It's a mighty beautiful day here in The City - a hot, humid, breeze-less day, but a beautiful one nonetheless. Sunshine is a wonderful thing :)
And speaking of sunshine, let's talk about the beach. Namely, let's talk about BOOKS about the beach.
I love the beach. I'd be there RIGHT NOW if I could.
Fortunately, I have a job that helps me have food and a roof over my head, so I can't complain about not being at the beach.
But I digress.
This book:
Read it. It pretty much rocks.
I haven't read many of Dorothea Frank's books (yet), but I'm really digging her style right now.
Folly Beach starts out on a very heavy note - I want SO BAD to tell you what it is! But the good news is, the bad stuff lasts for only a chapter or two (maybe three, they're pretty short), and it's a great, very easy read - even through the rough patches.
Frank intertwines a play with another story that's only semi-related -- or so it seems. One chapter will be a scene of the play, the next will be a continuation of the main character, Cate's, story. At first it can be confusing, but the more you read, the more you want to know about these two seemingly different stories. Then all of a sudden - BAM - it hits you and it makes complete sense.
Frank completely pulls this style off, I don't know if I've read many books that can give you two stories in one and make them each make so much sense.
Her writing style is, to say the least, right up my alley. Throughout the rough (really rough) hardships Cate must endure throughout the story, Frank allows the character to keep her sense of humor but still seem so human and so affected at the same time. She's smart, and she's strong, and despite all that she is dealing with she handles it with grace and allows it to make her stronger. She also comes to realize the importance of family, as well as the fact that you really can come "home" again.
If you're anything like me, as you read this you'll actually be able to feel the breeze coming off of the South Carolina coast and smell the salty air as she's watching the waves. Frank's descriptions are impeccable and ridiculously realistic.
Folly Beach is, essentially, Cate's journey. When we first meet her, she's a very well-off woman of society who quickly must backtrack to her humble roots when tragedy strikes. The characters in the book are real, as is the city in which the book is set.
It's a great book for summer - whether you're on the beach listening to the waves or sitting on your porch listening to the distant traffic. Regardless, Frank's writing has the ability to drown out any other distracting sounds that might be surrounding you, and put you in a place of relaxation such as that of Folly Beach.
And if you've read it (or WHEN you read it), you'll know what I mean when I say I REALLY REALLY WANT THAT HOUSE!!!! But that's all I'll say for now ;)
I'm really looking forward to reading more of Frank's books -- but I've got a few more in my Amazon cart that I need to cash in on!
What books are you reading these days?
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