An utterly delightful novel that maps out a moving journey.
Without her permission, Karen Whittington has unceremoniously become a woman of a certain age, someone staring into the eye of looming retirement. Looking forward to leaving her library job and routine about as much as a root canal, Karen still has lots of life ahead of her. Now, she just has to figure out where to focus her time and energy. With no clear direction, Karen decides to make a list. Nothing too profound, but things a woman who has outlived a couple of husbands and raised two children can capably handle. Unexpected houseguests in the form of a grown son and teenage grandson put the list on hold, but life in Little Ivory continues to march forward. With so much out of her control, Karen does what she can to maintain a semblance of peace. She gets involved with her grandson as much as he’ll tolerate, avoids the library director whenever possible, and tries to figure out what makes her happy, or if she even deserves to be. Although the inner conflicts are her own, Karen has a lively group of friends to support her as she learns that acceptance of others has to begin with acceptance of oneself.
If age is just a number, then math may have failed Karen. Audiences can hop in the bookmobile for a short trip back in time, circa 2012, to join Karen as she tackles online dating, navigates the latter seasons of life, and survives stardom after becoming a reluctant internet meme. Readers will delight in Karen’s tongue-in-cheek escapades as she wades through the tail end of middle age with persistent heartburn and aching joints, contributing to the antics of life in an upstate New York village. Small-town scandals, library politics, and compelling family drama make the story difficult to put down. Painting the town of Little Ivory with painstaking brushstrokes, Corgan’s labor of love pays off for readers who get to bask in the cozy shops and stroll down the relaxed streets. Immensely charming sections written from the dog’s point of view prove to be the most edifying, delivering essential plot points with tact, heart, and unabashed innocence. With prose that specializes in corny library puns and subtle humor that grabs you in unexpected places, the author exhibits a way with words that guides the narrative on a most uproarious trek. A confection that is sweet, spicy, salty, and sassy, Whisterpoop – One More Time With Feeling is an utterly delightful novel that maps out a moving journey toward love.
