Walking Across Egypt

Clyde Edgerton

11/6/1999 general fiction novel, book review, Walking Across Egypt, Clyde Edgerton, North Carolina, old fashioned hospitality, family relations, generational communication, Jandy's Reading Room

Mattie Rigsby is 78 years old, lives by herself in a small town in North Carolina, and makes the best pound cake in the world. She knows she slowing down and can't do as much as she used to. She sings hymns every night, is at church every Sunday, says a blessing before each meal, and lives her Christian beliefs.

Lamar is the local dogcatcher. When Mattie has a stray dog at her house he is the person sent to pick up the animal. The first thing he has to do is rescue her from an embarrassing situation. Then he discovers her hospitality. Mattie still believes in treating all people like friends and feeds everyone who walks in the door. She extends that hospitality to his nephew, Wesley.

Her 43-year-old son and 38-year-old daughter have never married. Mattie cannot understand them and their current life choices. She wants to be able to have comfortable conversations with them both. She longs for grandchildren.

This is an interesting novel. There were times I was totally involved and at times it was easy to put it down. Mattie is an intriguing person. This book ends like life's progression. The current story is over, and there is so much more that can happen. (And does, I understand, in a sequel.)

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