Skeptic that I am, I just knew that this book was going to be nothing more than a simple, depth-less, unlikely tale of romantic do-goodery.
I am happy to say, I could not have been more wrong.
Lilies in Moonlight is clever, flirtatious, tasteful, and believable.
For two days, my beautiful children peered at me longingly over their oatmeal, while I reluctantly tore myself from the pages to answer their questions with absent, glazed-over eyes.
Set in the mid 1920's, the story begins in a period of discontinuity and redefinition. With the chill of war still hanging in the air, disillusionment and fear are countered with rebellion and modern, progressive thinking. Springing forth from such a period is our protagonist, Lily Margolis, a beautiful, iconic "flapper" girl. Outwardly, Lily exudes confidence. She is free-thinking and independent, fun-loving and foolish. But in the hidden person of her heart, she is tormented, fearful, broken, and utterly lost. Through a series of events, she is met with her unlikely counterpart, Cullen Burnside, a war wounded, ex-professional baseball player. Together, they journey down the bumpy road of self-discovery. And love.
Though initially it would seem that this is a story about cat-eyes, rebellion, and mischief, the characters' outer layers are peeled back with such tasteful timing, as to reveal much richer, much more satisfying themes, such as trust, forgiveness, restoration, and grace. I do regret that the author did not delve deeper into some of the theological applications of these themes; however, it is possible that her intention was to "plant the seed" so to speak, and allow the imagination room to wander.
Allison Pittman brings the 20's to life in such a way that it's possible to close your eyes and smell the buttery popcorn emanating from the busy, roaring, classic, early American baseball stadium. She paints an accurate picture of the feminist movement, simultaneously illuminating the destruction and devastation that result from living a scandalous, unregenerate lifestyle.
To use the catch phrase of the era, this book was the "bee's knees".
Just read it, and see for yourself. :)
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.
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