Thursday, August 25, 2011

Jo Wharton Heath - Sarah's Alice

Jo Heath is a retired Auburn math professor. This is her first novel.

I enjoyed it immensely because of the story and because of the local geographical references.

Sarah married young to a preacher who abuses her. While having lunch in Sumiton after visiting in Hamilton, she bolts from the restaurant and hitches a ride with a trucker. She ends up taking the new name of Alice to reinvent herself and after returning to Auburn, where she lives with Joseph, her abusive husband, she heads out again after taking all of their money. She ends up in Lafayette, Louisiana, and the story ends after a final confrontation with Joseph.

Dr. Heath mentions the streets of Auburn, like Magnolia, and she makes reference to the "Heart of Alabama" motel, I assume an inside joke reference to the former "Heart of Auburn" motel. It's very funny.

The writing is simple and straight-forward, short and sweet. I like it very much.

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