A sweeping family saga set in the American South, The Great Wherever is an unforgettable debut novel by American author Shannon Sanders. After the death of her father, Aubrey Lamb is astonished to find out she’s inherited a share of her ancestral home. Suffering from heartbreak, an emotional Aubrey makes the journey to meet her family co-owners and view the house.
Here, the ghosts of the past provide the historic backstory detailing how her great-grandfather purchased the land and built the family from which she descends. As Aubrey gets acquainted with her newfound relatives in the present, she must also grapple with decisions about her future.
The surprising dual narrative offers an intriguing perspective, providing a rich and fulfilling angle to complete the picture of the past. The characters, both past and present, are expansive, and encompass the spirit and the emotions around the themes of generational wealth, legacy and family tragedy.
The haunting prose (forgive the pun), striking landscape and unforgettable characters combine to make this a fascinating story, and I particularly enjoyed the unusual aspect of using the ancestral ghosts to frame past events. I predict The Great Wherever will be a summer hit this year, and a strong book prize contender.
