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City Colors by Zoran Milich
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Dazzle Joins the Screenwriter's Guild by Scott Bradfield
December 22, 2012 by Sophie M. White
For the Love of Books by Ronald B. Shwartz
The Free Fall of Walter Cummings by Tom Bodett
Genuine Men by Nancy Bruno
Going Back in Time by Laurel Winter
Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson
Horns and Toes and In Between by Sandra Boynton
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club
A Jolly Good Fellow by Stephen V. Masse
Lion's Pride by Debbie Jordan
Killing Time by Caleb Carr
The Mark of Zorro by Johston McCulley
Mouse's Halloween by Alan Baker
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates by Stephen King
Past Perfect Present Tense by Richard Peck
Pharmakon by Dirk Wittenborn
Private Eye by Terry Bisson
Pug Hill by Allison Pace
Queen for a Day by Albert E. Cowdrey
Red Orc's Rage by Philip José Farmer
Sea Glass by Laurence Yep
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Sheep on a Ship by Nancy E. Shaw
Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy E. Shaw
Sleepless Years by Steven Utley
Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
The Visionaries by Robert Reed
Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster
Whoever by Carol Emshwiller

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Turtle Moon: 10/08/08

There is something about Florida that inspires a subset of American literature that is both tragic and comedic in the same breath. It's probably the closest that American literature comes to magical realism.

Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman is a perfect example of a Floridian novel. It is set in the month of May when "girls run away from home, babies cry all night, [and] ficus hedges explode into flame." (p. 3). Set against the oppressive heat and humidity of May in Verity, Florida, Bethany Lee is murdered and the "meanest boy in Verity", a twelve-year-old named Keith becomes the reluctant ward of Bethany's infant daughter. Meanwhile, Keith's mother and an unofficial tracker for the police forge an alliance to clear Keith's name and to find the actual killer.

If this were a thriller there would be car chases, bullets flying in every chapter and villains constantly lurking Yes, there is danger but mostly there is just the heat and the frazzled nerves. Keith and baby Rachel find safety at the home of a woman who knows a thing or two about wayward children.

Although the ending isn't a happy one with all loose strings neatly tied up, it's a satisfying ending. Things work out and unfold in ways, some of which are expected and some which aren't but all of which seem to fit just right.

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Comment #1: Thursday, October, 9, 2008 at 08:53:28

Web-Betty

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm always looking for a good book to read. :)



Comment #2: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 12:06:22

Pussreboots

You're welcome. Happy reading!



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