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The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder

Rebecca Wells
Harper Collins (2009)
ISBN  9780060175313
Reviewed by Enid Grabiner for RebeccasReads (8/09)

Not since Rebecca Wells “Divine Secrets if the YaYa Sisterhood” has there been such a dynamic story of friendship until now.  This sweet charming novel gives us a glimpse into the small southern town of La Luna, Louisiana; a town watched over and guided by the mystical Moon Lady. Protected by this spiritual force and inspired by M’Dear, her beautiful and talented mother, Calla Lily Ponder comes of age.  She yearns to become a beautician like her mother, healing the soul as well as the hair. 

Through the eyes of Calla Lily, the reader follows her from childhood to adulthood as she forms deep loving and lasting relationships based on lessons learned from her parents and surrogate families.  After the death of her mother and later the abandonment of Tuck, her first love, she moves to New Orleans to attend L’Academie de Beaute de Crescent.  There she forms new friendships with homosexual couple, Ricky and Steve, and reunites with old friend Sukey who has become an alcoholic Playboy bunny.  She also finds romance.  Calla deals with love and loss while learning to give and receive support from those that surround her.

Respect and appreciation of all people regardless of age, color, sexual preference, or economic circumstances are running themes in this happy, yet sometimes tearfully sad tale.  Although there is a hokey southern charm running through the novel, it is wonderfully uplifting.  After reading " The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder" by Rebecca Wells, I was inspired to be a better daughter, mother and friend.  Most of all, I wanted a new hairdresser, one that would place her healing hands in my hair and massage out all my tension and woes!


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