Author: Kirsten Miller
Published: June 18, 2024 by William Morrow
Format: Hardcover, 298 Pages
Genre: Women's Fiction
First Sentence: Ronnie Childers was tripping his balls off in Jackson Square when an angel of the Lord appeared before him.
Blurb: Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.
What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.
That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever. (Amazon)
My Opinion: The brilliance at the beginning of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books lies in Kirsten Miller's ability to make her readers laugh and shake their heads at far-reaching social issues. Initially focusing on banning books at the local library, the story quickly evolves into a broader narrative. Battle lines are drawn, hearts are broken, and families are torn apart. Throughout the turmoil, I found myself navigating a range of emotions—jolts, head shakes, inhaled breaths, and laughter—all while hoping for a happily ever after.
The author peppers the narrative with cultural references, including book titles as chapter headings, that help readers engage on multiple levels and enrich the experience. The book reaches a peak in its first half, maintaining a lighthearted feel despite its debated subjects. However, it takes a sudden downward plunge into darker territory with notorious characters and a despicable subject matter, which felt unnecessary. This shift turned me off, leaving me questioning whether finishing the book was worth my time.
Despite the attempt to turn things around in the final chapters, including a "years later" recap, it felt too late to change my opinion on how the book wasted its initial promise.
Blurb: Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.
What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.
That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. That's when the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever. (Amazon)
My Opinion: The brilliance at the beginning of Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books lies in Kirsten Miller's ability to make her readers laugh and shake their heads at far-reaching social issues. Initially focusing on banning books at the local library, the story quickly evolves into a broader narrative. Battle lines are drawn, hearts are broken, and families are torn apart. Throughout the turmoil, I found myself navigating a range of emotions—jolts, head shakes, inhaled breaths, and laughter—all while hoping for a happily ever after.
The author peppers the narrative with cultural references, including book titles as chapter headings, that help readers engage on multiple levels and enrich the experience. The book reaches a peak in its first half, maintaining a lighthearted feel despite its debated subjects. However, it takes a sudden downward plunge into darker territory with notorious characters and a despicable subject matter, which felt unnecessary. This shift turned me off, leaving me questioning whether finishing the book was worth my time.
Despite the attempt to turn things around in the final chapters, including a "years later" recap, it felt too late to change my opinion on how the book wasted its initial promise.
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