Review: Quality Entertainment
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 17, 2012
Groom and Doom by Theresa Braun, is not your typical chick-lit, wedding story. That's not to say that chick lit or wedding stories are automatically formulaic, but this book is not what I was expecting. Ms. Braun has her master's degree in English literature, and you can tell how vast her knowledge is as she weaves in classic allusions and figurative language into her narrative. But she does so in a way that is unintimidating, merely adding flavor, rather than pretention, to the story.And - side note - as an English teacher myself, I really appreciated her description of the plight of the high school teacher. It was spot on!Anyway, the story of Groom and Doom is about a romance between Angela and Starvos and the trouble that ensues when they plan their perfect Greek wedding. Angela, among other things, is a fortune teller, and she has had her own tarot cards read many times. Most of the readings tell her wonderfully positive things about her wedding and her future, yet she can't seem to relax and let go. There are constant nagging feelings of doubt about where she is headed, especially when it comes to her teaching career or her masters, but also when it comes to her personal life as well. But she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that she loves Starvos.Will that love be enough to withstand a domineering father-in-law? Will Starvos be the "Greek God" Angela has imagined him to be? You'll have to read it to find out. But know this: any obstacle or insecurity Angela must face is written with realism and gravity. That's what I mean when I say this book isn't typical. Angela's story and her problems feel real, as if they were happening to the readers themselves. Because of this, her triumphs feel all the more vivid as well. I highly recommend this unique and charming novel!