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EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE Evelyn Palfrey Simon & Schuster (4) Alicia Thomas |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: Raymond Caldwell is a retired military officer whose hobby of building fine furniture has turned into a nice little business. He hasn't a clue why his wife divorced him after 25 years. The regimentation and order that he built his life on didn't allow a place for the intimacy she craved. Bobbie Strickland is an elementary school principal who has been forced into the role of parent to her grandchild, just when she thought she'd be coasting into a comfortable retirement. Ray brings a little order to the chaos in her life, and Bobbie shows him that a little chaos ain't so bad after all. In the meantime, they both learn a little something about intimacy.
REVIEW: EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE takes an interesting look at a growing trend in the African-American family. The role of grandparents has changed from spoiling their grandchildren to raising them because of their children’s inability to be responsible adults. This story looks at a woman who is raising her granddaughter because her daughter is not capable. Bobbie Strickland is trying to find some balance in her life. She always imagined that with her kids grown she would be free to travel and fix up her home. Her plans definitely don’t include raising her grandchild nor does it include a man.
Bobbie stars in the role of superwoman. A mother of two, she has seen her son become a dentist, while her daughter, is a lost sheep who follows the wrong shepherds. Bobbie is a committed daughter to a sick father, an elementary school principal, a soloist in the choir, a lifeline to her neighbor and full time guardian of her nine-year-old granddaughter, Monee. She is committed to being all things to all people. Yet this leaves nothing for her. She doesn’t begin to look inward at her needs until she meets Ray.
Ray Caldwell had dreams of what retirement would be when he retired from the Army. His dreams were shattered when his wife put him out and divorced him. He comes home to Austin in order to carve out a comfortable and quite life for himself. This is not what he gets after being captivated by Bobbie’s voice on Sunday morning. He epitomizes the phrase “an officer and a gentleman” when trouble finds Bobbie, as truth fights to set itself free. In helping Bobbie, Ray, too, must face some truths about his family.
The neighbors add flavor and color to the story especially Mrs. Swink. She is a definite scene-stealer. Brother Harris’s character, on the other hand, thought interesting, is never fully developed. It would have been interesting to see the parent/child dynamic between Bobbie and Darby. The pastor and his wife are what once would have been considered a caricature but is now all to often reality.
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE shows that children can be one of a parent’s greatest sources of sorrow or joy. Ms. Palfrey’s novels always provide a compelling look at love and life for the marvelously mature. The stories have richness and depth that appeal to all readers no matter what the age.
10th August 2002