Hilarious. Homey. Honest. I loved every second of this book about books, and about a small Southern town where everyone knows everyone's business, politics, loves and especially hates!
Lula Dean is that busybody who thinks she is always right, and when she decides to focus on the books in the library that are "not proper" for kids to read, she stirs the town pot. She puts her own Wholesome little free library in her front yard, and doesn't notice when a young activist switches out the books wrapped in her dust jackets with all those very same banned books. When neighbors begin taking and reading these books, hilarity ensues. Written reminiscent of Jan Karon's Mitford series in style, each chapter moves to a different resident to show us how they are affected by the goings on of their neighbors. Bringing up ancestors who owned slaves, a young boy who thinks his mama is dying (she's not), the town "it" girl who stayed to raise a family and makes a stand, the local boy turned movie star who comes home to confront his redneck brother, the local respected businessman who the postman knows is a collector of specific historical items, and more, Miller hits us where our hearts and beliefs are with this commentary on censorship, burying our past vs celebrating our progress, and how reading can change everything.
I also listened to Miller's book The Change and found it thought provoking as well - a story of the powers, physical and mystical, of women who are comfortable in their own skin. That was a far fetched murder mystery - I liked the tone and the characters of Lula Dean better!
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