This post is inspired by this month's From Left to Write book club choice, If You Knew Suzy by Katherine Rosman. I received a copy of this book as a participant in the From Left to Write virtual club.
As with the majority of the books I purchase (or read for this book club), I pass them along to my mom, a sister, or friend - whomever I think would like it most. I have so many people whom I think would LOVE this book that I'm considering ordering a case.
Having JUST returned from the Metro Detroit area to visit my in-laws this weekend, I'm familiar with the locations and social norms that Rosman includes in the book. At least to this WASP-y outsider, the descriptions seemed spot-on and I giggled as I re-read some passages aloud to my husband to jog his memory, strictly from the novelty of having this geographic connection to the book. (I asked after reading about Franklin Village, "Hey - isn't that where we took Li'l Boo for doughnuts and apple cider at the Franklin Cider Mill?") Funny enough, my husband would have been bar mitzvahed the same year as the author and I'm sure that even if my in-laws don't know all of the people mentioned, that they have a friend who does. (I shouldn't be surprised each time I'm reminded how small of a world this is after all of our travels, yet I am.)