Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart
June 17th 2010 by FaithWords
Paperback, 304 pages
Review Copy
Book Synopsis
It is the summer of 1958, and life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for twelve-year-old Sammie Tucker. Sammie has plenty of questions about her mother's "nerve" problems. About shock treatments. About whether her mother loves her. When her mother commits suicide and a not-so-favorite aunt arrives, Sammie has to choose who to trust with her deepest fears: Her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious kid from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on. Then there's the elderly widower who seems nice but has his own dark past.Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done......(Taking From the CFBA Tour Site)
If you would like to read the first chapter of Chasing Lilacs, go HERE.
Review
Most times when reading a novel that contains mental illness or suicide the reader gets bombarded with dark themes and hopeless depression. Chasing Lilacs offers a more hopeful view on a very dark subject.
Sammie is coping with the suicide of her mother, learning to let go of the guilt and asking herself was it my fault? Carrying the burden of guilt over her mothers death leaves Sammie depressed, worried and very emotional. As Sammie is working through her issues over the loss she also explores the issues her mother was struggling with, trying to make sense of the pain that haunted her on a daily basis. On top of all that, Sammie's father decided the best thing for her is to move her mothers sister into the house for awhile to help out...........controlling aunt+depressed and resentful kid=trouble.
I loved the time period of Chasing Lilacs, the simple outside time the kids enjoyed running off and having freedom most children of that age today don't have. Stewart made sure her research fit the tone and setting of the novel and was able to display a very 50's feel. There were of course parts of the novel where I wish the author would have gone darker, gotten in deep and dragged me through the gritty reality of loss and suicide but Ms. Stewart played it save, not saying it wasn't a nice story just that pieces of it were defiantly too wholesome. Connecting to Sammie for me was difficult, at times I could buy that she was 12 but most of her thoughts, inner and outer dialog came off as an adult. While the writing was nice, the character for me was unbelievable for her age. Most of you out there who enjoy very inspiring, hopeful novels will enjoy Sammie's story. Recommended to readers of uplifting Christian Fiction and joyful stories.
Rating
Chasing Lilacs is suitable for most readers, although its message is very wholesome content includes: suicide, depression, grief, loss and moving on.
3/5- Christian Fiction
Review Copy provided by the CFBA tour site, To find out more information and view a complete tour list go here.
Great review :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina, for featuring Chasing Lilacs on the blog tour, and I appreciate your candid and thoughtful review. Great food for thought.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless.
Hi Tina!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog! I came to check yours out and I already love it. I'll be following you!
VampAngel
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