This book is set on an island off the coast of Charleston S.C. Both of my boys were born in Charleston so the setting is very familiar to me and the history and culture of this area of the south. Bart nailed it. Wonderful southern flavor, great characters, southern drawl, sweet tea and southern oaks with moss hanging from them. You can really visualize it.
In the telling of the story we move back and forth between now and during the Civil War to learn the history of the house and the family. I loved that! When reading a section about the original owners back in the Civil War time, there is some hateful behavior and hateful names and words that are offensive, but it reminds you what a horrible time in our history it was. Then we move back into present day and see how the characters are heartbroken over the outrageous behavior of their ancestors. There is a good balance.
There is some sexual content in this book. Ghostly and earthly. The sex wasn't over-done, but the crude banter of a sexual nature between characters was a little much in my opinion and could have been left out entirely as far as I was concerned. It detracted from a great story. Unless he was trying to highlight the change in the Bambi character as the story progressed.
Other than that it was an engaging, well written, story that kept me turning the pages.
Wadmalaw is a real island and there is a real Tea Plantation on it! Bigelow Teas actually bought it and renovated it and opened it for tours. it is the last remaining tea plantation in America. That's on my bucket list of things to see! There is also a recipe for Russian Tea in the book, and not the one using powdered tea and Tang!
In the telling of the story we move back and forth between now and during the Civil War to learn the history of the house and the family. I loved that! When reading a section about the original owners back in the Civil War time, there is some hateful behavior and hateful names and words that are offensive, but it reminds you what a horrible time in our history it was. Then we move back into present day and see how the characters are heartbroken over the outrageous behavior of their ancestors. There is a good balance.
There is some sexual content in this book. Ghostly and earthly. The sex wasn't over-done, but the crude banter of a sexual nature between characters was a little much in my opinion and could have been left out entirely as far as I was concerned. It detracted from a great story. Unless he was trying to highlight the change in the Bambi character as the story progressed.
Other than that it was an engaging, well written, story that kept me turning the pages.
Wadmalaw is a real island and there is a real Tea Plantation on it! Bigelow Teas actually bought it and renovated it and opened it for tours. it is the last remaining tea plantation in America. That's on my bucket list of things to see! There is also a recipe for Russian Tea in the book, and not the one using powdered tea and Tang!
