description of nature and the marsh. It's as if her background as a conservationist has been preparing her to write this novel all along. I was immersed in the majestic backdrop and cacophony of sound in North Carolina's marshland, and honestly the story, as beautiful as it was, was just an added bonus.

I thought of this novel as a vacation for my mind... a journey to take pleasure in and be entertained by. It was truly a magnificent novel.

Read 5/2/19

👶👶👶👶 The Myth of Perpetual Summer, by Susan Crandall

The Myth of Perpetual Summer was somewhat of a departure from Susan Crandall's Whistling Past the Graveyard, in that her protagonist is not a feisty young southern belle, but rather a decidedly defenseless young girl, trying to find her way in the midst of a dysfunctional family, in a chaotic small town. Both novels, however, are engrossing coming of age stories. Crandall has a way of engulfing the reader in the despair and reality of the situations her characters are thrown into, while adding points of light throughout.

This novel would surely strike a chord in the hearts of many whose lives are affected by mental illness, and also brings awareness to those of us who are more naive with regard to the reality and repercussions of these diseases. With more and more stories coming to light of mental illness going untreated, this story is as timely as ever.

Tallulah is a beautiful soul, with a huge heart, and a fragile identity. She's the type of character the reader roots for from the beginning, and my heart broke right along with hers through her trials and tribulations. Along the way, relationships forge with endearing secondary characters, creating a very moving and rather complex narrative that speaks to the heart.

Not only does the author tackle mental illness, but also addresses racial discrimination, and southern propriety within the context of the human psyche. One would assume that this melange of topics would be too much for one novel to delve into, but somehow Crandall creates a lovely patchwork in her attempt to bring awareness to these important themes.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Gallery Books for gifting me with this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Read 9/22/2018

👶👶👶👶👶 Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, by Fanny Flagg

This novel was a delight to read. I vaguely remember watching this movie many years ago; but thankfully, I had not committed it to memory. Therefore, this time around, I decided to read the book, and view the film thereafter. As is often the case, the novel delved into far more detail than the movie ever could, and was therefore a much richer experience. Fannie Flagg created some eternally endearing characters whose wit and wisdom will stay with me long after the last page has been turned.

I loved the manner in which Ninny's re-telling of the story jumps around, mimicking an actual re-telling of the events of long-ago. Thoughts would likely be non-linear, and memories would be disorganized, especially given the age of the narrator.

Another imaginative narration element was the use of Weems Weekly, Whistle Stop Alabama's weekly bulletin. The inclusion of the quirky, outspoken gossip hound, Dot Weems was a brilliant literary move.

This novel was one that explored love in all its imperfect forms, friendship in the true sense of the word, and authentic devotion. It was beautifully written.

Read 3/2/15

👶👶👶👶 Whistling Past the Graveyard, by Susan Crandall

This novel was a joy to read. I have an affinity for coming-of-age stories set in the south, with sassy young central characters who wear their heart on their sleeve. Perhaps lacking the ability to do so myself, I so appreciate their ability to just tell it like it is, while bringing to mind the truly important things in life. Starla is just fabulous, the likes of Swan Lake in The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, with enough courage and resolve to take on anything that comes her way. Eula was a remarkable character as well, and together, they helped each other heal from the difficulties that life tossed their way. However, one must certainly have a willing suspension of disbelief in order to appreciate this book. The narrow escapes and close calls were a bit much to digest, and therein lies the reason that I rated the novel four stars instead of five. However, Susan Crandall wrote a delightful and ultimately uplifting story.

Read 10/11/14

👶👶👶👶👶 The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, by Jenny Wingfield

I don’t even know where to begin! This book was SO spectacular that I was astonished to learn that it was Wingfield’s first novel. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading this novel; I laughed, cried, cheered, screamed, and winced, all while being taken on this sensational journey. All of the characters are indelibly engraved on my heart; some were beautiful, some horrendous, but all were significant in the weaving of this unforgettable tale. First and foremost on my list of notable characters is the heroine, Miss Swan Lake: what a delightful, courageous force to be reckoned with! Secondly, sweet, resilient little Blade Barringer was a true wonder. Though I could go on and on about each memorable individual, I’ll just mention one last unforgettable one: Mr. Toy Moses was a truly formidable hero.

Despite this story being filled with tragedy, there were always moments of redemption to soften the blow. Not since The Help have I cheered out loud. The author managed to throw in some perfectly placed facetiousness which made me grin from ear to ear. In addition, she was also very clever with the unforeseen twists. My heart was about to pound right out of my chest during the climax – so powerful. The pace was perfect, the setting ideal, and the plot intriguing! Kudos Jenny Wingfield; I can't wait for your next gem!

Read 2/4/14