Rating: 2.2.3
Recommended audience: Adult, mature teen
Category: Historical, some romance
I've put off doing this review because I'm not sure what to say about it. I don't want to give anything away. The main character is a 14 year old girl who has to deal with the death of her mother and surprising circumstances surrounding that. The book is set in the South during the summer of 1964 when racial tensions were very high. When I read it I liked it but I didn't love it. After discussing it with our book group I came to appreciate it even more. I would not recommend it to anyone who is offended by unorthodox religion. There is also a lot of profanity and though I didn't find it very offensive, I believe some people would find it to be so. I definitely recommend this book because it is beautiful in many ways but it may not be for everyone.
3 comments:
I didn't love this book either. But, it seems like lots of people do. What at your book club helped you appreciate this book more? Maybe my book club should read it.
I liked this book the first time I read it and the second time I was surprised I had forgotten some major themes.
But I have to agree. Our book club discussion made me fall in love with it.
I think what made our book group discussion so good was that it turned to the spiritual. We liked the example of faith and devotion of the sisters and we all loved May. I can't remember really well, maybe Julie can help me out, but the way she seemed to absorb the pain and suffering around her and then gave it up by putting it in the weeping wall reminded us of the way we can give up our burdens to the Lord and He can take them away from us. We thought the Black Madonna was very interesting and beautiful even though our beliefs aren't even remotely similar. I can't remember too much more but I think we also discussed the interview with the author in the back of the book. That was really interesting but you have to find a later edition of the book to find it.
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