My co-Books! moderator, Kelly Justice of Fountain Books, and I both don’t like the cover of THE MIDDLE PLACE.  It gives the book a chick-lit, growing-up-in-(you name the city, time, or place) feel.  And it sells this amazing book short.

   First and foremost, I want you to know Kelly Corrigan is a personable writer.  When you finish THE MIDDLE PLACE, you’ll want to call her for a catch-up chat.   Her book is both laugh out loud funny and heart-wrenching.  It’s a celebration of family and having the love of both parents and of a family of your own–i.e. “the middle place” when your parents are still wonderfully alive and you have the joy of being a parent yourself.  Yes, it is about all that is good, loving, and powerful in life.

  It’s also the memoir of Kelly’s battle against breast cancer at the age of thirty-six and her beloved father’s own subsequent battles with the big C.    See why I didn’t want to drop that one on you right in the beginning?  However, to say this is merely a book about overcoming cancer is like saying LORD OF THE RINGS is a tell-all about Hobbits. 

   Each of the Corrigans confronts this disease in his or her own fashion.  Kelly relies on Science, her father on Faith.  She attacks her breast cancer with her sharp wit, relentlessly researching her options.  Her father settles into his cancer, listening to his daughter’s advice and even taking some of it.  His worry is for her; her fears are for him–and her children and husband.   

     I want you to know there are only happy endings here.  Cancer doesn’t win.  But it also teaches Corrigan some  incredible lessons along the way that she has the talent to share with us.  Trust me, you will devour THE MIDDLE PLACE.

  Note to Virginians:  Kelly Corrigan is a University of Richmond grad.  Kelly Justice is hoping to bring her to Richmond for a book signing.  For more information, keep your eye on www.fountainbookstore.com