What a privilege to get to read this novel in advance for endorsement. This is what I said about A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad..."A grand slam! In a story as refreshing and invigorating as lemonade, Seilstad raises deep questions about a woman's relationship with God, her dreams, and the people in her life - while making me laugh so hard my kids came running to get in on the joke."
Set in 1901 at the lakeside resort of Lake Manawa, Iowa, A Great Catch follows ambitious suffragist Emily Graham and baseball player Carter Stockton. Emily's meddlesome aunts want to make a suitable match for her - and Carter Stockton would be the last man on their list. Fine with Emily because her work leaves little time for men. However, Emily's dream of having the women's "Bloomer Girls" baseball team play an exhibition game against the Manawa Owls comes with the provision that uncoordinated Emily play for the Owls - under Carter's tutelage. Emily and Carter fall for each other, but their dreams leave little room for each other.
On the surface, this is a fun summer read. Seilstad has a light, breezy writing style shot through with humor. The episode with the little pills from her aunties - I almost busted a gasket laughing. But this novel also looks at issues modern women frequently face. What do you do when your goals don't align with the goals of the man you love? Does your work interfere with the relationship? Does your work squeeze out time for the Lord? And how do you deal with these issues?
Any novel that encourages you to examine your heart while making you laugh is a grand slam. Enjoy!Labels: A Great Catch, book review, Lorna Seilstad
