Yes, I know it's been way too long since my last review. I, of course, have read literally dozens of books since then (but can't post a review on every one; then it would feel like homework and not a pleasure). So I pick and choose my reviews.
This novel was written by Rebecca Wells of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisters" fame (a fantastic book by the way). Calla (I will call it to abbreviate the lenghty title) is a girlie book written in first person narrative by the heroine herself, Miss Calla Lily Ponder (great name, huh?). She was named from her parents' favorite flower, the lovely calla lillies. It takes place in Louisiana in a small fictitious river town called La Luna along the banks of the Luna River and everything there, naturally, is moon-themed. A reverberating theme throughout the entire novel is the Moon Lady herself who is a "spirit" that envelopes Calla and is her protector working in mysterious ways through Calla's mother and other such ladies who stand in for her mother when she loses her to breast cancer at just 16. Calla suffers tragedies such as this, but grows up to be the sweetest, kindest most loving woman one could imagine. She pursues her dream to move to New Orleans and attend cosmetology school, makes new friends, falls in love and marries the man of her dreams, only to have that dream shattered when he dies in an off-shore boat explosion at work.
After 10 years, she moves back to her quaint and lovely little town and realizes her true dream by opening up her very own hair salon. It is through this salon where Calla's healing powers come through via her hands on her clients' heads as she gently massages them and washes away all of their cares and unhappiness.
The books is beautifully written, poetic, lyrical and very sweet. It makes me think that there are never limits to how much one can love others and love life itself. Calla is a spirited, ambitious character whom I admire. So she didn't go to an academic university and become a "professional career woman" in the usual sense (i.e., doctor lawyer, CPA...). But she stuck to her dream and her passion and established her own business which she pours her entire heart and soul into. During the journey there, real life of course happens with all of its tragedies (alcoholism, disease, death, lies and betrayals). Yet, she finds love again (first love from high school) and all is good and serene with the world again. Ahhhhh, peace, tranquility, heaven. These things I think of in the end. It is simply one of the sweetest books I've read and I sighed aloud when it was over.
