SABBATH SNAPSHOT : harsh reali-TEA

Yes, I have read The Tilted World. (CA Viewpoint, 6/8) Beth Ann Fennelly, is co-author. A prize-winning poet, as well, I first heard Fennelly read from her book, Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother, at the “ Southern Festival of Books“ in the fall of 2006.  

I've always liked books of letters and diaries and the topic was certainly apropos as daughter, Molly was pregnant at the time.  It inspired me to write (still unfinished) “Letters to my Molly” to chronicle her pregnancy, interspersed with memories of my own pregnancy with her.

Fennelly’s latest book, co-authored with her husband, and set against the 1927 flood of the Mississippi, was a story of abuse and murder and tthe historical info was well documented, I did not review it on this blog because the  story, though in many ways tender, had a “roughness” to it. Yet, I’m glad I read it---well written and historically rich in an area close to home.

Just this week, I read Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall, a story told from the point of view of 9 year old Starla that takes place during the summer of 1963, a very familiar time frame to me.

Describing herself as having “more sass than sense” with a “mouth that wandered off more than it stayed home,” Starla ends up on a trek with Eula, a black woman with a white baby. Eula, who called Starla a “blessing” when  no on else ever had. (p. 141) Starla began to show gratitude, using Eula’s  words, “Thank you baby Jesus.” (p.257)

There’s good and bad portrayal of folks of faith. Sadly, that’s still a reali-TEA of life today.

Heartwarming and tender around the edges, but rough as well. A roughness indicative of the time.

Readers who liked Saving CeeCee Honeycutt would probably like this one as well.

This Starla quote explains the book’s title as well as giving one a taste of her dialect.

My daddy says that when you do somethin' to distract you from your worstest fears, it's like whistlin' past the graveyard. You know, making a racket to keep the scaredness and the ghosts away. He says that's how we get by sometimes. But it's not weak, like hidin'... It's strong. It means you're able to go on.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

Books reviewed by me are not always recommendations! Just because there is a picture or a quote, that does NOT indicate a recommendation---with, or without reservation.

So-o-o to many readers, who are interested in a book mentioned, but not necessarily recommended, leave a comment, email or call---I can give more info and then you can decide for yourself.