In the Land of Second Chances: In the Land of Second Chances: A Novel

by George Shaffner

Book Overview

In Ebb, Nebraska, things are pretty much as they were fifty years ago-aside from that coffee shop-and that's just the way folks like it. Plucky Wilma Porter is the proprietress of Ebb's only Bed and Breakfast, and she knows everything there is to know in town: the mental state of Clara Tucker Booth Yune, a rich recluse who says only two words at a time; the gossip at Loretta Parson's Bold Cut Beauty Salon; and the sad series of events that have led...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345484983
• ISBN13: 9780345484987
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Ballantine Group
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

This book moved me.

Once in a great while a particular piece of fiction comes along that is both profound and accessible, a catalyst for thought and an enjoyable read. These are the books that one likes to have taking up valuable real estate on one's bookshelf. These are the books that one likes to give as gifts to friends and neighbors. This book is one such. Other reviews have already addressed the general plot outlines, so no need for reiteration of that. The story zips right along and I found the small town atmosphere and the personalities of the characters to be well-rounded and appealing. Some will carp that the religious or philosophical views espoused don't agree with their own. Last time I checked, reading and thinking about views that might be divergent from one's own wasn't either illegal, immoral or fattening. And it might expand one's personal horizons, to boot.

'A Great Read!

In a world of mixed messages and bad news, 'Second Chances' is a breath of fresh air. Most books of hope ask us to set our brains and experience aside. Simply "have faith," they say. But, bad things still happen to good people. And, good things happen to bad people. George Shaffner has created a world in Ebb, Nebraska, peopled with both types, just as the real world is a vastly complex amalgamation of both. But, in Ebb, Nebraska, we meet Vernon Moore; and, HOW our world NEEDS a Vernon Moore! Shaffner's characters are as down home as your next door neighbors. You'll laugh aloud with them, cry with them, and, as you close the last page, you will, like the inhabitants of Ebb, be filled with hope. Not the hope of fairy tales, but a reasoned hope that will touch both your mind and your heart.

Uplifting without a phoney grin...and a great read!

What a little gem. I will admit I'm a sucker for a text that lifts the spirits and makes me feel good about the world. That said, Shaffner goes several steps beyond "mere" heart-warming. I've recently read "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and enjoyed it, but for me, it paled in comparison. I was swimming in details of the many rich characters and relationships in the middle-American town for the first several chapters. Then the writing [...]into that "can't put it down" vortex. I love the sensation that my life is getting in the way of finishing a book and "The Land of Second Chances" delivered just that dilemma. Delicious! There is some significant philosophy artfully tucked away in this text. I was deeply engaged by the story, but also struck by the gentle touch used to deliver some spiritual reckoning. Using logic and odds calculations to address age-old spiritual and philosophical issues is at a minimum unique. For me, it is also quite compelling. The story waltzes you through such explorations with empirically powered, odds assessments - backed up with "even if it's a toss-up, why choose a frown?". Shaffner gives us all something to smile about! I hope to see more from him.

Great Feel Good Read

It's a delightful story delivered in an easy read style. The characters and setting are vividly depicted in the mind's eye...amazing given the efficient writing style of the author. I even found myself chuckling out loud. I suspect this will be a big Christmas hit with families and individuals who cherish the human spirit. Although they represent two different genres, for me, this book was as easy and compelling to read as DaVinci Code was...and, I don't prescribe to either book's philosophical/religious messages.

Quirky, fun, and thought-provoking

"In the Land of Second Chances" is a charming story that kindly and lovingly deals with incredibly difficult and painful issues. Calvin Millet is living the existance of Job. Facing the cruel and inevitable death of his only child to a nameless disease, he is angry, discouraged, bewildered, and hopeless. Enter the mysterious stranger, who during the course of the book sells Calvin some hope and then disappears into the proverbial sunset. Narrated by Wilma Porter, owner of the Come Again Bed and Breakfast and set in a small Nebraska town full of quirky, caring neighbors, "In the Land of Second Chances" is entertaining, provocative, and a good old-fashioned fun read. Have a couple of hankies handy and be prepared to laugh out loud. And, in the end, be prepared to think. This is a wonderful book for anyone and everyone to read, but will have special meaning for those facing life's inexplicable and often unfair hardships.