Garden Spells

I just finished listening to Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells, with Susan Ericksen reading/narrating for Brilliance Audio.  The Library hasn’t received the physical audiobooks yet, but I was able to download the audiobook from the EVPL Digital Library.  One of the advantages of the electronic format is receiving a title and making it available to our customers immediately after ordering it. 

Garden Spells reminded me of the literary gems I used to find and discuss with staff and customers many years ago when I was a branch manager and read more literary fiction.  This book is charming and lyrical.  It’s full of magic, and family, and relationships.  Each of the Waverleys has a ‘gift,’ and when Sydney and her daughter Bay return to small-town Bascom, North Carolina, after running from an abusive relationship, we learn more about those gifts and love with them.  Garden Spells drew me in and captivated me.   I’d find myself driving around the block or sitting at my destination listening to just a little more before turning off the car’s MP3 player.