In brisk scenes, Arnoult's rhythmic prose beautifully reveals the human potential for unconditional love and faith, and wholly convinces us-despite the heartache her mental illness causes-of Gracie's essential wisdom and worthiness.

How a local writer managed to survive teen pregnancy, ADHD, Internet dating, and a house fire—and still publish two acclaimed books in the last six months

by Maria Browning

In regional literature, "Southern" and "spiritual" often go hand in hand, and nowhere is that piquant association more radiantly portrayed than in Arnoult's debut novel, a transcendent exploration of the unrestrained vagaries of faith and the unexpected roads to redemption. As if on a whim, Gracie Hollaman walks out of her house one day, abandoning her husband, grown daughter, and deceptively placid small-town life. Seeking salvation, Grace obeys a voice, either from above or from her past, that guides her to the home of Mama Toot, a black woman who once played a pivotal role in Grace's tempestuous childhood. Likewise, Grace's inexplicable appearance in Mama Toot's life provides the unifying force that brings peace and acceptance to a family that has seen its own share of loss and tragedy. With astute sensitivity, Arnoult bravely and generously endows her formidable characters with charming candor and perceptive humanity in an elegiac yet hopeful tale of elegant strength, serene love, and infectious desire.