There's a Hole
James Sarjent
This is a homey little story with a bit of mystery woven into it. Sarjent puts together a sweet family book for every audience but adds more measure to it when the young daughters of the protagonist manage to dig up human remains. This leads us into a story that feels like a tale you’ve heard before—in a loving, heartwarming sort of way. You will be taken in by the family cheer, the wonderful fatherly character, and all the intriguing mystery that unfolds on every page.
What I enjoyed about this book was the relaxing family feel to it. I liked that it gave me a sense of nostalgia, as if I were leafing through an old copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The protagonist’s family is full of charming characters and their interactions and conversations are loveable and entertaining. Each person has a personality of their own that brings diversity and soul to this story.
Now, I feel I have given this story its fair share of positive review. But I have to be honest about what I didn’t like. First of all, there were no page numbers which made the book—although short—seem endless, and not in a good way. While the content was wonderfully PG and family-friendly, it was incredibly flat and even felt cheesy at times. I won’t go as far as saying it was uneventful, but the mystery was not as exciting as I would have liked the discovery of human remains to be.
Overall, this is a fair and easy read but it feels like it would be most appreciated in the hands of my grandmother or someone with nothing to do for a day. It isn’t ‘boring’ but it does lack a bit of body. All in all, I was not as entertained as I had hoped but I did find some enjoyment in the warmness of it and the bonding of the characters.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys family-friendly reads and easy-going novels. If you like books with strong family ties, then you might appreciate this story as would anyone who wants to enjoy a leisurely read on a lazy afternoon.