Saturday, February 26, 2011

Fantasy Meets the Deep South

Tucked into the tangled woods of the deep south, a little girl and a story have their beginnings. In a flash of lightening, Mercy's mama births her on the banks of a muddy creek, and Mercy's life takes on a fantastic quality from the get-go.

But in her late twenties, unmarried, working long hours at her newspaper job, her life seems anything but extraordinary -- until she discovers herself face to face with a book not of this world. Within its pages, others' lives take form and shape. Outside its pages, her own life seems to unravel as it takes mysterious twists and turns. Who is this tall, dark and handsome stranger? Why does he seem so familiar? What dark secrets will the magical book reveal, and will she have the strength to stand in the face of its awful truth?

If the reader hopes for an otherworldy adventure, this story is Hometown USA with a mysterious, creepy spiritual dimension. Though I had hoped for a good read in the genre of southern literature, the South in this book serves more as a flat, muted backdrop like the painted scenery on stage in a play. One cannot taste syrupy sweet tea, sweat in the humidity or smell the pungent Bradford pear trees. Expectations aside, the book's originality, creative twists and strong female character will keep the pages flying.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

No comments:

Post a Comment