Saints In Limbo

About the book:

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida.

When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be unmoored from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

My Thoughts:

Saints In Limbo was not what I expected it to be.  When I requested it I was expecting a Women’s Fiction novel with  southern style warmth and a message on the value of life (regardless of your age).  What I read was very lyrical as it has been described, but it was also so mystical/science fiction that it lost the feminine character that I need as reader. 

I’m a sucker for women’s fiction.  I love a good heart-warming story.  Add in time travel, magic stones, and mysterious man-creatures and I glaze over pretty quick.  I’m just being honest.  I’m simply not wired to respond well to science fiction.

I continued reading to the end, but scratched my head in confusion may times.  Who would be so crazy that they tie strings onto their porch and refuse to go anywhere without holding one?  It was just too nutty to comprehend.  Also, I was repeatedly annoyed with the character, Rudy, who seemed to take hardly any interest in his aging and mentally unstable mother.  I don’t know . . .if my Mom tied strings to her porch and held it with one hand while gardening I think I’d call the funny farm. . . I’m just saying .

River Jordan does write passionately and her use of language and vocabulary are very impressive.  However,the movements of her scenes seemed a little awkward to me at times.  I found areas where I struggled to figure out if Velma was in reality or sailing through time in a memory.

I’m kind of stumped on this book.

In my opinion, Saints In Limbo is not a solid fit into any real genre.  It’s a little too lyrical for sci-fi and way too sci-fi for general Women’s fiction.   With all the mystical and magical elements in the story, I  wouldn’t consider it a Christian novel either.  Again, I’m stumped. 

If you really enjoy science-fiction and don’t mind mystical elements and female characters, then you might want to check it out for yourself.   

You can find Saints in Limbo here.  Saints In Limbo can be purchased for $13.99.  

About the Author:

River Jordan is a critically acclaimed novelist and playwright whose unique mixture of southern and mystic writing has drawn comparisons to Sarah Addison Allen, Leif Enger, and Flannery O’Connor. Her previous works include The Messenger of Magnolia Street, lauded by Kirkus Reviews as “a beautifully written, atmospheric tale.” She speaks around the country and makes her home in Nashville

* I was given this product free to review on behalf of Random House, June 2009