There is nothing I love more when on vacation is to indulge in a beach read. The sun and sand are an intoxicating cocktail that rejuvenates me and helps me get through the year. Reading Porch Lights by Dorothea Benton Frank is like being on vacation.
Imagine the South Carolina Lowcountry, a screened in porch, a salty breeze and glasses of sweet tea at the ready. That’s the makings of this sweet read. Never having been to any of the Carolinas, Dottie’s writings makes me yearn for a summer at The Salty Dog. Not only is Annie the perfect hostess, I’m pretty sure I could get my fill of Edgar Allen Poe’s books read from the Poe library. The characters in this tale are easy to get along with, especially since they spend most of their time eating, drinking cocktails on the porch, or admiring the ocean: the newly widowed Jackie, poor fatherless Charlie, the handsome doctor next door, the tireless neighbor friend Deb and Guster, the husband.
To be sure, I don’t quite know what to make of the relationship between Annie and Guster but aside from that weird bit, the story of healing, reconnection, and family made me want to sit on the porch with Jackie and Annie to share some of that love. It didn’t hurt that we were having some unusually warm weather here in the Philadelphia area so that I had the windows open and experienced a warm breeze that I pretended was the ocean breeze; I was transported to Sullivans Island!
I’m not sure what the appeal of South Carolina Lowcountry is to literature, but this title and Conjure by Lea Nolan make me want to visit. I enjoyed the easy to read book. While I wish there were ethnically diverse characters in the book, it is a great beach read.
I look forward to reading The Last Original Wife when it debuts in June!
Three paws for Poe history!
