Laelia : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Nah
Review: Although this novel had an interesting plot, it was not as great of a story I thought it would be. The characters seemed so fake and too overdone. I was annoyed most at how they kept saying the person's name they were speaking directly to: "yes, Rebecca," "thank you, Claudia," "would you like something to eat, Gracelyn?" Rebecca's relationship with "the doctor" just blew out of nowhere and it made me wonder if the author perhaps forgot to insert the part about them knowing each other before.

It simply didn't do anything for me.

Rating:
Summary: A Comforting Read
Review: Laelia is the story of the Cates sisters. These three sisters are from a prominent upstanding family. All three are attached to husbands who are in some way or the other invalid. The sisters decide to rid themselves of their husbands and start life over. Driven by the eldest sister, Rebecca, decide to have their husbands committed.

Rebecca, the eldest sister, is the head of the family. She has devised a fool proof plan to not only get rid of their husbands but to also have the new pastor of her church ousted for his philandering ways. Armed with all the information that she needs she is just waiting for the right time to strike and kill four birds with one stone.

Claudia, the middle sister, is the classy, chic one. Her part in the plan is to dazzle the church with her refinement and sway the women of the church to lean on one another for support of ailing husbands. This is hard when you have a pastor ranting and raving about wives staying in their place. She wins the hearts of the congregation and opens some doors for her sister's master plan.

Gracelyn is the youngest sister. She has decided to put on an elaborate production of a Harriet Tubman play for the children of the church. The play is a smash success and she has created another open for her sisters and their plan to renew their lives.

This story is just as beautiful as it's cover. Ruth-Miriam Garnett has created an unforgettable novel. Filled with love and sister hood Laelia is a novel that everyone can walk away from with a lesson.

Readincolor Reviewers
Angie Pickett-Henderson

Rating:
Summary: The Cates Sisters Take Control
Review: Newcomer to the fiction arena, Ruth Miriam Garnett pens a wonderful novel titled Laelia. Laelia is a type of orchid difficult to grow, but a prize when it blooms. Laelia is a novel that depicts the determination of the Cates sisters to take backs their lives and fulfill their dreams.

The highly admired and respected Cates women; Rebecca, Claudia and Gracelyn, are the daughters of the late Reuben and Mattie Cates. They live in the family mansion in Peoria, Illinois along with their husbands, who have made the sisters lives miserable throughout their marriages. Now, each of the husbands suffers from some debilitating illness: Bernard, terminal bone cancer; Timothy alcoholism and Jake a closed-head injury. After caring for the men for many years, the oldest sister Rebecca decides its time to put the men away so they can begin to enjoy life again. To garner support from the community and the church, the sisters must scheme and plan the men departures carefully. To make their mission more acceptable they begin by making announcements at church that the men will be committed to various institutions. Speaking up in church and becoming more visible, the women gain the support of the women in the church, but the pastor detest their actions. In the midst of getting rid of the husbands, Rebecca also scheme to get rid of the pastor. While the sisters are freeing themselves from their men happiness lurks around the corner for each of them.

I found this book to be a page-turner as I eagerly awaited to see how the women would get rid of the men and the pastor, and to see if anyone would challenge their actions. The pacing and timing of events in this novel was excellent. I found this to be a refreshing change of pace from the usual relationship books. Highly recommended.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

Rating:
Summary: "Letting Go Is Your Power"
Review: This novel is amazing in its lessons on life and love. Told in everyday language as well as daily life, this story has quite a punch here and there. In the end, letting go and moving on with a renewed focus on the future, no matter what may be, is the key to surviving the things we cannot control.
I thought this story showed the way of claiming our own power, women in particular, regardless of one's cirumstance or status. We can create our own reality. This two hundred and fourteen page saga said so much.