limelight.

I have never met a Melody Carlson book that I didn't like, and "Limelight" is no exception. This is a novel about a lovely old woman named Claudette, who lived an adult life of wealth and privilege until her director husband Gavin, died (of old age, nothing crazy). Claudette is used to lavish parties, fine dining and a full time staff for her beautiful Beverly Hills mansion. She was not prepared for the news that Gavin's accountant was robbing them blind, paying himself instead of their taxes. The IRS took her house and she had to sell most of her cherished things to survive. Claudette did the only thing she could think of, being in her eighties, and feeling ugly about her appearance and her life, she downed a bunch of pills and tried to end it. She wasn't that lucky. (Kidding, kind of)

After being hospitalized and then released, the only option Claudette had left was to move to her hometown in her childhood home that her mother left to her. She cut all ties with this former life, even with her younger sister who lived in an assisted living home in town. After getting settled in to her new, but old, home, everything went wrong. I got a bit tired for her contemplating suicide, (which she often did). Claudette was lost, she had no idea how to live like a normal person. She had no idea how to do housework, how to properly grocery shop, how to do anything. She was too proud to ask for help, but is lucky when help knocks on her door, and keeps helping regardless.

While living this new life, she finds out secrets of her mothers past, and begins to realize that she not only needs help from others, but from God as well. God is involved in this story, but not shoved down your throat, or Claudette's. It is heartwarming, and extremely funny, with a little of Carlson's notorious darkness mixed in. It's the whole package. I recommend this book for any age.