Review: joyful, passionate, and very entertaining
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 2, 2012
The saying goes that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, but what happens when that frog prince refuses to believe he is royalty? Mary Calmes's "Frog" tells the tale of one such frog whose princeliness shines blindingly bright to everyone but himself. This is a story of love, stubborn pride, and how one man comes to realize that his worth has nothing to do with what he has and everything to do with who he is and the gigantic impact he has on the people around him.Ms. Calmes has a very distinctive writing style that I find extremely appealing. She writes with humor and heart, giving her readers characters so full of life that they almost burst from the page, and while those characters may fall into certain "types" that recur in much of Ms. Calmes's work, I dare you not to adore them. No, they are not completely realistic, because people as awesome as this (or children this utterly cute) can't possibly exist in real life, but that didn't keep me from identifying with them."Frog" employs the first person point of view, bringing us directly into our narrator's psyche so that we feel his emotions, his self-doubt, and his motivations on a very personal level. Weber tells his story in a folksy, self-deprecating, "aw shucks, ma'am" tone that makes him every inch a cowboy. Ms. Calmes captures the country "twang" in his voice perfectly. This contrasts wonderfully with the California-fied folks who surround him, making him stand out among them like a beacon.This is an emotion-based rather than action-based story. Most of the conflict resides directly within Weber's heart, and there were quite a few times as I read this book that I wanted to shake him and tell him to open his eyes and drop his foolish pride. Although he exhibits an endearing cluelessness regarding his own worth, Weber is a magnet for children and animals, who see him clearly and recognize his gentle and protective nature."Frog" is joyful, passionate, and very entertaining. If you are not familiar with Ms. Calmes's writing, then this is a great place to start. You'll read "Frog" and then immediately run out to look for more of her work. If you are already one of Ms. Calmes's many fans, then this book is a must read. It will leave you with a smile, a feeling of warmth and peace, and a renewed belief in the ever-after kind of love that we all look for in romance.