Wednesday 11 March 2009

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Ellen

SYNOPSIS
Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night….

Until she finds her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey’s narrow existence quickly expands. She even bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them—and who has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush. Soon Josey is living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

MY VIEW

Josey is 27 years old but, the people where she lives just remember her as a 9 year old. But, then she opens the closet and Della Lee helps her change her life. In Josey's room she has her favourite things her sweets and her romance novels and Della Lee who is partly her fairy godmother sits among Joseys clothes and helps her untangle her life.

It might sound a bit strange having someone living in your closet and helping you change your life but, just like Garden Spells this is such a magical tale of relationships, love & life but, this really is a delightful read - I do still think think Sarah Eddison Allen's books have echoes of Joanne Harris's books but, if your not a huge fan of JH this does have its own individuality so don't go expecting another Chocolat!

I hope this author writes lots more tales like these - they are so quirky, and different quite a simple read but, quite thought provoking too.

3 comments:

Kailana said...

I plan to get to these two books when my pile gets a bit smaller. They look like they could be good!

Marg said...

I just finished this week, and really enjoy her writing! I can't wait for the new one to come out some time this year!

cat said...

The plot worries me. This is why I haven't yet checked out this book. I loved Garden Spells so much that I was terribly sad when it was over. But for some reason a woman who lives in her room and eats chocolate with some little old lady in her closet just sounds too... weird to me.

Although the author and Garden Spells enchanted me so much last year if I find it in the library this summer I might give it a try.