After reading The Help, I was having trouble finding another book to hold my interest. Does that ever happen to you? After I read a really great book, my standards are raised and unless a story is really strong, I can’t get through it. Being a busy woman, with little free time, I only have time for GREAT books. Great books like Sugar by Bernice McFadden. Bernice sent me a copy after reading my review of The Help, thinking if I liked The Help, I’d love Sugar. And she was right.
Introduction from Penguin:
When Sugar Lacey arrives in Bigelow, Arkansas, to the women of the town it seems as if "a storm blew in...A storm walked into their town on two legs in spiked, red patent leather heels." Afraid for their men and their morals, they want Sugar out of Bigelow. But Sugar, who has traveled too far and survived too much in her short life, has finally found a place in which she could put down roots.
To the surprise of the town, and most of all to Sugar herself, she develops a friendship with Pearl Taylor. Pearl, a respected member of the community, carries with her every day an overwhelming burden grief over her daughter Jude's murder fifteen years before. From its tenuous beginnings, Pearl and Sugar's friendship allows each woman to confront the very thing that most haunts her.
As sugar’s story unfolded, I empathized and wanted to take care of her. I found her surprisingly heroic. No matter what life dealt her, she somehow overcame the hurdle. I wanted to pull her out of the pages and take her under my wing –just like Pearl does.
Sugar's story is rough, yet riveting and balanced by the joys of female friendships, love, sexuality and fun. The end was quite a surprise. I didn’t see it ending the way it did and left me with a lot of questions. I’m dying to talk to someone about this book. So if you read it or have read it, please comment or email me.
So how good is it?
I loved The Help, but Sugar tops it. Just like Stockett, McFadden’s captures the dialect and characterization of small town southerners from that time period. But McFadden’s writing style is richer and the story line is more believable.
My first words after I finished the book were to my husband, “You HAVE to read this.” He’s devouring it. Definitely check out Sugar. And then let me know what you think. Oh, and the best part of Sugar, there’s a sequel entitled, This Bitter Earth, which promises to be just as good.
Introduction from Penguin:
When Sugar Lacey arrives in Bigelow, Arkansas, to the women of the town it seems as if "a storm blew in...A storm walked into their town on two legs in spiked, red patent leather heels." Afraid for their men and their morals, they want Sugar out of Bigelow. But Sugar, who has traveled too far and survived too much in her short life, has finally found a place in which she could put down roots.
To the surprise of the town, and most of all to Sugar herself, she develops a friendship with Pearl Taylor. Pearl, a respected member of the community, carries with her every day an overwhelming burden grief over her daughter Jude's murder fifteen years before. From its tenuous beginnings, Pearl and Sugar's friendship allows each woman to confront the very thing that most haunts her.
As sugar’s story unfolded, I empathized and wanted to take care of her. I found her surprisingly heroic. No matter what life dealt her, she somehow overcame the hurdle. I wanted to pull her out of the pages and take her under my wing –just like Pearl does.
Sugar's story is rough, yet riveting and balanced by the joys of female friendships, love, sexuality and fun. The end was quite a surprise. I didn’t see it ending the way it did and left me with a lot of questions. I’m dying to talk to someone about this book. So if you read it or have read it, please comment or email me.
So how good is it?
I loved The Help, but Sugar tops it. Just like Stockett, McFadden’s captures the dialect and characterization of small town southerners from that time period. But McFadden’s writing style is richer and the story line is more believable.
My first words after I finished the book were to my husband, “You HAVE to read this.” He’s devouring it. Definitely check out Sugar. And then let me know what you think. Oh, and the best part of Sugar, there’s a sequel entitled, This Bitter Earth, which promises to be just as good.
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