In the Neighborhood of Normal

I loved this book! Readers of Matt Haig's "The Midnight Library" would love "In the Neighborhood of Normal". This book has heart, a hopeful message, hilarious and relatable characters, but it tackles serious issues as well. Our hero is 82-year-old Mish, but don't let her age fool you. She's ready to......more

How marvelous to have Mish, a woman of 82, as our protagonist! She is rich in love and wisdom, beloved of her community, and unfortunately gullible at the worse times. She is also utterly floored when it comes to the mysteries of her new cellphone and, with this, the novel takes off. Mish receives a......more

I rarely give a 5 star rating. But this book was so engrossing, so honest about people’s doubts and assumptions, and so moving that I felt I had to. Full disclosure, I know the author slightly (she is close friends of my sister). But this first novel has the potential of becoming a bestseller, and I......more

I just finished reading an advance copy of the novel “In the Neighborhood of Normal,” written by my friend Cindy Maddox, who was my predecessor as pastor of King Street United Church of Christ. I found the book to be a fantastic blend of sweetness, poignancy, challenge, gentle faith with a progressi......more

I really enjoyed reading this one. When you begin this book it feels very much like you are in for a cozy story about a small town. And indeed, the main character is a deeply good hearted (progressive) church lady who is the grandmother we all need right now. Mish sees the world with a loving clarit......more