I recently borrowed the novel Sullivans Island from my mom, who got it from a friend. Isn't that how great books are discovered? Passed along from woman to woman? I think so.
I used to live 7 minutes from Sullivans Island, (which is near Charleston, South Carolina) so when I was scouring her massive book collection I decided to go with it. It's a charming place with a sort of spiritual presence. I would often go there year round to walk my dogs, run on the beach, or just sit and stare at the ocean. The last time I was there was for a short visit last March and I had this overwhelming sense that I was deeply connected to the waters of the low country.... I suppose absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Anyway, the book is about a woman who is blindsided by her husband's mid life crisis and her sudden impending divorce. She is faced with reinventing herself while raising a teenage daughter and revisiting her family history in her ancestral home on Sullivans Island. As the healing process begins, she finds herself exploring the death of her father when she was young and fondly remembering her loving Gullah housekeeper, Livvie. The chapters alternate between 1999 and 1963 creating an intricate story of love, family, civil rights, and community. Many of the women in the book are sharp tongued, witty, and feisty in a way that reminds me of Dixie Carter's character Julia from Designing Women.
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| Classy AND Sassy. |
This book is perfect for an afternoon in the hammock, an evening in a bubble bath, or even sprawled out on a beach towel... definitely a relaxing read. I laughed at the colloquialisms used throughout the book because many of the words and phrases I haven't spoken or heard in years. I was raised in South Carolina and we have an abundance of wacky sayings that people from other parts wouldn't understand. I loved the fact that I recognized street names, restaurants, landmarks, and even shopping centers, but even if you've never heard of Sullivans Island, I think this is a book you'll enjoy.
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| Rocko & Bowser enjoying Sullivans Island, 2008 |
I was excited to learn of Return to Sullivans Island, which is about the next generation of this fabulously dysfunctional family. I'll be reading it as soon as I get my hands on a copy!
I'm always looking for the next great book, so let me know about the great reads you can't put down!
*Disclaimer: I refuse to read Danielle Steel/Emily Giffin/ etc.
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