I'm not one to âgushâ over a story, but an exception simply must be made for Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. Long on my radar of authors to try, I'm berating myself for waiting until now to discover this incredible author. Women's fiction, especially books with southern settings, is my favorite genre. This is Denton's area of expertise, and she can hold her own with any author I've read in the general market. Actually better when you consider that the writing is clean. Glory Road is a captivating and poignant story, a âbest of the bestâ read for me.
Glory Road is rich in all the essentials â vivid imagery, lyrical prose, complex characters, and a storyline that captured my emotions from the first page and never let go. The fact that I live in the southeast and have relatives who live in areas similar to the setting of Perry, Alabama (15 miles northwest of Mobile) makes the story so very relatable. This description of Jessie's view from her home is so peaceful ⦠âLong sweeps of wildflowers in the summer, fields dotted with cows and horses, straight rows of corn and cotton and soybeans lining the roads.â
How does an author convey an ambience replete with aromas that you can literally smell? I don't know, but Denton certainly does this â from freshly-shelled peas and juicy cobblers, to sun-warmed dirt and that just-before-the-rain scent in the air. Small-town southern living is slower paced, and that's the tone of this novel, yet it is never boring; every sentence begs to be savored.
The story itself revolves around three generations of McBride family women, and dealing with change in their lives. I easily connected with each one â Jessie, who returned home to Perry with her young daughter after going through a divorce; Evan, now a well-grounded young lady about to start high school; and Jessie's mother, Gus, beginning to experience bouts of forgetfulness. These characters have depth and the relationships between them are complex. Delightful romantic elements relating to all three are secondary, yet key to the overall story.
Spiritual themes are subtle, but very much present. Gardening quotes from various sources are creatively placed at the beginning of each chapter, beautifully setting the mood and conveying the strong link between the care and nurturing of plants to our spiritual lives. I loved the outspoken wisdom in these words from Gus ⦠âSometimes God puts things in our paths for a reason. Best to sit up and pay attention.â
Glory Road comes to a heartwarming, fulfilling conclusion; these characters will forever linger in my thoughts. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours and Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Glory Road is rich in all the essentials â vivid imagery, lyrical prose, complex characters, and a storyline that captured my emotions from the first page and never let go. The fact that I live in the southeast and have relatives who live in areas similar to the setting of Perry, Alabama (15 miles northwest of Mobile) makes the story so very relatable. This description of Jessie's view from her home is so peaceful ⦠âLong sweeps of wildflowers in the summer, fields dotted with cows and horses, straight rows of corn and cotton and soybeans lining the roads.â
How does an author convey an ambience replete with aromas that you can literally smell? I don't know, but Denton certainly does this â from freshly-shelled peas and juicy cobblers, to sun-warmed dirt and that just-before-the-rain scent in the air. Small-town southern living is slower paced, and that's the tone of this novel, yet it is never boring; every sentence begs to be savored.
The story itself revolves around three generations of McBride family women, and dealing with change in their lives. I easily connected with each one â Jessie, who returned home to Perry with her young daughter after going through a divorce; Evan, now a well-grounded young lady about to start high school; and Jessie's mother, Gus, beginning to experience bouts of forgetfulness. These characters have depth and the relationships between them are complex. Delightful romantic elements relating to all three are secondary, yet key to the overall story.
Spiritual themes are subtle, but very much present. Gardening quotes from various sources are creatively placed at the beginning of each chapter, beautifully setting the mood and conveying the strong link between the care and nurturing of plants to our spiritual lives. I loved the outspoken wisdom in these words from Gus ⦠âSometimes God puts things in our paths for a reason. Best to sit up and pay attention.â
Glory Road comes to a heartwarming, fulfilling conclusion; these characters will forever linger in my thoughts. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours and Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
