Margaret of Thibodaux

"Jo Taylor's Margaret of Thibodaux is a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor's novel is a stunning read by an author at the top of her craft." --Stephen Dudas, PhD in Literature, Reedsy Discovery

". . . an intelligent and emotionally gratifying novel . . . that will tug at the heartstrings while also evoking smiles. Author Jo Taylor has written a wonderful book with broad appeal." --Book Review Directory

". . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story. At its core, Taylor's fiction debut is a story about true friendship, accepting cultural differences, and the unpredictable ways grief shapes-and ultimately frees-us. -BookLife

Self-focused and emotional fourteen-year-old Margaret can't imagine her deceased mama being erased from their home for good―or how her daddy could replace her with another woman. It will take coming to terms with her own humility and accountability as surprising truths come to light, and as unexpected events show her that life, and what she holds dear, can change in an instant.

It is 1974, the last carefree, sultry Louisiana summer before high school begins when fourteen-year-old Margaret Thibodeaux's world collapses: her daddy asks hometown doctor Muriel to marry him. It's been six years since her mama mysteriously died, and Margaret is convinced that the closer Muriel gets, the less she'll receive bedside visits from her mother-and the more she will fade from their lives.

Set on rejecting Muriel's kindnesses, Margaret grapples with everyone's delight over the engagement, including her two best friends, Honey and Robert, who think Muriel is nothing short of an angel. But when Margaret visits her mama's grave for the first time and finds a poem left there-not in her daddy's handwriting-the mystery of her mother's death escalates. It isn't until she befriends the local recluse, Jezebel, who has spiritual gifts akin to her own, that Margaret begins to unravel her assumptions, reconcile her grief, and discover a shocking revelation about her mama from across the veil.

At once humorous and heartbreaking, Margaret of Thibodaux is a captivating Southern story of longing and self-discovery, told from the perspective of a feisty and determined yet vulnerable teenage girl as she learns that love and nurturing can come in the most unexpected packages.

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Margaret of Thibodaux

"Jo Taylor's Margaret of Thibodaux is a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor's novel is a stunning read by an author at the top of her craft." --Stephen Dudas, PhD in Literature, Reedsy Discovery

". . . an intelligent and emotionally gratifying novel . . . that will tug at the heartstrings while also evoking smiles. Author Jo Taylor has written a wonderful book with broad appeal." --Book Review Directory

". . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story. At its core, Taylor's fiction debut is a story about true friendship, accepting cultural differences, and the unpredictable ways grief shapes-and ultimately frees-us. -BookLife

Self-focused and emotional fourteen-year-old Margaret can't imagine her deceased mama being erased from their home for good―or how her daddy could replace her with another woman. It will take coming to terms with her own humility and accountability as surprising truths come to light, and as unexpected events show her that life, and what she holds dear, can change in an instant.

It is 1974, the last carefree, sultry Louisiana summer before high school begins when fourteen-year-old Margaret Thibodeaux's world collapses: her daddy asks hometown doctor Muriel to marry him. It's been six years since her mama mysteriously died, and Margaret is convinced that the closer Muriel gets, the less she'll receive bedside visits from her mother-and the more she will fade from their lives.

Set on rejecting Muriel's kindnesses, Margaret grapples with everyone's delight over the engagement, including her two best friends, Honey and Robert, who think Muriel is nothing short of an angel. But when Margaret visits her mama's grave for the first time and finds a poem left there-not in her daddy's handwriting-the mystery of her mother's death escalates. It isn't until she befriends the local recluse, Jezebel, who has spiritual gifts akin to her own, that Margaret begins to unravel her assumptions, reconcile her grief, and discover a shocking revelation about her mama from across the veil.

At once humorous and heartbreaking, Margaret of Thibodaux is a captivating Southern story of longing and self-discovery, told from the perspective of a feisty and determined yet vulnerable teenage girl as she learns that love and nurturing can come in the most unexpected packages.

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Margaret of Thibodaux

Margaret of Thibodaux

by Jo Taylor
Margaret of Thibodaux

Margaret of Thibodaux

by Jo Taylor

Paperback

$17.95 
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Overview

"Jo Taylor's Margaret of Thibodaux is a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor's novel is a stunning read by an author at the top of her craft." --Stephen Dudas, PhD in Literature, Reedsy Discovery

". . . an intelligent and emotionally gratifying novel . . . that will tug at the heartstrings while also evoking smiles. Author Jo Taylor has written a wonderful book with broad appeal." --Book Review Directory

". . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story. At its core, Taylor's fiction debut is a story about true friendship, accepting cultural differences, and the unpredictable ways grief shapes-and ultimately frees-us. -BookLife

Self-focused and emotional fourteen-year-old Margaret can't imagine her deceased mama being erased from their home for good―or how her daddy could replace her with another woman. It will take coming to terms with her own humility and accountability as surprising truths come to light, and as unexpected events show her that life, and what she holds dear, can change in an instant.

It is 1974, the last carefree, sultry Louisiana summer before high school begins when fourteen-year-old Margaret Thibodeaux's world collapses: her daddy asks hometown doctor Muriel to marry him. It's been six years since her mama mysteriously died, and Margaret is convinced that the closer Muriel gets, the less she'll receive bedside visits from her mother-and the more she will fade from their lives.

Set on rejecting Muriel's kindnesses, Margaret grapples with everyone's delight over the engagement, including her two best friends, Honey and Robert, who think Muriel is nothing short of an angel. But when Margaret visits her mama's grave for the first time and finds a poem left there-not in her daddy's handwriting-the mystery of her mother's death escalates. It isn't until she befriends the local recluse, Jezebel, who has spiritual gifts akin to her own, that Margaret begins to unravel her assumptions, reconcile her grief, and discover a shocking revelation about her mama from across the veil.

At once humorous and heartbreaking, Margaret of Thibodaux is a captivating Southern story of longing and self-discovery, told from the perspective of a feisty and determined yet vulnerable teenage girl as she learns that love and nurturing can come in the most unexpected packages.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781962504058
Publisher: Road Clothes Press
Publication date: 03/18/2025
Pages: 304
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Jo Taylor is a retired ER nurse who grew up with three stepmothers (not at the same time), has lived on a boat in Santa Barbara Harbor with her husband and her dog, and can trace her genealogy to the year 310.A writer at heart all her life, Jo dove into the endeavors of poetry and short story writing to develop craft and style. Her first story won Honorable Mention for Glimmer Train in 2009, and a handful of pieces have since been published in literary magazines. Her first book, Postcards: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories, came out in July 2024. Margaret of Thibodaux is her first novel.Jo has been married for years and has one grown son. She is also a psychic medium, mostly in retirement from performing readings, but retains the gift nonetheless. She currently lives in Daphne, Alabama.Follow Jo's Substack, Characteristically Speaking, at https: //jotaylorauthor.substack.com, or connect with her online at: jotaylorauthor.com and x.com/jotaylorauthor.
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