Dorothea Benton Frank, The Land of Mango Sunsets

The Land of Mango Sunsets

Dorothea Benton Frank

Morrow, May 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 0060892382

Living in New York, Miriam Swanson finds her life nuked since her husband ran off. Her friends have abandoned the middle aged woman as if she was the one cheating on her spouse; making it more difficult to adjust is her boss Agnes Willis, who is one of those bosom buddies who give Miriam the cold shoulder. Worse, she caught Agnes' husband Truman in a seemingly compromising position with her tenant Liz. Her two adult sons are polite, but avoid her like she has the plague. It seems the only folks who talk to her are her parrot and her tenants, with each squawking at her.

Miriam decides to escape the city by visiting her socialite mother Miss Josie on the South Carolina barrier island Sullivan. She is stunned when mom no longer cares about fashion, as the older female has gone bohemian. Miss Josie introduces Miriam to Harrison Ford (the banker that is), but though attracted to him, she fears he is Miss Josie's fling. So she returns to New York, where she reveals Truman's indiscretion, leading to his girlfriend's beating. Feeling guilty, Miriam takes Liz to Sullivan's Island to recover, but the trip is more healing to Miriam, who begins to reach out to those who care about her.

THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS is an interesting character study starring a lonely woman, who finally understands she must reach out if she wants people to reach back. The storyline is driven solely by Miriam, with the secondary ensemble mostly relating to her, even when for instance Truman, who is married to Agnes and having an affair with Liz. Though the ending seems very abrupt and improbable, as time may heal all wounds, the key is it takes time. Still, fans of Dorothea Benton Frank's South Carolina tales will enjoy the return to SULLIVAN'S ISLAND.