Book Review
By
C. Neuroticus Absolutus
I just finished
reading Porch Lights by Dorthea
Benton Frank, another story about life on the barrier islands of South
Carolina. They say write about what you know best. Ms. Frank was born and
raised on Sullivans Island and weaves a treasure trove of knowledge and
experience into one story after another about the South Carolina Lowcountry.
I’ve read eight of the dozen books she has written, each with charming, lovable
characters who draw the reader into real-life predicaments where Ms. Frank lets
the characters lead the reader to happy endings. She writes feel-good books
that go well with sun block, sand, seashells, colorful beach umbrellas and
pitchers of Margaritas. She has mastered the art of storytelling with an
occasional twist of humor. Moreover, whereas the average chick-lit authors
write to fit the formulas of the Harlequin ilk, Ms. Frank skillfully constructs
entertaining narratives outside the constricting formula mold.
Porch Lights features Jackie McMullen, an
Army nurse with multiple tours of Afghanistan who is widowed when her
firefighter husband dies in the line of duty. She comes home to a ten-year-old
son Charlie who is devastated by his father’s passing―as is she. The boy’s
depression leads her and her son from New York back to Sullivans Island and her
long-separated mother and father. Jackie refuses to believe that she will ever
love again and plans to return to Brooklyn before the next school year begins.
But Charlie develops a relationship with his grandfather and the kind bachelor
doctor next door and refuses to leave the island. An approaching hurricane provides
the impetus for Jackie to leave Sullivans Island quickly, but Mother Nature
moves in to put the kibosh on all human plans.
Oh, did I mention
that Steve Plofker, the handsome doctor next door, eyes curvy nurse Jackie from
the moment she arrives home. Before you can say Bob’s your uncle, he develops
longer-range plans for Jackie than she is willing to consider. As they say,
love will find a way. Or will it?
Each chapter in Porch Lights is preceded by a quote from
Edgar Allen Poe, whose work The Gold Bug
captures young Charlie’s imagination and leads him to discover the marvelous
history of Sullivans Island, which Ms. Frank skillfully intertwines in her
story. What’s more, each chapter alternates the point of view between Jackie
and her mother Annie - an unusual approach considering that most agents, editors
and critics say never switch points of view. However, in Porch Lights, Ms. Frank accomplishes this with a story that changes
POV effortlessly and seamlessly, a credit to her mastery of her craft.
I like
action/adventure Uzi-toting bad guys and all-American, Glock-in-hand heroes who
look like they stepped out of a WWII Army recruiting poster. Still, with all
that tiring action, I occasionally need a laid-back story that tugs at my heartstrings
and lets me unwind. That’s when I turn to Ms. Frank’s creations, books
guaranteed to warm your heart and let you relax.
I admit that Ms. Frank’s
books are getting more predictable with the printing of each new novel. I
believe her best work lies in her earlier books. Nevertheless, I like her stories. I know
pretty much what I’m going to get when I take one of Ms. Frank’s novels to the
cash register. No disappointments.
Bedtime or beach time, poolside or plane ride, Porch
Lights is a good read.
