Revisited Reads

Laura W. made an interesting suggestion about revisiting books I've already read and discussing how they fare on the reread this year, so here's the first go.

I read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen for the first time back in 2011, thanks to Charlene Teglia, when it instantly became one of my keepers and givers (a book I give to practically anyone). I've reread the novel a couple times per year since that first read, and decided to give it another go in anticipation of the publication of the sequel.

I remember during my first read of the novel how impressed I was by the effortless pace of the story, and the magical qualities of the characterizations. Then the story enchanted me and I forgot I was reading (which these days is almost impossible for any book to do to me) and I fell in love. Once I finished the novel I bought every single title Sarah had published plus five extra copies of Garden Spells to hand out to friends. I've since invested in at least a dozen more copies that I've given away, including both times I've been a Library Thing Secret Santa.

Obviously I'm very fond of this novel, and revisiting Garden Spells is like curling up with an soft quilt on a cold day. For me it's one of those old-friend books that reaffirms your faith in great storytelling. It's also a bit more than a comfort read, too. Each time I reread it my focus shifts to a certain element that I study and try to absorb, such as the unusual gifts the author bestows on the characters -- it's a stylistic choice, and very much related to how we view families in the south, but it's also an integral part of the story stucture, which makes it so interesting from a technical POV. Everything might seem to happen by chance or Fate or dumb luck in one of Sarah's books, but actually nothing does -- and you won't realize this until you have read the book five or six times.

I know why I'm personally drawn to this story; I've had several relationships that parallel those of the characters. There is nothing that gains your sympathy as a reader faster than seeing bits of your own life experience in fiction. I also know what it's like to have an ability that others resent or envy or fear, or simply don't understand, and how immensely that can screw up relationships and virtually everything else in your life.

Knowing how the story will end doesn't diminish making the journey again with the characters in Garden Spells, and that's highly unusual. This may be because it's a novel in which the journey is every bit as important as the destination. Also there's nothing like it out there; this is a naturally gifted author with a style that can't be compared to any other writer -- and that is beyond rare.

After four years and many rereads I'm glad I can still recommend Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen as a timeless, classic story that you'll not only enjoy but be happy to revisit many times.

Friendly Power

As I mentioned yesterday (just before I jinxed my good news, which turned out to be bad news, which serves me right) I have two books to talk about, and the first is 100% Charlene Teglia's fault. I say this because she sent me Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen's debut novel, which otherwise would not have been touched by any ten-foot pole I own.

I am not a fan of magic stories. A) I don't believe in magic and B) most of the time I find it annoying in fiction. Unless the magic is extremely well-written, logical to the world-building and therefore believable (i.e. anything written by Patricia Briggs, Rob Thurman, Marjorie M. Liu, who are masters at this) reading it for me is exactly like watching porn -- what is supposed to excite just ends up looking fake and silly and rather pathetic.

Much to my dismay Ms. Allen did not write the porn-variety kind of magic novel, and now I have to dine on my chapeau (again.) Garden Spells is actually about more than just magic in the real world, though, and tells the story of the Waverly family, a bunch of oddly-gifted characters who are trying (and not trying) to cope with themselves, the past and life in general. They are alternately helped and hindered by their garden, which grows very special flowers, herbs and one very eccentric apple tree with Biblical powers. This all set in a small town in North Carolina populated by the most wonderful assortment of characters I've read in a long time.

I didn't want to like this book, so to end up falling in love with it really singed my southern regions. Who doesn't hate it when they're wrong? But it's worth the pain, because Garden Spells was exactly the book I needed to read right now. I think that makes Charlene psychic, but that doesn't surprise me. Ms. Allen's debut novel does not read at all like a debut novel, and it's the kind of book you end up sharing with everyone you know, even people who don't like to read, so it can work its magic on them. This is a novel that will rejuvenate your faith in great books, and God, we all need that kind of real magic in our lives.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name an author or title who you think makes something fantastic believable (or if you're still a skeptic, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Monday, March 7, 2011. I will draw five names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something from PBW in the past.