SELLING THE LITE OF HEAVEN

Rating:
Summary: Charming. Filled with Quirky Characters and Imagination.
Review:

One of the most loveable collections of Small-Town-Folks-With-A-Twistsince Caron McCuller's, The Heart is A Lonely Hunter.

Well, the heart is still lonely, and still searching. For What? The narrator, our charming protagonist, doesn't even know until she gets a nudge from the mysterious -- and nosy -- Penny Saver shopper, Maria Dusza and a whisper of encouragement from the Madonna at the local church (this same statue has been rumored to nod on at least two previous occassions.)

Through the imaginative eyes of the narrator, we experience life in this small Polish-American community, rich in tradition it either doesn't want to, or doesn't know how to, lose. We become familiar with the narrator and her community through vivid, enchanting scenes which allow us to not only read her story, but to experience it as well.

This book is "good fun" and, just plain good.

Rating:
Summary: the polish version of a big fat greek wedding
Review: I am stunned Oprah didn't pick this book. Or that Hollywood hasn't made this a movie. If you want to laugh and cry, good God, read this book. Like I said in the title, this is another Big Fat Greek Wedding waiting to happen

Rating:
Summary: Simple Yet Enchanting
Review: I have just read this book for the second time and have found it to be as charming a story as I did the first time around. It is the very simple story of a very unassuming daughter of Polish immigrants. The mundanity of her life is what makes the book so appealing. Having been raised by the most unbelievably cold and emotionless parents to lead a life totally devoid of any expectations, the heroine has finally found love and, she believes, a future that will be new, exciting and full of love. But no, ... she is left at the alter by a man who chooses to become a priest rather than marry her. The book tells both her love story and her attempt to sell her engagement ring - The Lite of Heaven. Its an unusual book, a simple book but totally charming and a fascinating insight into the Polish-American experience mixed with a great deal of Catholic guilt.