This sweet little book touched my heart. The Life All Around Me by Kaye Gibbons is a coming of age story set in the Carolinas. It includes quirky characters amidst a series of tragedies and disappointments that create a perfect storm of challenges and grace for the title character, Ellen Foster.
Although the story is about Ellen and how she overcomes the deaths of her parents and a conniving aunt that places her in foster care, I am drawn to Laura, the woman who takes in Ellen and and helps her flourish.
Laura opens her home to Ellen, and giver her the warmth she needs in order to thrive. Ellen’s teenage angst was funny, but her earnest desire to learn and use the opportunity given to her is endearing.
Laura’s gift of selfless support extends to the women in her community. Ellen sees this and admires the quality in her foster mother. It wasn’t unusual for Laura to open her guestroom to young mothers for a nap and a little respite. Ellen recognizes that Laura is the kind of woman who loves “enough to keep a friend hidden of a Sunday afternoon and waken them with English tea in a China pot and a tin of biscuit treats they can’t have at home because everything gets consumed out from under them.”
This powerful lesson teaches Ellen that in spite of the ugly treatment from her aunt, she doesn’t have to “slip into being the kind of girl who damages women.”
There is sorrow in Ellen’s circumstances, but also a great deal of hope and joy. I’m delighted by Ellen and her trust, but it is Laura’s example of loving support that makes this a terrific weekend read.
I’m reading “Ellen Foster” first (just got this one from the library after a bit of a wait) and the book is absolutely heartbreaking. I’m glad this one seems to have more of a hopeful tone.
Oh — there are certainly hints of it in the second book. Meanwhile, I’m a little amused that you had to read the first one, first. Hahaha. Its areal thing with us book lovers. I hope you like the second one!
I had to read the first one first. Occupational hazard, maybe? I liked the second one but I preferred the first one. Oddly enough, they are both labeled “coming of age” even though the character is maybe 11 at the end of book 1. Book 2 – especially the very end – helped make sense of a lot of what was in book 1.
geez. now i have to find the first one. lol. it is as you describe, an occupational hazard.