"Seaside"

Author: Terri Blackstock
Genre: Christian Lit / Fiction
Publisher: Zondervan, 2009
Pages: 122
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Sarah Rivers has it all: successful husband, healthy kids, beautiful home, meaningful church work.Corinne, Sarah's sister, struggles to get by. From Web site development to jewelry sales, none of the pies she has her thumb stuck in contains a plum worth pulling.No wonder Corinne envies Sarah. What she doesn't know is how jealous Sarah is of her. And what neither of them realizes is how their frantic drive for achievement is speeding them headlong past the things that matter most in life. So when their mother, Maggie, purchases plane tickets for them to join her in a vacation on the Gulf of Mexico, they almost decline the offer. But circumstances force the issue, and the sisters soon find themselves first thrown together, then ultimately drawn together, in one memorable week in a cabin called 'Seaside.' As Maggie, a professional photographer, sets out to capture on film the faces and moods of her daughters, more than film develops. A picture emerges of possibilities that come only by slowing down and savoring the simple treasures of the moment. It takes a mother's love and honesty to teach her two daughters a wiser, uncluttered way of life---one that can bring peace to their hearts and healing to their relationship. And though the lesson comes on wings of grief, the sadness is tempered with faith, restoration, and a joy that comes from the hand of God. Seaside is a novella of the heart---poignant, gentle, true, offering an eloquent reminder that life is too precious a gift to be unwrapped in haste.

Review: I really struggle with novellas. I love that they are short and there's instant gratification in that I can start something and finish it within a reasonable amount of time, BUT there's little character development and depth. I feel like an English teacher as I read, "develop this thought", "more descriptive language needed here", etc.

This storyline was trite. In typical novella fashion the storyline flew along and leaves the reader thinking, "wow, they came to terms with that quickly".

If you're a fan of this genre or Terri Blackstock, you won't be disappointed. However, for those readers who want to savor, reflect, and almost becomes characters in the story themselves, this book will leave you wanting more.