Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank

Dorothea Benton Frank's Full of Grace is another really good, enjoyable, southern novel. I have been a fan of Frank's books since my Aunt Vee gave me one several years ago. The front cover of this book is inscribed from Aunt Vee making my first Frank book a real treasure. Some of her other titles, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, Shem Creek, are written about the South Carolina coastal, barrier islands where I grew up. I received my "signed First Edition" copy of Full of Grace as a Christmas present. (Mrs. Pebbles - thank you very much and I love you for always thinking of me.)

For the most part, Full of Grace is set in the South Carolina coastal cities of Charleston and Hilton Head. The two main characters are Grace, a high-end travel agent, and Michael, a research Doctor at the Medical University of SC in Charleston. Grace and Michael live in downtown Charleston.

Grace's parents, Big Al and Connie Russo, have retired and moved from New Jersey to Hilton Head bringing Grace's maternal grandmother to live with them. The Russo's are Catholic Italians. They remind me of the television Soprano's except replacing the mob with Catholicism. They are the typical atypical dysfunctional family.

Grace is an unmarried 32-year-old non-practicing Catholic living with Doctor and scientist Michael who does not believe in God or faith. To add insult to injury for Grace's family, Michael is Irish. Grace lives her life with Michael in Charleston, but spends holidays with her family in Hilton Head without Michael.

Without giving away too much of the plot and storyline, Michael starts having terrible headaches and is diagnosed with a usually fatal form of cancer. A non-existent relationship with Grace's family, Grace's grandmother having visions of ghosts and Michael's Alzheimer stricken mother frame this story of Grace and Michael's love and hope.

This book taught me several things about Catholicism and Catholic symbolism which I did not know. I value historical detail in fiction writing and, as one who knows little about the Catholic faith, I appreciate Frank giving the background and significance of many of these symbols.

This novel has one very different and likable characteristic. The book is written in first person from Grace's point of view but the prologue and the epilogue are written by Michael. Hearing from Michael at the beginning and the end of this book helped to better define his distinct personality and his own feelings about his work, his illness, his stance on religion and his relationship with Grace and her family.

I really liked this book. It is not a hard-to-follow thrilling, suspenseful novel. It is a very touching easy read. I am sure everyone will find at least one member of their own family in the Russo's. The setting of Charleston is "home" for me making this book even more enjoyable. From where the Harris Teeter in downtown Charleston is located to the road between Charleston and Hilton Head being very dangerous, I appreciate Frank's knowledge of her setting.

I have enjoyed every book I have read by Dorothea Benton Frank. I have read all of her novels except the latest two. I look forward to reading these in the very near future.

Full of Grace
Author: Dorothea Benton Frank
Hardcover, May 2006, 317 pages, barnesandnoble.com Bargain Book $6
Paperback, March 2007, 340 pages, approximate cost $8
Audio, compact disc, abridged, approximate cost $25

Other books by Dorothea Benton Frank:
Bulls Island, new release - April 2008
Christmas Pearl, 2007
The Land of Mango Sunsets, 2007
Pawleys Island, 2005
Shem Creek, 2004
Isle of Palms, 2003
Plantation, 2001
Sullivan's Island, 2000

To learn more about the author Dorothea Benton Frank, visit: http://www.dotfrank.com/