Dunne, May 2002, 23.95, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0312285558
The three sixty-something friends (Grace Singleton, Hannah Parrish and Amelia Declose) share a farmhouse in Covington, North Carolina. The trio also once shared the belief that life is over except for waiting to die for the geriatric set. However, the farm provides a cleansing and renewal of spirit for the threesome. Amelia turns to photography and shows plenty of talent. Hannah creates a thriving greenhouse. Grace turns to cooking.
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However, not all is perfect. Hannah's daughter Laura barely survived a hurricane that destroyed her boat home and left her severely injured mentally and physically. She moves in with the three elderly women while she struggles to recover. Grace learns she suffers from diabetes, but cannot yet cope with that knowledge. Amelia knows her troubles pale in comparison, but her new thirst for life is in jeopardy as she frets that no one seems to want her photos beyond her immediate friends.
Fans of the Covington novels will enjoy the third tale though in many ways it is repetitious of the previous plots in which the three women confront age with its problems by renewing their lives with so-called youthful undertakings. The story line is fun while providing the message that no one is old if their young at heart, clearly encouraging the audience to do not act as spectators as someone else's life flashes by. FROM THE HEART OF COVINGTON is a well written modern day novel that showcases Joan Medlicott's ability to dramatize people's plights while inspiring readers to live life filled with zest and to the fullest.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner