Another of Lansens's novels, The Girls is one of my favorite books. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased two more of Lansens's novels: A Wife's Tale and this one, Rush Home Road.
This novel combines two stories, one of Sharla, a five year old girl whose mother abandons her, and the other of Addy Shadd, the older black woman who takes Sharla in. Addy's relationship with Sharla brings memories of her past back to her. Often, she slips back into these memories, having conversations with her deceased relatives right in front of Sharla. While this may seem like an unhealthy environment for Sharla to live in, Addy offers the love and security that her own mother denied her. While Addy plays the part of the loving family that Sharla never had, Sharla is just what Addy needs so that she can find peace with her past and happiness for Sharla's future.
The relationship that Lansens builds between these characters is very powerful and gives the reader hope that they will both find happiness in their friendship. What I appreicate about Lansens is the amount of research that she puts into her novels; I find that this makes her stories richer and more interesting for the reader. I also appreciated the back section, which is "A conversation with Lori Lansens". When I find an author I really enjoy reading, it is fascinating to read about their experience with writing the story and how they come up with their ideas and shape their characters.
This book is a very emotional journey; Lansens will have you laughing, crying, and feeling horrified by the experiences Addy Shadd travels through, but the journey is such an amazing one that you will love every page of it.
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