Someone please Humor Me! I have been looking for a book that could make me laugh out loud. I finally found one! The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall has some dialogue and situations that were really funny to me. While there is humor, the topics in the book are of a serious nature. 4 Stars.
Polly Havens was 56 years old with two grown children. Her husband, The Captain, dies suddenly, and then Polly finds out that she is pregnant. Polly is opinionated, quirky, and larger than life. She drinks margaritas, smokes often, and is a fanatical gardener. The narrator of the book is Willow, the daughter that was born to the widowed Polly. Willow is obsessed with three things: 1. Polly’s death and 2. Finding out Polly’s history prior to marrying the Captain, and 3. the reasons why Polly has not returned to her hometown of Bethel, Louisiana for over 50 years.
The book looks at many topics in a poignant way, including late life parenting, parent-child dynamics, domestic abuse, religious fervor, coming of age, keeping secrets and dealing with cancer.
This could be a fun book club discussion. I would recommend serving Crawfish Etoufee and Frozen Margaritas. I love pulling out my Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Frozen Drink Machine, but a good blender will always do the trick. Here’s my recipe:
Frozen Margaritas
Coarse salt and lime wedge for rimming glasses
1 cup tequila
1/2 cup triple sec
1 cup fresh lime juice (about 8 to 10 limes)
2 tablespoons agave nectar
4 cups ice
Rim 4 margarita glasses with lime juice, then dip in salt.
Blend remaining ingredients, then pour into glasses. Use additional lime wedges for garnish if desired.