The Girl in the Garden - Melanie Wallace

A special thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this novel are isolated either by circumstance or by choice and yet they are all connected. June is abandoned with Luke, her infant son at Mabel's seaside motel and it is her arrival that is the ripple effect for the story. Mabel, a widower, is grieving for her husband, and takes on helping June and her son. From here we meet Iris, a reclusive woman who is living out her days of humiliation at the hands of her husband; Iris' daughter Claire, a fiercely independent photographer; Sam, a disfigured war vet; Oldman, a wise older gentleman; Duncan, a trusted guardian.

Wallace's novel is a slow burn when revealing how these individual stories are related to one another. Each character is drawn out over the course of the narrative through June and Luke, who is an extension of June. They help not only bring Iris out of her shell, but are a link to what is good in the world. Told from multiple points of view, this beautiful novel would be an excellent choice for a book club.

I'm DNFing this one at Disc 1, Track 12. The narrator is decent. The story isn't really grabbing me, although, in audio form, I think I'd be willing to see where it's going to go. However, I'm maybe a few seconds away from the protagonist's father killing a mouse so that he can dissect it and show his daughter how amazing real organs are (he's a medical researcher, if I remember correctly). The protagonist is squirming, uncomfortable, and doesn't really want to do this but doesn't want to disappoint her father. I sympathize, and I, at least, can say "Eh, I think I'm done here." Maybe I'm quitting too soon and the mouse escapes in the next few seconds, but somehow I doubt it.

SO ! And let's make that a resolute so. I'm bored of drama taking over the place, let's speak of something nice and moderately smart from now on. I come bearing delightfulness for you guys and gals !

Let me explain : I haven't read any of Catherynne M. Valente's books yet, but for those of you who did, and enjoyed it, and for other curious people (I know you're out there, peeking), I have a nice little something to share, because I'm such a nice person in a generous mood today.

That was a joke, just in case you couldn't tell. Hi joke.

Okay, no, serious.

Hmm hmm. 

Serious.

Now, who knows SJ Tucker? Whoever does, you're my friend already. Hi ! SJ Tucker is  a totally nice, fun, brilliant, terrific, groovy singer, as well as a bewitching storyteller. Booklikes is giving me trouble with the goodness sharing thing, but google her, in fact : here

and here

and here

The first link is her music cd of stuff she wrote and sings, inspired by and dedicated to the Fairyland series. The other links are audio she made with both readings and songs for The Orpan's Tales.

Give the readings a try even (especially !) if you're not into that audio book kind of thing. Her voice is chocolate, velvet and spice. I wouldn't put that together in a recipe, but you get the picture, yeah ?

Here's to hoping SJ puts a smile on your lips.