Bertie’s Place by Edie Goodwin
Westbow Press
ISBN : 9798385021000
Paperback $21.99
I found Edie Goodwin’s debut book, Bertie’s Place, a delightful and satisfying read. It’s a moving story about how a cash-strapped Christian teacher navigates the transition from graduation to adulthood and deals with life’s difficulties.
Molly, a kind-hearted and principled soul, has to find other accommodation after her friend Eva breaks a promise to move into an apartment with her in Winslow, Ohio. She has student loans to pay off and her teacher’s salary only goes so far. Feeling used and betrayed, she finds a haven in Bertie’s place, a boardinghouse run by a widow. Molly throws herself into her teaching position, attends church, makes new friends, and there is even romance in the air…Life happens, yet she endeavors to stay true to her Christian beliefs and ethics. She’s a likeable, well-balanced character. Her struggles seem real and plausible.
The story is adequately paced, with an interesting plot depicting the heart of a farming community and the challenges of a public school. I found the unexpected shifts of perspective a bother and would have preferred clear breaks to signal when a new character is introduced. That said, betrayal, attraction, love, misery, friendship and forgiveness make this an unforgettable read.
Louise Viljoen
Opmerkingen