Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Goddess of Fried Okra

I have to admit, the first time I read this book's title, it made me very hungry! If you like the book, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' by Fannie Flagg, you will also enjoy The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear. The story's heroine is six-foot redhead Eudora "Pea" O'Brien, a convenience store employee who leaves Austin, TX with everything she owns packed in the back of her beat-up car. She is searching for the reincarnated soul of the sister who raised her after her parents died, based on the advice of a psychic. For Pea, everything that was right in her world took a nosedive when her sister died, and she believes that if she can see her again, and make peace with her, her world will vastly improve. Pea travels along the backroads of Texas, reading historical markers and listening for signs from her sister to point her along the right path. On her journey she picks up some strays--a terrified kitten, a pregnant teen she rescues from her abusive boyfriend and a con man trying to reform. When the car finally dies in Jewel, TX, she meets an unlikely group of folks and the whole menagerie stays for a spell while the car gets fixed, Pea works at the local cafe' to help pay for the car repairs and she meets an unlikely pair of sisters. This book is a wistful, humorous story of a woman who sets out to find her reincarnated sister but ends up finding herself. It is truly a delightful read. I also enjoyed the format of this book, as easy chapter opens with an explanation of a "historical" marker about a person or place that has something to do with the story. The library only owns the Large Print format of this book, so make sure you search for it in the Large Print section when you want to check it out!

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