Today, Beth Kephart’s latest young-adult novel, Small Damages is released. As many of you know, I adore her poetic prose and how her characters and their homes leap off the page, envelop you, and pull you into their worlds. Her writing most closely resembles the writing I know I have the potential to achieve, and I don’t begrudge her my failings to achieve it. In fact, I celebrate her care and concern for the perfect word or phrase in each of her books. I praise her and adore her and her poetry because it is all out there, on the bookshelves — virtual and otherwise — to enchant readers.
I have had her latest book on my shelf for many months, and I’ve been tempted by it each time I walk by the shelf; it calls out to me. I’ve held off reading it because it was too far in advance so readers would be forced to wait for it to hit shelves and I’ve gotten busy with other books and family things, but Small Damages has been there, in the back of my mind, waiting for me to be ready with its glowing oranges, the fruits of Beth’s labor.
I’m ready now.
I have one solitary day off at the end of the month in which I do not have to toil over my day job, and while I will still have to care for my daughter, who is growing well, I plan to sit and immerse myself in Beth’s beautiful writing…to have her transport me to Spain, a country I’ve loved from afar and in my studies and a country close to my ancestors’ homeland of Portugal. I want to be absorbed — to fall into Kenzie’s world and her problems and find the beauty that I know is there.
Would I have found Beth without Amy of My Friend Amy? Possibly, but I still thank her for the introduction to this lovely woman and her poetry. In the meantime, while you wait for my thoughts on Beth’s book, please feel free to check out some of these other wonderful reviews and to stop by Beth’s blog:
I hope you’ll let me borrow it when you’re done. 🙂
Maybe…if you’re good!
Terrific post – Beth is one of my favorites too. It’s hard to resist how gorgeously she presents Spain in SMALL DAMAGES.
Good to know!
Glad to see that Beth has written another wonderful book. Lots of great praise!
I hope you get the chance to read it.
I know she is one of your faves but I’ve never read any of her books. I just added this one to my Goodreads list yesterday (oddly enough) because I saw it mentioned in a must read list somewhere.
The story sounds a little old fashioned but I like that and who can complain about the setting? Not I!
I like that it sounds old fashioned, and the setting is one that I’m drawn to more often than not. I hope you pick it up and read it.
you are such a gracious and encouraging reader and writer, Serena. thank you so much for this.
You are welcome. I mean every word with all of my soul.