Right as Rain

by: Bev Marshall

Published by: Ballantine Books

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

I am a sucker for southern novels and southern writers. They have the ability to speak to my heart in such an intimate way. And Bev Marshall is no exception. She is a wonderful storyteller. Her novel Right as Rain has an intensity that takes your breath away and a softness that fills you with a quiet peacefulness.

Right as Rain spans two decades in Mississippi and entices us to scrutinize our history of race relations; or lack thereof. What is shown will repel you and draw you in at the same time. The rich fabric of the story of Icey and Tee Wee, their families, and the family that employs them is fraught with racial strife, unrealized dreams and secrets. But it is the love and friendship that evolves between Icey and Tee Wee that touches our hearts and keeps us turning the pages.

If you enjoy realistic fiction but need to know that there is love, kindness and joy in the world, regardless of circumstances, or that strength of character can survive the obstacles life throws at people, then this book is for you. An added bonus is that Marshall's prose grabs the reader and takes them for a ride they'll tell their friends about. I would read this book again.