Whale Season by N.M. Kelby

Whale Season: A Really Good Book by N.M. Kelby
If you want something funny, light, a little bizarre, but also with characters you can believe in this may be the book for you. Kelby brings together some eccentric characters and some odd happenings at Whale Harbor, Florida. ("There are no whales in Whale Harbor, Florida. Never have been.") Her book is entertaining, yet it has wisdom, pathos and human feeling. Kelby has been compared to author Carl Hiaasen, and you can see similarities in her Florida setting and her quirky characters. This is a good summer read (even though it is Christmas in the book).

As the residents of Whale Harbor get ready to celebrate Christmas, a serial killer, who is dressed as Jesus, comes to town. The essence of this book concerns the way in which his appearance and the events that he initiates affect the characters.

The Abingdon Book Group enjoyed the book. We found the characters to be unusual, but generally likeable, and almost all had a tender side. One reader in the group had not liked it too much, but during the discussion, said how much she was starting to like it now that we had discussed it and she had seen it in the light of other readers' observations. This is why book groups are so good, we get to see hear many differing views and opinions, and then we may discover something about the book we had overlooked. We also enjoyed iced tea & chocolate chip cookies! Then shared other books we are reading.

Ms. Kelby is the author of Murder at the Bad Girl's Bar and Grill (forthcoming book), In the Company of Angels, and Theater of the Stars. She also has written short stories. Information about the author may be found at http://www.nmkeby.com/

Our August title is Family Tree, by Barabara Delinsky.