3 out of 4 stars
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A self-proclaimed novel of love, honor and betrayal, Lake Pontchartrain by Thomas Grant is just that. A historical fiction spanning centuries and covering the lives of the Forresters of Greenville, Lake Pontchartrain gives glimpses of what life was like in the South during the Reconstruction era. Author Thomas Grant has done his research and given the reader a well-painted picture of the Carolinas through the eyes of the family members of some important figures in Greenville's history.
This novel is narrated by "Mistah G" who has married into the Forrester family. At the beginning of the book, he accompanies his wife to an unveiling ceremony for a statue of one of her ancestors in Greenville. It is there that he learns of the last direct descendant of the Forrester clan, the 94-year-old Maitie Forrester. Over the next few months, Mistah G makes many trips back to Greenville to meet with Maitie and her lifelong housemaid and friend, Deecee. It is through these two women that he learns of their lives growing up in Greenville and of the loves they've had. As their stories unfold, Mistah G finds himself captivated by their tale of woe, love lost, and secrets kept for decades.
Lake Pontchartrain is a mesmerizing tale. It is eloquently written and draws the reader in. The descriptions of the Carolinas and the Louisiana bayou are so well-done that the locations pop off the page. The story of Deecee and Maitie is a heartfelt one that is sure to satisfy both lovers of history and romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a pleasant amount of twists and turns to the plot. Also, it was easy enough to follow and had a helpful family tree printed at the front. Even the dialogue was written well. It was very easy for me to hear the characters through their written words. My favorite aspect was all the history that I learned about the South from this story. Probably my only complaint would be that the end was rather abrupt. There was a quick summation of the characters that had previously not been mentioned in the story. I suppose this could lead to a sequel that delves more into the lives of those characters. Otherwise, that part just seemed a bit rushed to me.
I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. The writing was excellent, the story was moving, and the history seemed accurate. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction or romance. It is quite wordy, so I wouldn't suggest it to those who lack an appreciation for lengthy prose. This book has sparked my interest in the South during the Reconstruction era, and I look forward to reading more about that time period as well as more novels by this author.
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Lake Pontchartrain
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