What do You think about Sweetwater Creek (2006)?
Lovely little book. A good, basic read for a day. As one other said on here, Ms. Siddons books all follow the same recipe of lush, over spoken swamp and river descriptions. I have to say, that her book 'Colony', about a location in Maine much different from the South, was her best book. Even literary in many places.I loved the girl in this book, and the dogs! The character of the debutante was foolish.. and I can't help bringing to mind Ms. Siddon's sorority background: "Delta, Delta, Delta, can I helpya helpya helpya!Otherwise, I have to say Ms. Siddon's book was sticky sweet. But, I liked it somewhat, and will search for another of her books that brings a bit more meat along with it.
—Patricia dumas
This is a sweet, rather slow-moving story full of descriptive scenery depicting South Carolina's Low County. Sweetwater is an old plantation, now used by its owners as the head quarters of a family business dedicated to the breeding and training of prized duck hunting dogs named Boykin Spaniels. The plantation rests near Sweetwater Creek , and is the setting for a twelve year old girl's coming of age story. Raised by a distracted father and two older brothers with whom she has little connection, Emmy's heart longs to heal from the past, which involves the death of a beloved brother as well as her mother's abandonment. Left to her own devices, Emmy is a natural dog trainer that lives in an isolated world until Lulu Foxworth comes to stay with the Parmenter family for the summer, eventually turning their lives upside down. Sweetwater Creek is a rich, coming of age story told beautifully and authentically with fully developed characters who reside in an uncommonly soulful setting. If you like a book that reads like a song of the South, this is for you.
—Claire Fullerton
It has been a while since I’ve read an ARS book and I saw this one (that I had not read) at the library the other day. I was attracted also by the cover quote from Pat Conroy. “She ranks among the best of us and delivers the goods – the whole fabulous package-with every book she writes.” I love Siddon’s use of words and descriptive language. She makes the low country of South Carolina so inviting. This is a coming of age story of Emily, a 12 year old girl who has been left. Her family breeds and trains Boykin spaniels, a hunting dog. I was glad to be off work today and I spent most of the day devouring this book.
—Nancy
