Review: This Fine Life

My Synopsis:

This Fine Life by Eva Everson

(For review from Revell)

Mariette Puttnam had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Her parents had everything planned out for her. Her mother wanted her marry a wealthy man and her father wanted her to go to college, but in the summer of 1955 Mariette finds her own answer. When she unexpectedly meets a young man named, Thayne Scott, Mariette, begins to feel the stirring of first love. Though her parents forbid her to continue to see Thayne, they cannot stay apart for long and end up eloping.

Marriette was brought up in church but had never had a personal relationship with God. Her best friend Missy and now her husband, Thayne both seem to have something that she cannot understand. When Thayne announces that he called to preach and will attend seminary, Mariette is shaken and continues to feel like she is on the outside looking in at faith. Mariette isn't much of a cook, and she isn't what most people expect for a preacher's wife. When Thayne's first assignment lands them in an out of the way town, Mariette soon learns what it means to be watched by everyone. Will Mariette find out what faith in God is all about? Will she ever become what people expect from a preacher's wife? Will she ever find out if she has a fine life?

My Thoughts:

In this coming of age novel, Eva Everson does a wonderful job of showing her readers what it was like to grow up in the South during this time period. One of the things that I truly enjoyed about the book was how the author was able to make you feel like you had gone back in time to the old diner's with soda jerks and slices of pie. When living in a small town meant you knew everyone and they all knew you. You couldn't get away with anything back in those days, someone inevitably would call your parents and rat you out, LOL...

Mariette is a character that I can identify with. She matures so much throughout the book. When we first meet her is just out of boarding school and not at all certain what she wants to do with her life. When she meets Thayne, a mail clerk in her father's factory, it isn't a match her parents would have chosen. But, their love for each wins out. We see first love, and how the first years of marriage are such an eye opener. We go with Mariette and Thayne as the get their first apartment and struggle with money. We see everything that they go through as they become mature adults and find out what a fine life is really all about. The author uses many themes in this novel including, the expectations that others have for us and finding your own faith that is not based on other people.

Available May 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I enjoy the book very much and give it 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

Here is some more information about the author, Eva Everson.

Eva Marie Everson grew up in rural Georgia just outside of Savannah and currently lives in Central Florida. She taught Old Testament theology for six years at Life Training Center in Longwood, Florida and has written numerous articles for Crosswalk.com (including the acclaimed Falling Into The Bible), and has had articles featured in Christian Bride Magazine, Christian Retailing Magazine, The Godly BusinessWoman and Marriage Partnership magazines. Eva Marie has been interviewed by a number of media outlets including radio, television, newspaper, magazines, and the Internet. In 2002 Eva Marie was one of six Christian journalists sent to Israel for a special ten-day press tour. She was forever changed.

Eva Marie's work includes award winning books such as: Shadow of Dreams, The Potluck Club, and Sex, Lies, and the Media. She has over 20 titles to her credit. Eva Marie is a graduate of Andersonville Theological Seminary. She won AWSAs very first Member of the Year Award in 2002. She is the past president of Word Weavers, one of the fastest growing Christian writers groups in the US. She is a graduate of CLASS and a member of several writer's organizations. Both an international and national speaker, her passion is helping others to hear the heartbeat of God.