Anyhooo...I don't profess to being a great book reviewer, but I lurrve to read, and I was so tickled when I found a new author who really sparked my interest.
I read the novel sister mine, by Tawni O'Dell. Yes, I know you're supposed to capitalize titles. But Ms. O'Dell chose not to in her book. Who am I to judge?
Again, anyhoo...Don't you just love it when titles have many layers and/or multiple meanings to them ? You'll find that with this book.
Sister Mine is a chapter in the story (I think a sequel, actually) of Shae-Lynn Penrose, a tough-as-nails, yet tender and bruised soul. O'dell uses Shae-Lynn's voice to describe the life and, sometimes, death in a Pennsylvania coal mining town. The characters are all deliciously flawed and real, and very vivid. The main storyline has to do with Shae-Lynn's life and coping skills after the sudden disappearance of her little sister, Shannon. The story revolves around how the abusive beginning of her life yields her constant neediness. Whether needing to serve. Needing to forget. Needing to be safe. Needing to move forward.
This is a quickly paced novel, and is full of the things I like: excellent writing, and redemption. I like that O'dell finds redemption in her characters w/o tying up all the ends in a neat little bow. I will definitely read the first of this series--in fact it's on hold at my library--
I just saw on Amazon that if you like Jodi Picoult, you would enjoy Tawni O'dell. I tend to agree. I also saw that she was chosen for Oprah's book club for her previous novels. Now, you may think Oprah is whack--and I don't disagree--but she's a very well read woman. Okay...enough tidbits.
Soli deo Gloria!
