Wait Till You Meet That Aunt Serena!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What A Piece Of Work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I am not going to say too much about Aunt Serena, except that, if ever a movie is made of "A Sudden Light," Elizabeth Marvel would be perfect in the role.  An actress who is quickly becoming her generation's Louise Fletcher.

                                    Something about that name has always made me suspicious.  But I always LOVED Elizabeth Montgomery, when she played Cousin Serena, on "Bewitched!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                     The other thing to be said is that, as far as I am concerned, the cover art wins Book Jacket Of The Year. It is haunting, artsy, and Gothic--perfect for the story being told.

                                       Garth Stein's novel has everything--Aunt Serena, homosexuals, ghosts, a crumbling estate, a mysterious forest--all in the Pacific Northwest.  Who knew Seattle could be this interesting?  Mark my words, it outdoes, "Here Come The Brides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                         The last 100 pages define the phrase "page turner." And, yet, Stein's writing is literate, well structured, and has something to say on a great many issues.  We are not talking V.C. Andrews, here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            "A Sudden Light" is an entirely different experience from "All The Light We Cannot See."  But, like that work last year, this could turn up on my Ten Best List.  We shall see how the rest of the year goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Garth Stein is a great discovery!  I had never read him before, but for sure I now will read more!

                                                 Happy reading, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!