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Friday, July 19, 2013

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall - Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts

cover image via goodreads.com

What Whistling Past the Graveyard is about:
In the summer of 1963, nine-year-old spitfire Starla Claudelle runs away from her strict grandmother’s Mississippi home. Starla hasn’t seen her momma since she was three—that’s when Lulu left for Nashville to become a famous singer. Starla’s daddy works on an oil rig in the Gulf, so Mamie, with her tsk-tsk sounds and her bitter refrain of “Lord, give me strength,” is the nearest thing to family Starla has. She fears Mamie will make good on her threat to send Starla to reform school, so Starla walks to the outskirts of town, and just keeps walking. . . . If she can get to Nashville and find her momma, then all that she promised will come true: Lulu will be a star. Daddy will come to live in Nashville, too. And her family will be whole and perfect. Walking a lonely country road, Starla accepts a ride from Eula, a black woman traveling alone with a white baby. The trio embarks on a road trip that will change Starla’s life forever. She sees for the first time life as it really is—as she reaches for a dream of how it could one day be.


Whistling Past the Graveyard actually took me by surprise. I didn't expect to love Starla and Eula quite so much, but darn it, I did. Their story captured my heart and my imagination and I couldn't help but tear through this book in a day. I love Southern fiction and this story rates up there with Beth Hoffman, Joshilyn Jackson, and Jenny Wingfield's works.

Recommend? Absolutely. It's such a heartfelt story of friendship, love, acceptance, and paints a pretty true picture of the race relations during the early 1960's.

Source: NetGalley via Gallery Books
ebook320 pages
Published July 2nd 2013 by Gallery Books




Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #117
© 2013, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

23 comments:

  1. It sounds like this lives up to all the terrific buzz it's been getting.

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  2. This one has gotten some good press. I am not a fan of the cover or title. They initially put me off but the good reviews are bringing me back to it.

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  3. I have this one too and should get to it soon. So glad you loved it!

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  4. sounds like such an interesting and sweet read. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  5. I have this one on my tbr pile and I can't wait to get to it. Especially now! Thanks :D

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  6. Wow! really? Up there with Beth Hoffman, that's all the encouragement I need, thanks Staci :)

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  7. I've wondered about this one. Glad you liked it!

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  8. Southern fiction and summer just seem to go together. Glad you enjoyed this one!

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  9. Wow, Beth and Joshlin! I'm in! Thanks for the recommendation.

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  10. Oh, the days of me being able to tear through a book in one day are long gone :) This one looks good, I like the comparison you've made.

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  11. I've been very curious about this book and hope to get to it later this summer. I wonder if the audio is any good? I don't think I've ever listened to a book narrated by Amy Rubinate, so I'll have to see if I can find a sample. I'm thoroughly enjoying Calling Me Home (on audio) and think it's one you'd really like, too.

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  12. I have this one high on my list and am so glad you enjoyed it!

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  13. This sounds really good. I might have to read this one! (which is what I usually say after your reviews!) :--)

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  14. Sounds like one that would make a great movie!

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  15. Oooooh, I have this one on my kindle. Since you liked it so much I should really pick it up and give it a read.

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  16. I'd definitely read this one. It sounds like one I would love right now:)

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  17. that sounds like a must read.

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  18. If it compares to Beth Hoffman, I'll keep it in mind for sure!

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  19. Oddly enough, the cover didn't appeal to me, so I passed it up. I didn't even pay attention to what it was about. I love Southern novels, so ultimately I may really enjoy this one.

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