This is an excellent novel by Jo-Ann Mapson. She is the
author of eleven novels and a book of short stories. I don’t think any book
review can do justice to Mapson’s writing. This book was exceptional. I was
totally engrossed in this book from start to finish.
Solomon’s Oak follows widow Glory Solomon who is inwardly
struggling with the loss of her husband. She holds weddings in the chapel built
under the two-hundred-year-old white oak tree on their property to generate
extra income for her struggling farm. Then, angry and homeless foster teenager
Juniper McGuire turns up on Glory’s doorstep. Because of the disappearance of
her older sister Casey several years ago, Juniper has a lot of trust and
honesty issues. Glory doesn’t know if she can handle Juniper without her
husband. Newcomer Joseph Vigil is a retired police officer who was shot while
on duty and now lives in pain. He arrives in California to photograph the giant
trees- something he has always wanted to do. The lives of these characters firstly
intertwine in subtle ways, finally becoming a very close knit family.
This was my first foray into ‘grown up’ fiction for quite
some time and I was pleasantly surprised. This book showed me that contemporary
adult fiction can be uplifting and firmly rooted in reality, yet life
affirming, rather than cynical and depressing. What really stood out for me was
Mapson’s writing. She has a sense of wisdom while still writing with a
refreshing take on everyday life. The world she created for her characters was
full of life and special moments. I felt like Glory, Juniper and Joseph could
be walking down the street, rather than just fictional people in the pages of
this novel.
The book leaves you with some unanswered questions which
I was very excited to discover are answered in her latest book, the
(unofficial) sequel- Finding Casey.
I give this book five out of five stars.
Julia
