Pearl Weaver is obsessed with stories. When loss leaves her reeling, Pearl seeks peace from the writing lessons of her father, a brilliant Southern writer. If you don’t like something, he taught, cross it out and choose a better plot. Although his lesson was intended for ink and paper, Pearl uses it to choose a new life for herself, straight from the pages of classic literature. Soon she discovers that what’s perfectly poised within a masterpiece, is disastrous in the real world. Pearl flees to the ends of the earth, only to discover that some stories are impossible to escape. Facing terrifying consequences, Pearl must choose her next plot. Will she recreate herself once again? Or will she learn that freedom doesn’t have to be fictional?
Assessment:
Plot: This coming-of-age novel is well plotted and moves along at a solid pace. Both present and past storylines are conveyed effectively.
Prose: The protagonist’s eccentricity is conveyed well, and folksy metaphors are woven throughout the smooth prose. The creation of a pro-labor pamphleteer known cleverly as Abraham Linton works well as a mid-story twist.
Originality: The authenticity of the cotton mill milieu and the “linthead” subculture enriches a story that includes both triumph and tragedies.
Character Development: The characters here are fully developed, engaging, and sure to interest readers. The relationships between the characters and their dialogue are equally strong.
Date Submitted: April 07, 2017
Rated FIVE stars: "A swirl of lovely metaphors and breathtaking perspectives...Pearl Weaver contains the best parts of Southern charm, drawing upon the story part of religious tales, and showing how those literary inheritances belong to us all."
