Antique
dealer Carrie Hudson has been plenty busy for many years. All of a sudden, her life comes
to a screeching halt when she gets news of the death of her mother. Carrie returns home to
rural Oysterback, Maryland. Unfortunately, the funeral is delayed, and Carrie is
forced to spend more time than she plans back home.
While Carrie and her
sister, Earline, wait for their brother and Earline’s husband to return home with
their mother’s ashes, we can see why Carrie hasn’t been home in such a long
time. Carrie left home at the age of sixteen after dealing with problems she never wanted
to deal with again. It doesn’t take Carrie long to realize that you really cannot run
away from your problems. Eventually, they come back and have to be dealt with.
Earline never left
Oysterville. She married and had two children. Because Carrie spends her time on the road,
finding treasures, selling them, and then goes looking for more, Earline finds Carrie
irresponsible. This creates an unbelievable amount of tension between the two sisters.
Would this tension ever ease?
There are some
interesting people in Oysterville. From Jack Shepherd, a friend of Carrie’s mother
who peaks Carrie’s interest, to Alonzo Deaver, another friend of her mother’s,
who escaped from jail. Then there are the town gossips. All these people have a role while
Carrie and Earline are waiting for their mother’s ashes in order to arrange for the
funeral service.
Written in first
person, A WHOLE WORLD OF TROUBLE is filled with humor and gives us a taste of small-town
life. This story also deals with secrets and discoveries. I enjoyed reading this book,
because all of us can relate to what happens when someone dies – relationships are
challenged and rebuilt, friendships are renewed, lives are examined and more. Add to that,
the humor that inevitably results from trying to reduce stress. Pick up A WHOLE WORLD OF
TROUBLE for a couple of hours of pleasant reading.
Reviewed by Robin
Taylor for The Road to Romance
July 8, 2003 |
