Reviews

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells

zweavesandreads's review against another edition

5.0

A PERFECT summer read. I'm a sucker for southern stories and this one is my favorite so far. I've read it more than once and would be happy to read it again and again. If you love the movies, Fried Green Tomatoes or Steel Magnolias (yes, I know, I should actually read the books), you will like this.

halirose's review against another edition

reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This story has a lot of potential but was written in a way that didn’t hold my attention, used a lot of southern tropes and stereotypes and there was unexpected racially motivated violence in one scene that made me uncomfortable because it was never got fully addressed and didn’t push the plot forward. I wouldn’t recommend it, but I love her other books!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Racial slurs and Violence

rerosenthal85's review against another edition

3.0

Wells is a great storyteller, but the substance of this story left a bit to be desired. I love the way she portrays southern family culture; every time I read something she's written I find myself wishing I was from Louisiana. This time was a bit of a let down though; the plot was predictable, it went too fast in some places and too slowly in others, and the spiritual aspect of praying to The Moon Lady and dead loved ones just did not resonate with me. Hard as it would have been to recreate the magic of the Ya-Ya saga, this just didn't do it for me.

diana_skelton's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, and Police brutality

Moderate: Alcoholism

scunareader's review against another edition

4.0

Say what you will about schmaltz but I think Wells is a good storyteller. I don't expect her to produce haute literature. I don't expect her books to address the great problems of the age...I just want a good story and I got one.

I admit, being the jaded character I am, if a piece of writing can make me tear up, I'll give it a thumbs up. It may be a cheap shot on Wells' part to zero in on a woman's emotions, but hey, she's a woman too.

What's wrong with a good old-fashioned love tale, anyway? We don't have enough of those, having been subjected to religious thriller-relic hunting-adventure seeking novels for the past (fill in the blank) years.
Maybe I'm being a little defensive, but Calla Lilly was good, very good. Why? Because I said so...

queenbethie's review against another edition

3.0

This is a great beach/summer read. Calla Lily is raised in a loving family where her mother serves as her inspiration. The book follows Calla from a young girl into adulthood as she experiences love and loss. The storytelling is much like "Ya Ya" and "Altars," so it is in Wells' familiar style, and a pleasure to read.

muirk128's review against another edition

3.0

Found the writing irritating at first but by the end I found myself best tears, emotionally invested in Calla and her losses and triumphs.

bluehound's review against another edition

2.0

It was an okay read but I couldn't really get into it. Not the author's best effort.

lawyerleah's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Epilogue was not to my liking. The mystical portions don’t appeal to me. Decent story and kept my interest. 

oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition

A gift from a friend. Sweet story, a kind of slice of life that meanders along, takes things slow but not without plenty of melodrama.