Review of Sunnyside Up
Posted: 01 Feb 2022, 12:31
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sunnyside Up" by Rea Nolan Martin.]
Sunnyside Up by Rea Nolan Martin is a fictional story that focuses on two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Adelaide is the older sister and Felicity is the younger sister. They live in the rural town of Outskirt, Kentucky. The family business is Sunnyside Up Funeral Home and Chicken Farm. The business has been passed down through generations of their father’s family. They provide funeral services and have a cemetery on the property. Adelaide considers herself to be the stable businesswoman, and she cares for her more eccentric younger sister.
Both sisters have trouble remembering incidents from the past. They frequently refer to a past accident; however, neither sister seems to remember exactly what happened. Felicity believes her confusion and eccentricities stem from “accident brain.” Neither of the sisters married, so they rely on each other for companionship. Through frequent flashbacks, readers get glimpses of their relationship as children and young adults. Adelaide was in love with Julian and thought they would be married, but he died. Neither sister remembers exactly what happened to him.
Rea Nolan Martin is a gifted storyteller. She weaves the lives of these two women through different times and experiences. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a character. This was a fascinating way for readers to understand what each character was feeling as incidents occurred. Gradually, the story unravels through flashbacks, and we learn more about the family and the accident. There is a mystical aspect to the book that is captivating. For example, I enjoyed the interactions with relatives who have died, like Uncle Pothead and Granny. They are colorful characters who add humor and dimension to the story.
There are so many dimensions to these characters. Adelaide and Felicity have a very complex relationship. Adelaide loves to argue and complain about Felicity, but they have a deep connection and love for each other. The interactions and dialogue between the characters are exceptionally well-written and are what I enjoyed most about the book. Another aspect of the book that was entertaining was the inclusion of obituaries. Obituaries fall in line with the family business and are included for some of the characters. They are written with humor and give additional background about the specific character’s death and family. They added context to the flashbacks and jumps in time. They also helped to describe relationships between the characters. This was a unique and entertaining way for the author to provide additional information to the reader. There was nothing I disliked about this book.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy novels about complex family relationships. It is humorous at times and has mystical aspects that explore the afterlife. So, it would appeal to readers who have an interest in those topics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I saw two minor errors in the book that did not distract from my enjoyment. For the reasons given, I would not give this book a rating of anything less than a perfect score.
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Sunnyside Up
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Sunnyside Up by Rea Nolan Martin is a fictional story that focuses on two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Adelaide is the older sister and Felicity is the younger sister. They live in the rural town of Outskirt, Kentucky. The family business is Sunnyside Up Funeral Home and Chicken Farm. The business has been passed down through generations of their father’s family. They provide funeral services and have a cemetery on the property. Adelaide considers herself to be the stable businesswoman, and she cares for her more eccentric younger sister.
Both sisters have trouble remembering incidents from the past. They frequently refer to a past accident; however, neither sister seems to remember exactly what happened. Felicity believes her confusion and eccentricities stem from “accident brain.” Neither of the sisters married, so they rely on each other for companionship. Through frequent flashbacks, readers get glimpses of their relationship as children and young adults. Adelaide was in love with Julian and thought they would be married, but he died. Neither sister remembers exactly what happened to him.
Rea Nolan Martin is a gifted storyteller. She weaves the lives of these two women through different times and experiences. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a character. This was a fascinating way for readers to understand what each character was feeling as incidents occurred. Gradually, the story unravels through flashbacks, and we learn more about the family and the accident. There is a mystical aspect to the book that is captivating. For example, I enjoyed the interactions with relatives who have died, like Uncle Pothead and Granny. They are colorful characters who add humor and dimension to the story.
There are so many dimensions to these characters. Adelaide and Felicity have a very complex relationship. Adelaide loves to argue and complain about Felicity, but they have a deep connection and love for each other. The interactions and dialogue between the characters are exceptionally well-written and are what I enjoyed most about the book. Another aspect of the book that was entertaining was the inclusion of obituaries. Obituaries fall in line with the family business and are included for some of the characters. They are written with humor and give additional background about the specific character’s death and family. They added context to the flashbacks and jumps in time. They also helped to describe relationships between the characters. This was a unique and entertaining way for the author to provide additional information to the reader. There was nothing I disliked about this book.
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy novels about complex family relationships. It is humorous at times and has mystical aspects that explore the afterlife. So, it would appeal to readers who have an interest in those topics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I saw two minor errors in the book that did not distract from my enjoyment. For the reasons given, I would not give this book a rating of anything less than a perfect score.
******
Sunnyside Up
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon