The Quaker Café

When I first started this book I thought it was going to be slow... common... southern theme of black against white - white against black... basic southern evil history.
It was... so much more than that... It was beautiful... painful... harrowing... sad for the history - and really not much "promise" for the future...
there was an attempt - at ... achieving balance
but we cannot balance the white/black past with simple white/black - or even black/white efforts...
it really feels like there is no way to find balance at all
but... there are better ways to live through the imbalance... ways to recognize that things done dont ever get fixed... you just have to live with what you have...
and then think about how to live that with grace.
Very very show more good book - highly recommended. show less

I was delighted to get a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While this book opens with a death, as many murder mysteries do, the mystery to be discovered in this novel, goes much deeper than you would expect. This is really a book about friendship and family and adjusting to other people's lifestyles and expectations. Or rather learning how to accept others.

"How in God's name do you get death right?
Or life, for that matter?
It never goes the way you planned."

I found this quote to really summarize the book nicely.
Even in the toughest of times, there is humor if you are willing to see it.
This was an enjoyable read.

Sissy: Author Brenda Bevan Remmes served up some good old Southern plot twists a la John Grisham and bam-- it had me good from there. Not that this book is in the same genre as a John Grisham--more like if a John Grisham and Fannie Flagg had a baby and it was this book.
Bubby: I have two big issues with Quaker Cafe. First is that there are so many plot twists that I’m having a hard time writing a review without giving away any spoilers! I keep wanting to talk about a particular event and then realizing that I can’t. Secondly, the last scene of the book is so inspiring and energizing and I wanted more! Read full review at www.bubblebath-books.com

For a reader like me who only picks up mysteries when I'm in a hospital waiting room or an airport (I've done some of both lately) this book didn't inspire any enthusiasm. By 1/3 through I was completely sick of skipping the clunky descriptions of who wore what. The plot touches on topics that are far too painful and subtle for this well-meaning author to handle.

Community in small town starts to fracture when secrets of the past are uncovered. Friendship, love, understanding and forgiveness prevail as the main character struggles to do the right thing for family, friends and her community.

A novel set among pastoral Quakers in North Carolina.