fancy terrible: book reviews by fancy ladies

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.

Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes—which is a good thing, because Julia can’t seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar . . . Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she’s hurt in the past? 

Starting this book, I thought it was the story of Emily Benedict and her struggle to fit in in a strange little town that holds answers — and a lot of unanswered questions — to the mystery of her dead mother’s past. Instead, I found Julia to be the one storyline to come full circle, wrapped in a larger picture of family and tradition.

There’s a lot of sadness here. Not gut-wrenching, it won’t make you cry or anything (unless you’re a complete sap), but lots of coulda-woulda-shouldas. Many of the adult characters trace their relationships back to high school, where people were jerks and did bad things to one another. Julia in particular is a tough cookie who left Mullaby and started a new life, only to find her ties to the town — and to her father — stronger than she thought.

One thing I like is the hist of mysticism that prevails throughout. It’s not as overt as ghosts or spirits, which makes it even better. It’s love, it’s history, it’s all wrapped up in the air rich with North Carolina barbecue and Julia’s cakes. Those were my favorite parts of the book, the parts that weren’t easily explained. And the best thing is, the town residents don’t even try! They just take it as it is. Love it.

So there I am, riding a creepy kind of mystical high and then someone lets the wind out of my sails. The eye rolling began when some of the secrets are revealed. I mean, I didn’t grow up in a small town so I can’t appreciate the atmosphere, but there were a couple of moments when I was all, “come on, really?” And Emily, when she finds out, is 100% in agreement with me (which makes me think that Allen couldn’t even drink all of the Kool-Aid that she made herself). Another thing that was a bit disappointing was that Julia’s path changes in what I found to be a rather typical way. She becomes attached to Emily, and then falls again for a guy who played a large part in her dicey history, and then kind of reexamines her loyalties, blah blah blah. I like her, I found her to be a strong character, and I just wish that the “right” thing for her wasn’t the predictable one. And I get that there’s a reason why she always wears long sleeves, but why does she always wear peasant blouses?? Rather, why must it always be pointed out that she’s wearing a peasant blouse?? Odd.

I can see why so many people enjoy this book, but it didn’t exactly mash my potatoes. I’m gonna give The Peach Keeper a chance though . . . stay tuned.