It is the story of "Cecilia" Rose Hunnicutt, a 12 year old girl commonly known as CeeCee, whose mother is slipping faster and faster into insanity each day until she is so far removed from reality that she doesn't even see the truck that hits her and takes her life. Her father loves his daughter in his way but he is flawed. CeeCee's great aunt sweeps into her life and offers to have CeeCee come and live with her in Savannah.
I am terrible at summarizing books (or stories for that matter) so I won't go any further into the actual story so as not to stop you from reading this book due to my inadequacies as a "reviewer". If you have not already read it, I strongly urge you to do so. It has received wonderful well-deserved kudos from critics and readers alike, so it's not just me. I think it is destined to join the ranks of timeless, wonderful books that are on every reading list in the world.
It probably is true for everyone who reads a lot, but finding a special book that moves you, is like having the winning lottery ticket! It doesn't happen often. It is a treasure, and the wonderful thing about treasured books is that you can read them again and again over time and will most likely find new things to delight you each time you read it. There are thousands and thousands of writers and wanna-bees, but those that can create a treasure on the written page through their words and insights are few and very far between. Beth Hoffman, the author, is one such writer, which is really remarkable because this is her first book!! I hope she writes many others.
It occurred to me after I finished the book, that I really seem drawn to books about normal kids struggling to get through a life that may not be unusual but is still new and a struggle for the kid living it. In fact, when I thought about it I realized that several of my favorite books of all-time are about special kids in special times surrounded by special people and occurrences...."To Kill a Mockingbird", "Little Women", "A Catcher in the Rye", "The Secret Life of Bees", "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". "Member of the Wedding". "The Saving of CeeCee Hunnicutt" is now joining that august company.
I wonder what that says about me.....arrested development, stuck in childhood, still coming of age??? Or maybe it's just empathy for other souls trying to grow up in a world that doesn't make it easy.
Read the book. It's a gem!
I think it shows that you are a "thinker" and need literature that is "chewy" and not fluff.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's our generation that likes "coming of age" stories. For some reason, they speak to us.
JE
I think you are interested in these books because you are young at heart.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read. I'll put it on my list. I think you did a good job with the review. Made me want to read it. Of course, rating it up there with To Kill a Mockingbird, Catcher in the Rye, Little Women, etc. didn't hurt my opinion of it at all. your blog looks great. You just get better at this every time I come over here. laurie
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check it out. I felt the same way when I read The Help. So different from most books I read, but so wonderful.
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