I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed other books by Dorothea benton Frank. There are great characters, a good story, and most of all I love the low-country and the references to places I know. But there were also several things I didn't like about the book. The beginning starts off awkwardly with the main character, Anna, addressing the reader directly... "Get yourself a cup of tea, I'm gonna tell you a tale." Really tacky. Then several times throughout the book, also very awkwardly, the narrator switches and the story is told by Miss Mavis instead of Anna. Really strange and sloppy writing in my opinion. I thought some of the characters were a little immature- Frannie in particular- who uses language of a young 20-something. But probably my biggest complaint was the attitude Anna and others have about her rapist. Thankfully, at the end, Anna, finally delivers some normal rage towards her prom date who date-raped her and left her pregnant. But the whole scenario to treat the rapist's wife to a day at the salon and to send a photo of her daughter is rather far-fetched and not clear. She never indicates what her goal is in contacting this guy (Everett). She didn't prosecute, but still doesn't want his money nor intends to retaliate. In the end he comes for Thanksgiving dinner and after she smashes his car (finally something real!) she finds forgiveness on the spot?! I began to wonder if my thinking was off-base or if southern women handle things differently or why the author treated a date-rape resulting in a pregnancy so casually. Any why did she forgive her neighbor, Lucy, for gossiping about something so delicately? Anyway, hopefully, you get my point... I don't think this part of the story was addressed with the importance that it should have received. I suppose that's because the author intended the book to simply be a fun "beach novel." And it is just that. I enjoyed the fun characters, images of good backyard parties, and the atmosphere of the salon.
Each year I like to pick an author and read everything I can by them. This year's pick is Dorothea Benton Frank and she's coming here to town to a local bookstore in June and I can't even wait! I'm reading her Lowcountry Tales and I have to say, after this one, I'm in love. First of all, my favorite place in the United States is the Charleston area. So it's so fun to read these books and spend some time in that beautiful place. I also am beginning to really love these characters. Although the three books I've read so far are a tad bit formulaic, I love the way the characters and their stories from each book are starting to intertwine. Isle of Palms is so far my favorite. I adore Anna's spirit -- and I like to think I'd make the same choices as she did in this book. I loved her thoughts here:"Oh! Didn't everyone you loved rub off on you a little, leaving a soapy residue of their best self? They did. And through them, you might become somebody with your own residue worth leaving around. Although my life would never change the world like Gandhi or somebody like him, I decided my life still had significance. I was just going to keep working on my tiny piece of the planet." My thoughts exactly, Anna. :)
What do You think about Isle Of Palms (2005)?
I continue to return to Dorothea Benton Frank's books because I generally enjoy her writing style, her characters and locations, her wit and humor. I try to overlook little issues I have, such as this being a Low Country Tale, for no more Low Country names, places, details, it could have taken place anywhere. A big issue for me with this book was how casually the date rape was handled initially and specifically nineteen years later. What was the point of contacting the rapist thru his wife? Anna's delayed 'rage' seemed out of character and then the instant forgiveness seemed illogical and unlikely. The other little issue involved Lucy's lack of trustworthiness and Anna continuing to put up with it. That being said, I truly enjoyed the characters, especially Jim; what a great guy, a fantastic friend, and dad!
—Janice
A weak protagonist, a predictable and neat ending, and shabby character developments... I did not enjoy this book at all. I have read several of Ms. Frank's books, and about a third of the way into this novel, I knew exactly where it was going. Unfortunately, she took an eternity to get there! The only reason that I kept reading was to see if she would ever complete the development of her characters, which she never did. She even sets one of the characters as a part-time narrator, but never really delves into the relationship between her and Anna.This book left such a bad taste in my mouth, I had to leave the low country novels for a Boston crime thriller. I would never have picked up another one of her books had I read this book first. Thank goodness I started with The Last Original Wife.
—Reese Penn
I read and enjoyed a Dorothea Benton Frank book several years ago. Since then I've read two other of her Lowcountry books and I did not like them. In the meantime I picked up this book at the used book store, and rather than waste my $1 I chose to read it. I have to admit that "women's fiction" is of little interest to me right now.*Right from the very beginning, I did not like the tone of Isle of Palms, or the casual first person language. Isle of Palms is a wild ride of improbabilities. No one lives a life like Anna's. Despite my unwillingness to accept the story as told, I finally became interested in all the relationships and almost enjoyed reading the last third.My $1 book is going to be donated to Goodwill.*See Wikipedia's article on Women's fiction at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women...
—Kathleen S
