It's the kind of disappointment that comes from licking a tootsie roll and finding no center. There were some moments of enjoyment in the sugar coating, but the quintessential chewy-chocolate-goodness was missing.
Arnoult weaves a wonderful tale, builds a few characters that are very likeable and fills it out with good old southern charm. My human nature liked it, however my Spiritual nature was left searching for substance.
The characters' spiritual life completely lacks formation, mixing myth with Christianity, reflecting the author's misunderstanding of a Christian worldview. For example, a few of her main characters mix the world of fairies with Christ, and the author doesn't resolve this for them at any point or time.
The fundamental issue in the story deals with mental illness, but the author leaves her protagonist as confused, alone and sick as we originally found her, perhaps more so. Furthermore, her characters, while they describe themselves as bible-believers, have no qualm about having sex outside of marriage. Again, the author does not resolve this in any spiritual way. Her characters feel unabashed and they suffer no consequences by it. Having developed her story in the heart of the bible belt, and having described her tale as spiritual, I expected more traditional values.
This isn't about grace, it's about making excuses, letting go of substance and expecting none in return.
Very disappointing.
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