Will waste your whole night.
Roses
Leila Meacham
Grand Central, 2010
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the small east Texas town of Howbutker is run by three families. The Tolivers preside over the massive cotton plantation of Somerset, the Warwicks possess acres upon acres of timber and the DuMonts handle the retail stores in town. The story really begins when Mary Toliver, only 16 years old, inherits Somerset over her older brother and her mother. Miles never really wanted to run the plantation anyway, but Mary's mother is heartbroken over the slight and takes to her bed. Mary is secretly thrilled that Somerset is hers but the shunning by her mother is sobering and even worse, her brother ships her off to boarding school in order to smooth things over in the family.
Leila Meacham
Grand Central, 2010
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the small east Texas town of Howbutker is run by three families. The Tolivers preside over the massive cotton plantation of Somerset, the Warwicks possess acres upon acres of timber and the DuMonts handle the retail stores in town. The story really begins when Mary Toliver, only 16 years old, inherits Somerset over her older brother and her mother. Miles never really wanted to run the plantation anyway, but Mary's mother is heartbroken over the slight and takes to her bed. Mary is secretly thrilled that Somerset is hers but the shunning by her mother is sobering and even worse, her brother ships her off to boarding school in order to smooth things over in the family.
When World War I erupts, Miles enlists, along with his boyhood friends Percy Warwick and Otto DuMont. Mary learns how to run the plantation while they are gone; when they return she and Percy fall in love. The big problem? Mary won't give up the plantation for Percy. Mary is adamant that she will never have room in her heart for anything but Somerset, yet they are undeniably attracted to each other and they cannot deny their passion despite their differences. Through a trick of fate, Percy and Mary are forced apart. The consequences of their separation vibrate throughout the years, giving rise to lies, deceit, secrets, and tragedies that their families must suffer through, until, ultimately, their decisions mean that families are broken apart and the infamous Somerset curse may be true after all.
This novel was almost a one cupcake review. After ten pages I asked my friend who raved about it if it would get better. After the first section (Mary's), I debated continuing through the forced metaphor of the roses, the continuing missed opportunities between Mary and Percy, the melodrama of the "Somerset curse," and of course, the blatant similarities to Gone with the Wind. But Percy's story was next, and I hoped in all innnocence that his part would steer the plot into something new and different. Alas, it was not to be. Whether you decide that Percy is a victim, a saint, a martyr or just stupid, he is not much more likeable that Mary. I understand the need for human foibles to move the plot forward, but both Mary and Percy do such irreversible damage to other human beings it's no wonder things turn out as they do.
But, hope springs eternal and to the author's credit, the last section is the best of the three (faint praise, I know). Rachel, Mary's great-niece, has some depth to her character -- and some principles to do the right thing. Despite some convenient plot twists (EVERYONE dies in an accident?), the last section also has some suspense (slight, but still!) and a bit of unpredictability (of course, who would expect EVERYONE to die?), which caused me to actually sit up and read a little more compulsively than I had the first two sections. (In fact, the first two sections took me the better part of a week to finish -- not my usual speed.) Saint Percy actually gets what's coming to him -- well, everyone gets what's coming to them, whatever that may be, which may or may not mean everyone lives happily ever after. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone.
This is the author’s first novel.
Rating:
Rating justification:
The last section moved it up from two cupcakes to three. I am nothing if not fair.
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