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Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite
Shinbone Lane, nestled atop a hill in San Francisco, has more to it than an unusual name. Ostracized from the nearby neighborhoods, it dances to its own rhythm, with houses teeming with intriguing characters. The number 346, especially, is a safe haven for lost souls, be it a poet with dangerously low self-esteem, an upcoming musician with a fear of commitment, or a photographer who hasn’t dared to come out of the closet yet. When a teenage runaway enters this strange community, she doesn’t question why their neighbor’s backyard can stretch to unfathomable dimensions or how the resident pigeon with colored plumage can speak perfect English. Yet, Shinbone Lane has its long-held secrets, too. What happens when these secrets threaten to unravel the idyllic lifestyle? Find out in Shinbone Lane, a novel by Laura McHale Holland.
With her deft storytelling, Laura McHale Holland repeatedly blurs the boundary between magic and reality, seamlessly blending one into another. Her beautiful prose creates a vibrant picture of the magical environment that swaddles the neighborhood in its cozy embrace. An asset of the novel is its eclectic cast of characters, some eternally kind while others are morally grey with questionable life choices. We empathize with the characters scarred by their horrid experiences while feeling pity for those oblivious to their selfish, toxic selves. Yet, Holland views every character through a lens of tenderness. As the story progresses, we catch glimpses of their nuanced lives. Violent pasts crash with unpredictable futures, the severed ties culminate in newly forged relationships, and through all the cruelty and heartbreak, hope emerges. The story leaves a bittersweet aftertaste that stays with us for a long time. I heartily recommend Shinbone Lane to anyone who loves magical realism. It is a perfect read for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Heather Webber.
