Dorothea Benton Frank is one of my favorite writers!!! I was visiting a bookstore in Charleston, SC and came upon one of her novels. There was a nice blurb by Pat Conroy (one of my other faves) so I decided to pick it up. That book was, luckily for me, Sullivan's Island which started the journey for all of her readers, and I was in love. It was particularly appealing because I was right there where I was. I pace myself on her books so that I always have some waiting for me when I want to read something I know I will love. Full of Grace did not disappoint. In fact, it might be my favorite of her novels so far (although that could change at any minute).Frank creates characters I want to know. I want to be friends with them. The stories are compelling and capture life so well. This story of Grace, a relocated New Jersey girl living in Charleston, is a mix of drama and a lot of fun. Her family, now living in South Carolina too, is a hoot! She deals with them in all their quirkiness through holidays, joys and turmoils. But they won't accept her live-in boyfriend, Michael. As she faces the devastating news that Michael has a dangerous cancer, she finds herself questioning her faith and assumptions. You don't have to read her Low Country novels in order. They stand alone perfectly well. However, Franks rewards her readers with a little bonus in each novel. At some point in the book, the main character(s) will run into, meet, or reveal their friendship with characters from another book. You don't need to know that they are characters from another book and wouldn't necessarily even remember these characters from this novel, but I look forward to that moment when I say, "Hey, I know them!" It's just a little bit of fun.
This book was surprising in many ways. Having read several books by this author, I was sure I would like this one as well. I did, but not the way that I expected.The book starts with a rather mundane accounting of Grace's day-to-day life. She's living with her boyfriend, Michael, who is a research physician. On holidays, she visits her family—but without Michael who isn't welcome at her parent's home. Part of the reason is because he's using stem cells in his research and their Catholic doctrine condemns it. But the primary reason is that he's not Italian; he's Irish, of all things.I was lulled along, getting to know the Russos through Grace's visits with them—the conflicts being played out over a dinner table loaded with holiday goodies. Then, the family has to face two crises. First, Nonna falls and breaks her hip. In considerable pain, she refuses to cooperate with her therapists and demands to go home, expecting Grace's mother to care for her around the clock. Then, Michael is diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer and Grace needs her family's support as never before.My favorite character in this book is Father John. I'd like to meet him in real life. In one scene, discussing en vitro fertilization, he says, "I think that the Church's major area of concern has always been that children are begotten not made. Is it right to make children in a laboratory setting just because we can?" And also, "The trick is not to rationalize your decisions knowing that they displease God."I was only looking for a good story, but along with that, I got some wise spiritual guidance. A good deal in my book.
What do You think about Full Of Grace (2007)?
Overall, Full of Grace is like My Big Fat Greek Wedding but with a crazy cast of characters from a hard-core Italian Catholic family. Grace (the over-30 and seemingly content to still be unmarried daughter of this family) is and always will be Maria Graciella to her grandmother. Add to this storyline Michael, Grace's live-in commitment-challenged boyfriend who is Irish, an agnostic and whose calling in life is doing stem cell research. He has never met Grace's family because he's neither Italian nor a good practicing Catholic (neither is Grace) and there's also that problem with the Pope's opinion of Michael's career. So far, so good and very entertaining.hen, comes a big twist in the storyline; a big shift into Grace's issues with the Catholic church and a road trip involving healing water, blessed rosaries, holy cards and some Virgin Mary sightings. (Seriously, do Catholics ignore the fact that she had more children after Jesus?) Well, here's where the book loses me for the most part. I had the same problem with Jodi Picoult's books about stigmata and the Jesus wantabe death-row convict and also Vivi's mother's Catholic stuff in Rebecca Wells' YaYa Sisterhood books. So if it wasn't for that stuff, I'd have given this book 4 stars because the family dynamics are so funny. Grace is so sarcastic and someone I'd love to have as a friend. But, to much of the Catholic stuff made it, in the end, just an OK read. I really liked Frank's book Shem Creek and I have several of her books on my TBR shelf. I'll try another in a few months.
—Debby
This is one of the best southern fiction books I have read in some time. I love the story of an Italian Catholic family. And I love how the author subtly wove religion throughout the story in a way that was meaningful yet also not "in your face", especially with the protagonist, Grace being a nonreligious member of her very religious Italian Catholic family. I am not Catholic, but I am Italian, and she nailed our families! Lots of humor, lots of tears, and a very good story that makes you wish these characters had their own series.
—Sondra
I picked this book up because it had a picture of the ocean on the cover, and the girl is wearing a beautiful turquoise skirt. The description talks about South Carolina. I was hooked! I suppose that's what they mean by "don't judge a book by its cover". The two main characters are not married but live together. Her family is very judgmental in the beginning because they are Catholic and he is Irish. The book is really about converting people to Catholicism. As a Christian, I found the subject interesting and I actually learned a lot, but there were a lot of nonessential conversations and pieces that just made it hard to stay focused. There was more to the story but I can't tell you without spoiling it.
—Liz
