Simon and Schuster recently sent me an copy of Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall for review.
I really liked the book. It is set in the south in 1963. The story is told through the eyes of Starla, a nine year old girl who is living with her grandmother while her father works on an oil rig and her mother is off making it big in Nashville. After a confrontation, Starla, who is misunderstood by her grandmother, decides to take off and go see her mother. Instead she finds Eula, a lonely abused black woman. The story from there, really picks up. Before long, they are skirting the law and trying to live by the “rules” of the south. Looking for love, they find it in each other.
I love stories told in first person by children so that was a definite plus for me. I loved the historical aspects of the book, segregation, social norms, and coming of age in those times. If you liked the book-or movie “The Help”, then I am sure you’ll like this too.
All of the characters in the book are searching for love…and in a way, each finds it. Not particularly in the traditional sense, but each finds it.
Amazon readers give the book five stars and I’ll have to say, I agree.
If you are interested, you can find the book Whistling Past the Graveyard
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it sounds like a great book. how do you get on their list to review books? i love to read but cant afford to buy books. thanks and blessings, barbara babscorbitt@gmail.com