Book Review: ‘Flies on the Butter’
"Flies on the Butter"
Denise Hildreth
(WestBow Press)
It’s not easy for an author to switch genres, but after three lighthearted and delightful ventures into the life of one of Savannah’s fictional characters, (‘Savannah from Savannah,’ ‘Savannah Comes Undone,’ and ‘Savannah by the Sea’) author Denise Hildreth has proven she can craft poignant and evocative Southern literature in her latest novel, “Flies on the Butter.”
Highly successful child advocate, Rose Fletcher, is driving to her family home in the little country town of Mullins, S.C. She whiles away the hours reliving childhood memories. Many are of a happier time, when life was as slow as the Southern drawl of her native tongue. Playing barefoot in the woods with her brother Christopher and her cousins Charlotte and Bobby Dean. Eating watermelon with her best friend Jenny and running through the sprinkler to wash off the sticky juices. Being carried home by her father after she fell asleep on the pew of the little country church across from her grandparent’s house.
Figuring significantly in her memories are her grandparents; simple, gentle people who believed in the strength of their faith, the love of their family, and the benefits of food – lots and lots of food. Mamaw’s cooking was legendary; fried chicken that would challenge the Colonel, creamy mashed potatoes dripping with white gravy, and hot biscuits, light and flaky and melting with butter.
However, interspersed with this nostalgia are other unbidden memories – tragic memories of scarring events that haunt Rose into her adulthood and threaten to destroy her marriage. As the miles draw her closer to home, she encounters seemingly random individuals who, like angels in disguise, force her to confront the issues that have kept her away from those she loves.
“Flies on the Butter” switches frequently from present time to the past and it takes a few chapters to get into the swing of the book. While some readers may feel that the various people Rose meets throughout her drive seem a tad too contrived, that is a quibble easily overlooked in the grand scope of this wonderful book. Denise Hildreth paints the easy Southern life with a deft touch reminiscent of Harper Lee. Her books are definitely on my ‘must have’ list.
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Mike and Paula K. Parker cover entertainment for LifeWay.com from their home in Middle Tennessee. Visit them online at www.wordcrafts.net.
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