The best word to describe this book is whimsical. It's a light hearted story about 2 people who have worked together for 5 years but meet each other in a odd but fairy tale like bookstore.Cora has no family to celebrate Christmas with. She is the only Christian in her family and there is too much drama for her to keep in touch that often. She goes into a bookstore, on Sage Street, to buy a gift for a family member and bumps into her boss, Simon.
Simon is all business when he is at work. So focused that he never noticed Cora in the 5 years she has worked just feet from his office. At home he is a funny, loving big brother and son. His father and brother died in an accident and he took on the roll of providing for his mother, grandfather and sister, who has down syndrom.
When Cora and Simon each get home with their purchases from the book store, they realize that they have received a ticket to the Christmas Ball, one that they have never heard of. A series of events bring Cora and Simon to become friends. But will they become more? When Cora's sister, who has a trail of bad reputation that follows her shows up at her door, she may ruin everything. With the Christmas ball coming up, will the magic of Sage Street keep the Christmas Spirit alive.
This story is more whimsical that I usually read. Sage Street keeps disappearing, the store owners on Sage Street use phones that aren't connect to the wall, no one has ever heard of the Christmas Ball or Sage Street when Cora and Simon talk about it. Those things add to the whimsical feeling of the story.
When I read the comments by the author, Donita K. Paul, that many people do not accept the story of Jesus because it doesn't make sense to them, this is how she wrote this story. It has scripture and a way to point to Jesus. The light hearted fun of this fiction story make is magical. The characters are cute and I even cast the characters for the movie! (I will post that below, if you read it you will have to tell me what you think of my cast!) The authors comments made me see the story a little differently. This was a cute read for the Christmas season.
Kate Hudson as Zee
Jayma Mays as Cora.
Patrick Dempsy as Simon
Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as the sisters
Wizards as Ben Kingsley and Micheal Cain
The photographer, C'Maine - Dustin Hoffman
I agree with your review and really liked this book. I would add one person to your cast for the movie - my great niece Allison for Sandy as Allison is a delightfully funny and girly Down's Syndrome teenager who doesn't have a shy bone in her body like Sandy.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for the review. I feel like you "got it," Jocelyn. I have Martin Short in my mind for one of the Bookshop wizards. And Amy Adams for Cora. I like your line up of actors. We have a coffee shop in town where a young lady like Sandy and your niece works. She is a great addition to the store. I had one person complain that my Sandy was not like the Downs Syndrome teen she knew. But hey! People with DS are as varied as Chinese people, English people, French people, or African people. The point is everyone is an individual and should be treated as such. Oops! didn't mean to go off on my soap box. I hope to revisit Sage Street in the future. I'd like to invite your readers to stop by our websites www.donitakpaul.com. Lots of stuff going on.
ReplyDeleteAmy Adams and Martin Short would be great choices!!!
ReplyDeleteI thought Sandy was portrayed just great. No complaints from me! :)