Sixty-eight-year-old Ronnie Wells has recently been paroled for a murder he committed thirty-six years before. He lives in a run-down trailer park outside Pensacola, Florida, and busies himself by maintaining his trailer-it's the nicest in the park-and never being late for work. Daily life for Ronnie changes when he befriends Mary, the seven-year-old girl who lives next door with her mother, Clara, a drug-addicted prostitute. The Palms weaves the stories and points-of-view of Ronnie, Clara, and Mary as they form a blended ...
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Sixty-eight-year-old Ronnie Wells has recently been paroled for a murder he committed thirty-six years before. He lives in a run-down trailer park outside Pensacola, Florida, and busies himself by maintaining his trailer-it's the nicest in the park-and never being late for work. Daily life for Ronnie changes when he befriends Mary, the seven-year-old girl who lives next door with her mother, Clara, a drug-addicted prostitute. The Palms weaves the stories and points-of-view of Ronnie, Clara, and Mary as they form a blended family and try to build a new existence. In Mary, Ronnie finds the daughter he never got to raise. Clara is reluctant to the friendship at first but soon realizes Ronnie is the only man she's ever known who didn't want her just for drugs or sex. Clay Anderson is an Adjunct Professor of History at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. He received his BA in History from Kennesaw State University and MA from Mississippi State University. He is currently an MFA student in Creative Writing at Reinhardt University. The Palms is his first novel. He lives in the mountains of North Georgia with his two dogs.
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In The Palms, a profoundly evocative novel, we delve into the life of Ronnie Wells, a man sentenced for murder in 1979 and subsequently granted parole after enduring 36 years in confinement. Striving to lead a tranquil, repentant existence, he settles in the quaint, somewhat neglected hamlet of Paradise Palms Villas.
Upon meeting Clara, his enigmatic neighbor, Ronnie's world undergoes a dramatic transformation. Clara, a hardened woman living under the shadow of prostitution, substance abuse, and an abusive partner who doubles as her pimp and drug supplier, shares her life with her innocent young daughter, Mary.
Their initial interaction is fraught with tension, but with the passage of time, a sense of affinity develops between Clara, Mary, and Ronnie. Embracing his role as their protector, Ronnie aids Clara in her desperate quest for escape from the sinister Joe and supports her in the struggle against the formidable chains of addiction. Despite these efforts, Clara's dependency proves challenging to overcome, culminating in a shocking turn of events when Mary is abducted. The narrative then shifts to Ronnie's determined endeavor to retrieve Mary.
This narrative stands out as a captivating masterpiece of literary fiction, exquisitely crafted with a riveting story. Undoubtedly, The Palms is an extraordinary feat deserving of the highest accolades. The author masterfully employs poetic imagery to portray the vivid landscapes and intriguing characters, drawing readers into a heart-rending tale of redemption amidst a world spiraling toward chaos.
The Palms presents a compelling narrative worthy of any reader's attention. This fascinating book leans on the side of creative imagery, resulting in a slower unfolding of the narrative. Nevertheless, readers will find themselves immersed in the intricately detailed world and its occupants. The Palms is a testament to literary artistry that will continue to engage and provoke thought among its readers.