The Secret Life of Bees

Just as good, if not better, the second time around. This novel beautifully brings to life, the Civil Rights movement, broken families, and the fragility of the human condition. Lily, a fourteen year old white girl runs away from home and busts her black caregiver out of jail to go with her. Disgusted with her father, Lily decides that she wants to find out more about her mother, the only clues she has about her mother's life is a portrait of a black Virgin Mary, a photo, and a pair of gloves. On the back of the painting is a note that says Tiberon, NC so that's where Lily decides to go. They quickly discover the origins of the black Madonna, a trio of black sisters who produce honey and honey products. Lily convinces them that she is an orphan with no place to stay and the to are welcomed into their home. Lily falls in love with the three quirky sisters and their bees and starts to think of it as home. But what if her past  catches up with her? Does she really want to know the truth about her mother?

A great read. For fans of The Help and Whistling Past the Graveyard.

Susie's Hope - Review and Giveaway!

I don't normally go for super sappy movies, but I do have a soft spot for animals and when I learned that this movie was about Susie's Law, legislation that cracked down on animal abusers in North Carolina, I was intrigued.

Donna Lawrence was a pit bull attack survivor. An abandoned pit bull mauled her leg and left her in physical therapy for months. Nearly a year later, Donna learned that a pit bull mix puppy had been found abused and literally broken. Burns were on 60% of her body, her ears were cut off, her jaw broken, teeth missing, and maggots everywhere. She was on the brink of death but a local animal shelter was able to save her. Although, she had been attacked by a pit bull mix, Donna felt a kinship for this puppy. Donna was wrongfully attacked by a dog and Susie was wrongfully attacked by a human, they were a perfect match!  Donna and her husband eventually fostered the pup, and deciding that Susie was a part of the family, eventually adopted her. Susie's abuser was found and brought to court, but unfortunately due to North Carolina's laws the worst that would happen to him would be 8 months probation, he would never serve a term in jail. Donna and her friends decided that the law had to be changed so animal abusers could no longer walk away free. This is their story.

The movie was inspiring and got me to research Susie's Hope, a nonprofit organization that I had never even heard of. The movie is good, albeit a little sappy and HEAVILY Hollwoodized (watch the movie and then read about it online, there are several key differences), but it does a great job of getting the message out.  The story of how some motivated people were able to change the law should get you inspired. Anyone can make a difference if they only try!!

So overall, sappy (but in a good way), semi-low budget (you'll recognize a few faces), and very dramatized, but perfect for animal lovers and lifetime channel enthusiasts. The only thing I have a beef with is the hipocracy that people crusading for animal rights sometime inhabit. Animal cruelty and eating meat go hand in hand. Donna was clearly no vegetarian (numerous bacon frying scenes) and she talks about justice for ALL animals, but really she just means justice for pets. Farm animals and wildlife aren't as cuddly and cute as dogs are so who cares what their living conditions are... end rant.

Finally, who wants to win a free copy of this DVD?!? All you have to do is comment below and I will randomly select a winner next Friday!

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Audiobook Review for the Library Journal - Lookaway Lookaway

Barnhardt, Wilton. Lookaway, Lookaway. 13 CDs. unabridged. 16 hrs. MacMillan Audio. 2013. ISBN 9781427229328. $49.99. 

Barnhardt's fourth novel is a tour de force, chronicling a majestic southern family's rise and fall in true Victorian era fashion. The Johnston and Jarvis family saga spans several decades and is stunning in it's honesty, cleverness, and dark humor. Jerene Jarvis Johnston strives to uphold her southern affluent roots and traditions in Charlotte, North Carolina, but as the twenty first century progresses and southern lifestyles and society changes she finds it harder to maintain the facade. Her four children lead vastly different lives than she had envisioned for them, her good for nothing alcoholic and celebrity author brother constantly makes a mess which she has to clean up, her mother doesn't have the common decency to die and stop being a thorn in their side, and to top it all off her saintly husband, Duke, has some skeletons in his closet. An engaging and inventive romp into the rise and fall of one of the most eclectic southern families you wished you knew. Narrated brilliantly by North Carolina native, Scott Shepherd, who give all the characters a voice their own in true southern accents. Scott gives them all perfect inflections, sarcasms, and tones; I can envision no other narrator carrying out such a fine job on this novel. For fans of southern literature and dark family sagas. A MUST read for the fall! Erin Cataldi, Franklin College, Franklin, IN