Inspired by actual events in a different context, One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris is a powerful story of family and forgiveness. Her debut novel tackles traumatic events with a very readable storytelling style.
At age 18, Sara is sexually assaulted by the son of a prominent family and becomes pregnant. When his trial ends, she leaves her family's home in Savannah to start a new life in Maine, telling only her family about the baby. Eight years later, Sara returns for the first time due to her father's failing health.
While working in her father's bookstore, she encounters Jacob, the twin brother of her attacker who's developed a unique bond with her father. Over time, her feelings toward him move from adversarial to neutral to friendship to more. Will Sara choose to rebuild her life in Savannah, surrounded by the people she loves most?
This contemporary character-driven plot has a lot going on, but that didn't bother me (like in another recent read). In addition to a deep exploration of forgiveness, another theme is motherhood and the lengths mothers will go to to protect their children.
Sara's father has a very unique means of communication which led to many classic poems included in the prose. The forward movement of the plot relies on several convenient coincidences, especially at the end. This book is a meaningful illustration of the maxim that withholding forgiveness harms the "forgiver" far more than the "forgivee."
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to a review copy of this novel.
At age 18, Sara is sexually assaulted by the son of a prominent family and becomes pregnant. When his trial ends, she leaves her family's home in Savannah to start a new life in Maine, telling only her family about the baby. Eight years later, Sara returns for the first time due to her father's failing health.
While working in her father's bookstore, she encounters Jacob, the twin brother of her attacker who's developed a unique bond with her father. Over time, her feelings toward him move from adversarial to neutral to friendship to more. Will Sara choose to rebuild her life in Savannah, surrounded by the people she loves most?
This contemporary character-driven plot has a lot going on, but that didn't bother me (like in another recent read). In addition to a deep exploration of forgiveness, another theme is motherhood and the lengths mothers will go to to protect their children.
Sara's father has a very unique means of communication which led to many classic poems included in the prose. The forward movement of the plot relies on several convenient coincidences, especially at the end. This book is a meaningful illustration of the maxim that withholding forgiveness harms the "forgiver" far more than the "forgivee."
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to a review copy of this novel.
