Of course, the essential ingredients of any Southern fiction worth consuming are race, religion or food -- or all three.
Looking For Salvation at The Dairy Queen -- as implied by the clever and intriguing title -- serves up generous heapings of classic small-town Baptist culture with a few teases of Southern fried recipes thrown in, too.
I licked my both my fingers and chops on the pages of this flawlessly written debut novel. The prose was silky. Smooth, even. And decidedly Southern. Instantly, I made a home with the characters, especially the protagonist, a young girl pining to be anywhere but her birthplace of Ringgold, Ga.
I am in awe of the finesse writer Susan Gregg Gilmore brought to the pages of her first work of fiction. Something many writers her senior in experience craft only after years of quality and up-and-coming but not-yet seamless prose. Somehow, Gilmore managed to ooze onto the pages of her virgin novel a delicious concoction that left my appetite whetted for more.
The Nashville-based author promises to deliver, as she's signed a contract for two more Southern literary feasts. I've got my napkin ready.
Oh wow. My heart just did another victory dance -- http://leisahammett.typepad.com/the_journey_with_grace/2009/03/victory-dance-of-the-heart.html
Thank YOU!
Posted by: Leisa A. Hammett | March 15, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Wow, thank you for this most generous review -- I love it!
It was such a delight meeting you -- definitely you are a talent to watch -- a beautiful literary voice.
Trying to provide you contact information -- hopefully you will have it now -- if not please Twitter again!
Posted by: Susan Gregg Gilmore | March 14, 2009 at 03:32 PM