Author: Sarah Addison Allen | Title:
The Peach Keeper | Genre: Gentle Reads
Publication Date: March 22,
2011 | Number of
Pages: 304
Geographical Setting: Walls of Water, North Carolina
| Time Period: Modern Day
Plot
Summary: Willa
Jackson is trying make up for her ne’er-do-well past. Paxton Osgood is trying
to leave her family’s expectations and start her own future. As the re-opening
of the abandoned and possibly haunted Blue Ridge Madam looms closer, strange things
are happening in Walls of Water, North Carolina. Willa and Paxton, as heirs-apparent
to the Women’s Society Club, will have to rediscover their past- and perhaps
find themselves along the way.
Characteristics for Gentle Reads:
Cleanliness- This book has little to no sex
or profanity. There is allusion to and minor threat of violence, but no actual
violence shown. Similarly, the story’s values are mostly old-fashioned.
Language/Style- Utilizing simple, homespun
language, Allen creates a relaxed, domestic atmosphere.
Tone- The book has an "optimistic, even comforting ethos" that leads to "comfort and Catharsis" (Saricks 195).
Tone- The book has an "optimistic, even comforting ethos" that leads to "comfort and Catharsis" (Saricks 195).
Setting- The story takes place in a
small Southern town where everyone has known each other for generations.
Plot/Character- None of the stakes are
especially high, which leads to a fairly leisurely-paced plot. The story's conclusion is "resolved and satisfying" and the characters end up "in balance with themselves, their lives, and each other" (Saricks 195.) The story is
much more character-driven, and there is little to no "man vs. man"-style conflict. A main focus is the "character's arc of personal development," focusing on Willa and Paxton primarily and their respective love interests (Colin and Sebastian) secondarily (Saricks 194). Everyone
knows each other and (mostly) gets along.
Read-alikes:
Fiction-
Big Stone Gap (Adriana Trigiani)
The Book Charmer (Karen Hawkins)
Queen Bee Goes Home Again
(Haywood Smith)
Similar Authors: Lauren Groff, Fannie
Flagg, Alice Hoffman, Suzanne Palmieri
Nonfiction-
For fans of Willa’s coffee shop:
Top 100 Coffee Recipes:
a Cookbook for Coffee Lovers (Mary Vard)
For fans of the Women’s Society
Club: The
Red Hat Society (Sue Ellen Cooper)
For fans of the Peach Tree itself:
Eat Your Yard! (Nan K.
Chase)
Paxton Osgood. Do you think this book was built around this author's idea for one name? Haha. Sometimes I can't get into a book because the character names seem so unrealistic. But then I remember that I'm an NPR listener and the hosts are real people with names like these: https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/05/why-do-npr-reporters-have-such-great-names/275493/
ReplyDeleteI have to say, with the news the way it is these days, a book where everyone knows each other and gets along sounds like a nice change of pace.
This book sounds so cute! I like how it seems to have sprinkles of paranormal activity in it as well. I'd be interested to see how that all plays out.
ReplyDeleteA possibly haunted building and a small town where everyone knows each other's business is always a recipe for disaster and a made for tv movie. I'd like to read this.
ReplyDeleteI am not typically a gentle reads person but when the mood strikes this looks like a sweet one to pick up. Thanks for the awesome review :)
ReplyDeleteYou really hit the nail on the head with the characteristics. It helped flesh out your summary even more. This book sounds pretty good. Did you enjoy it personally? Full points!
ReplyDelete