Author: Penelope J. Stokes
Genre/Pages: Fiction/ 304
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group; August 3, 2010
Rating: 1.5 Bookmarks
Source: Publisher
Nat’s One-Sentence Synopsis: Though Stokes’s writing is serviceable and her characters dynamic and well-developed, this southern fiction novel about coming home again didn’t reach out and grab me.
Priscilla Bell Posner Rondell, Peach to her friends, finds herself, at the direction of her therapist returning to her childhood home after the failure of her marriage.
Peach has been gone for 23 years, but Mama’s still worrying about her daughter’s reputation as a Southern Lady and takes pains to make sure Peach doesn’t sully the family name any more than she already has.
During her time at home, Peach goes on a journey of self-discovery and comes to learn that you can go home again–and it might be a worthwhile trip.
In all honesty, there is nothing inherently wrong with this novel, and I’m sure many people will enjoy it. Penelope J. Stokes has command of the language, writes credible dialog, and creates round characters who grow as a result of insight and experiences. That said, The Book of Peach didn’t speak to me. I found myself reading a chapter at a time and never connected to or felt concerned with the characters. I don’t like to feel that way about a book and really tried (without much success) to get more invested in the novel.
I’m certain that this author has solid following and that this book will find an audience. I received this as an unsolicited review copy and feel that it wasn’t quite suited to my book preferences.
Welcome aboard, I'm Natalie! I'm 37, married to a dream boat, and live in New Jersey. It's all about books here! I read, recommend, review, and revel in them. Have a book you'd like me to review? Visit my
Sorry this book didn’t work for you.
Too bad it didn’t speak to you, but it has a lovely cover at any rate!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “The Whisperers” by John Connolly =-.
For me, the whole “coming home again” after a long stint away has become a bit of a tired trope. I usually relate to those stories, sure, but I feel like I keep reading the same ones… especially in the Southern fiction genre. Dorothea Benton Frank’s Bulls Island comes immediately to mind.
.-= Meg´s last blog ..Book review- ‘Short Girls’ by Bich Minh Nguyen =-.
I’m right there with you when it comes to this type of fiction — not sure if it grabs my interest, but I do agree with Rhapsody in Books above that it does have a nice cover!
.-= Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick´s last blog ..Rozlyn Press is Looking! =-.
Hey there — stop by my blog, you’ve got an award waiting for you!!
.-= Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick´s last blog ..Rozlyn Press is Looking! =-.
I have this one to review, but I might push it farther down the list after reading your review!
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..Book Review- Curtains – Tom Jokinen =-.
Sorry to hear that you didn’t feel that connection with this book. It’s something I might give a try one day but nothing that I’m going to rush out and get right now.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Review- Damsel Under Stress =-.