"In Last Light Over Carolina I see people I knew and with whom I have shared the heartaches of injuries and yes, even the loss of family members, as well as the so-real satisfaction derived from some level of success In a troubled industry. This book surprised me as to how closely it parallels what some of us have lived and what some, thankfully are still hanging on to. When you start this book you will neglect chores and other things you should do. I avoided answering the door bell at least twice.  Not for a long time have I enjoyed a book so much."

Clay Cable, Vice President of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association and former Mayor of Isle of Palms, SC.

Last Light Over Carolina 

Based solely on Last Light Over Carolina, strangers to Mary Alice Monroe would hardly know she has not spent her entire life on the inlets and marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry. In her latest work, The New York Times best-selling author captures a facet of coastal living through perfectly portrayed characters.

Monroe proves that character development is indeed her forte, along with her penchant for historic accuracy and attention to detail. Through protagonists Bud and Carolina Morrison, Monroe weaves a tale of life in a family dependent on the shrimping industry in a small South Carolina town while concurrently depicting the decline of the once thriving business.

Born into a family of shrimpers, Bud is a native of McClellanville. Inheriting his passion for the sea and way of life from his family, Bud has always known his existence would be one of a shrimp boat captain. Carolina, seemingly from the other spectrum of life in the Southern state, hails from a wealthy family that calls a country club in the Upstate home. The two fall into a deeply passionate love affair that is immediately disapproved by Carolina's parents, who were unabashed in informing their future son-on-law that he could never provide an adequate lifestyle for their only daughter by harvesting shrimp.

Defying the odds against them, Carolina and Bud live happily for years on the Miss Ann, working side by side as captain and striker. Yet, when Carolina is forced to stay on land while expecting their first child, the dynamic of their marriage is radically altered. The decline of the Morrisons' relationship seems to parallel the increased hardships of the shrimping industry. Bud feels forced to spend more time on the water in order to stay afloat in a rising sea of debt caused by high diesel prices and an influx of foreign products on the market. And yet, the lack of proximity leaves him estranged from the loved ones he is working so diligently to provide for.

The saga of the couple's marriage unfolds during the course of one tragic day on the Atlantic seaboard. The two simultaneously recant the fond, and painful, memories of their lives together, in a harrowing journey that ultimately leads them to discover the things they treasure most.

Monroe's ability to so thoroughly portray the lives of shrimpers allows the reader to become fully immersed in the story. The dynamic characters are so easily relatable, readers may feel they have known the Morrisons as friends and neighbors, and that they, too, are a part of the shrimping community. Monroe has created an easy, yet exciting read that allows her fans to feel as if they have grown up on the beautiful waters of South Carolina, even if they reside hundreds of miles away.

by Cara Kelly , The City Paper

LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA by Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe is an esteemed author who has achieved much success in her short career. Books by her such as TIME IS A RIVER, THE BEACH HOUSE and SWIMMING LESSONS are reader favorites. Now comes LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA and it is her most romantic and emotion filled novel yet.

The book takes place in the actual town of McClellanville, South Carolina. This is a sleepy little village on the coast of South Carolina and its primary industry is shrimping. This industry has fallen on hard times in the past few years and those who operate shrimp boats have been in a financial bind.

Such a man is Bud Morrison. He comes from a long line of shrimpers and there is nothing he would rather do. His dedication to his profession has caused him financial problems, health problems, and problems in his relationships with his wife and daughter. His wife Carolina is a good shrimper's wife but even she resents the lonely days she spends when Bud is out on the boat.

They have hit some rough spots in their marriage on the day in the book when Bud goes to sea once again. He leaves early and doesn't even kiss Carolina good-bye. He comes to regret this when he suffers and accident on his boat and doesn't know if he will survive the day or not.

The entire book takes place in this single day. It begins at first light and goes through last light. It details the love that Bud and Carolina share and what a tragedy it will be if this love can not continue. Bud and Carolina are both devoted to each other but this book raises the question as to whether or not that is enough. Can Carolina's love for Bud extend across the water and bring him home.

In setting her story in McClellanville, Monroe adds another character to the story. There is so much to McClellanville as a place that its beauty and charm permeate every factor of the story. If, like I, you have once walked the streets of this wonderful town then you will know that Monroe perfectly captures the rhythms and flow of its people and places.

Monroe knows how to weave a story. She has shown this in the past. But never before has she reached into the hearts of her characters and laid them out in print as she does this time. By book's end you have a relationship with Carolina, Bud, their daughter Lizzy and her husband Josh. You have soared with them and you have suffered with them and those experiences have bonded you with them.

LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA is Monroe's best book yet and one you will want to read over and over again. It takes you home to those places in your heart you love the most.

Jackie K. Cooper Reviews

LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA

Mary Alice Monroe is a master storyteller, and her latest book, Last Light over Carolina, is a prime example. Southeastern Charm publisher Kristy Ensor said, "This was by far my favorite read of the summer! The book is filled with underlying themes of love, forgiveness and commitment, and it's a real page turner. This was the first book by Monroe that I have ever read, and I'm an instant fan! She so vividly describes her characters and the scenery. You just feel like you're right there in the story, and I was drawn in from the first page to the very last."

Ensor recently chatted with the best-selling author and found her to be very warm and engaging. During their conversation Mary Alice admitted that she is a natural-born storyteller. "I was the 3rd eldest of ten children, and I was always telling stories to my siblings. I wrote my first story when I was eight years old," said Monroe. In fact it was her 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Crawford who was the first mentor to really inspire her to write. Impressed with the stories Mary Alice had written, Mrs. Crawford asked Monroe if she had ever thought about being a writer when she grew up. At the time, Monroe said she didn't even know you could write as a profession. Once she learned that, she was convinced that this is what she wanted to do. But it wasn't until many years later that Monroe would actually make her dream reality. She found herself bedridden during one of her pregnancies. Knowing that she had always wanted to write a book, her husband gave Monroe a notebook and basically told her to write the novel that was lingering inside of her. She began writing, and actually wrote her first book during that time. So basically she birthed a book and a baby simultaneously.

When Ensor asked her how she developed such realistic characters, the author responded with "I'm very intuitive, and studying people is really organic to my research." She definitely does her research. She's very hands-on and usually spends at least a year researching each of her projects. For instance, prior to writing her new release, she spent time out in out in the shrimping community in the low-country of South Carolina. She went out and interviewed shrimpers, their wives and actually spent time out on the shrimp boats doing hands-on work. Additionally, she draws from personal experiences to capture such heartfelt emotions & feelings which is evidenced through her characters.

Monroe is in the midst of her book tour for Last Light over Carolina, and she's also busy working on her next writing project called - The Butterfly's Daughter due out next July. That book's sure to be another great read! Be sure to check out the feature article about Monroe in the summer 2010 issue of Southeastern Charm.

Posted by Southeastern Charm Magazine

Last Light Over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe.

This book examines the life of a low country shrimper family.   The stresses of a dangerous, low paying occupation are contrasted with the love of independence and traditions of a multi-generational family occupation.  It is a story of love, tests and growth of a couple struggling to redefine their relationship.

I honestly thought I would find the book boring.   Boy, was I wrong!  I grew up in a dying steel town and there were some surprising parallels between my past and the life of a commercial fisherman in a dying seacoast town.   The characters were clearly defined, warts and all.  The competition to earn a dollar and the incredible cooperation when danger threatened was eye opening and captivating.  The desire to see your family safe and taken care of was another area of similarity.   My own father worked in a job he hated to insure his family's thriving.  Bud Morrison loved his occupation even when it failed to provide him with the wherewithal to support his family.   The frustrated interplay between characters and their need to be responsible and often lonely and the want to be closer physically, mentally and emotionally was sometimes draining.   You end up really feeling for these people and their life altering dilemmas.  

Monroe paints her environment with digital clarity; you can see the Miss Carolina in the Morrison colors, the smell of the sea and the discordant aromas of dying sea life and fresh ocean breezes. 

I think this story will resonate with practically anyone who has ever held a job that was both demanding and exhilarating.   I saw people I knew in an industry I knew nothing about.   The book moved me and surprised me for how much I enjoyed it.

I highly recommend it. 

William Bentrim     Pick of the Literate Reviews 

This new novel by the author of Time Is A River takes us to the coast of South Carolina and into the world of the shrimping industry, hit hard by the current economy and imports of foreign shrimp to American markets. It's the story of Bud and Carolina, whose decades of marriage is on shaky ground. It's also the story of a down on its luck town who, when emergency strikes, pulls together and takes care of its own while forgetting all the rivalries and resentments and worries that generally plague them. The story moves back and forth between the present and scenes from Bud and Carolina's past, giving depth and background to the characters to this well told story.

Bookshelves Reviews

 Book Blog Tour!  July 14, 2009

BUSINESS BLOG

In lyrical prose, as warm as the breeze off the South Carolina coast, best selling author Mary Alice Monroe tells a tale of rocky marriage, and the tragic day when the pain of the past didn't matter any more. The wonderful novel Last Light Over Carolina led with beautifully drawn characters, filled with every human emotion, bringing them to life. The story revolves around a troubled marriage, that hides the deep but seldom expressed love, between shrimp boat Captain Bud Morrison and his wife Carolina. Their love of each other, of their family, and of the sea, are the anchor of this beautiful novel.

Mary Alice Monroe weaves together a lifetime, within the confines of a single day. When Bud is trapped alone on the sea, on his shrimp boat named the Miss Carolina, in honor of his wife, he realizes the true depth of his love. On shore, Carolina finds her mind remembering things past and how powerful her love is for her husband. Through memories of both good times and bad, Bud and Carolina find redemption and forgiveness for past transgressions that no longer matter. They also learn the value of family and how a tragedy can make a group of broken people whole again.

Mary Alice Monroe (photo left) creates a world where the town, the ocean, and the people who depend on the sea's bounty, are all characters in the story. Captain Bud Morrison is torn between his wife Carolina, and her alter ego boat that bears her name. Bud loves the freedom of the sea and his shrimp boat, but that separation of wife Carolina from the sea, creates a deep rift in their marriage. With his boat as his mistress, Bud turns away from his wife. Only later, does he come to realize that the ship and the sea can't replace the real Carolina. Together, he and his wife are whole, but when apart, their lives become empty and full of despair.

With parallels to Hemingway's classic The Old Man and the Sea, Mary Alice Monroe turns Bud's tragic accident and a storm at sea into a life changing event. Forced by his own mortality to face honestly the decisions made in his life, Bud Morrison recognizes that what he thought were his life's priorities were mere illusion. What truly matters is love and family, and acceptance of one another through the storms of life. Carolina remembers storms of the past, as well as the stormy days of her marriage to Bud. After a storm, there is a second chance to rebuild. Both Bud and Carolina realize that their own love, and of those around them, deserve a second chance too.

I highly recommend Last Light over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe, to anyone seeking a powerful love story between two people adrift on the sea, and in danger of striking a rock and sinking their marriage. The book contains the timeless themes of love, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness. It's a story about being granted a precious second chance at happiness, and grabbing on and never letting it go again.

Read Last Light over Carolina  by Mary Alice Monroe, and be swept away by the rich detail of life in a close knit coastal South Carolina shrimp fishing town, where life depends on nature and the bounty of the sea. Discover the power of love and forgiveness, the importance of family, and how sometimes the unexpected events of life can work true miracles.

Wayne Hurlbert,   Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Medieval Bookworm Review

On an otherwise ordinary day, in a small shrimping village off the coast of South Carolina, a boat goes missing.  The entire town rallies as all are mobilized to find the lost vessel.  Throughout the course of one day, flashbacks of Bud Morrison, the captain on board, and Carolina, his wife, reveal the happier days of a once-thriving shrimping industry juxtaposed with the memories of their long term marriage.

Bud and Carolina fell in love at first sight, but that doesn't mean their life together has been an easy one.  Their marriage has hugely deteriorated in recent years not only because of the decline of the shrimping industry but also because of a lack of communication and an unwillingness to forgive each other for sins committed in the past.  Over the course of this novel, they realize how much they need to find their way back to each other properly, not just go through the motions.

Even though these two main characters are in a completely different stage of life than I am, I still enjoyed this book and appreciated their bond.  This was made somewhat easier by the fact that their flashbacks encompassed all of their history, from the moment they met to their happiest moments to the mistakes they made.  The story was told in such a way that even though tension was building in the present day because of Bud's accident, the flashbacks were still important and appropriate as both characters endure a particularly difficult day.

At the core, this is very much a book about relationships.  The novel takes us through the entirety of Bud's and Carolina's short courtship and marriage and we can see how they've changed and grown, for good or for bad, and eventually shows how they got to where they are in the present day scenes.  It isn't just about them, though, it's also their daughter Lizzy and her ex-husband Josh, their relationship with Carolina's parents, developments between the friends that they made as youths, and among other shrimpers on the ocean.  It's in a sense about the entire community and how it has changed right along with them in the thirty years since Bud and Carolina met and fell in love.

Last Light over Carolina feels very Southern.  The characters' accents aren't spelled out phonetically, but the way they speak and their mannerisms more than make it clear.  I loved the descriptions of life on the shrimping boat, the difficulties of working such long hours, the pain from hard labor, but with the beauty of watching the early morning sunrise and feeling free on the open ocean.  It's easy to see how the various characters are drawn to this life even as the supply of shrimp begins to let them down.  The scenery is evoked wonderfully and places us right in South Carolina, in the Atlantic Ocean, and at times in Florida.  One of the blurbs on the cover says that this book brings the South to life and that feels true throughout the narrative.

I definitely enjoyed my time with this novel.  I came to appreciate the characters as I went on and to care about their plights.  I would love to go on a shrimper and see what they experienced for real.  Last Light over Carolina is a wonderful book and it's well worth reading these carefully crafted pages.

Bermuda Onion Review

Bud Morrison, a shrimper in the lowcountry of South Carolina, goes out for one haul, telling his wife he'll be back by noon.  When he gets to the docks, his crew isn't there, and Bud makes the decision to go out on his own.  When a storm kicks up and he's a few hours late, his wife of over thirty years, Carolina, becomes terrified and the whole shrimping community comes together to search for one of their own.

Most of Last Light over Carolina, by Mary Alice Monroe,  takes place in the course of one day, with flashbacks and memories filling in the details.  The story unfolds slowly for the reader, and what a delightful journey it is, to learn about two people from such different backgrounds and how their love carried them through.  Carolina and Bud have had a long marriage, but things haven't always been easy for them.  They survived long separations (when Bud went to Florida to shrimp), the destruction of Hurricane Hugo, a shrimp market devastated by the influx of cheap, foreign shrimp, and the loss of Carolina's teaching position.  Yet, they persevered and became stronger because of it.  The character development in this book is fantastic - the characters are flawed, but real -  and I liked the way the story was quietly revealed with flashbacks.  The story line is excellent, too.   Last Light over Carolina made me reflect on what I value in life  and also made me appreciate more how hard some people work to put dinner on our table.   In case you didn't figure it out, I loved this story of hope, love and commitment!

Booksie's Blogs

With a warm voice that brings the South to life, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe writes richly textured novels that intimately portray the complex and emotional relationships shared among family, friends, and the natural world. Here, in Last Light Over Carolina, Monroe tells the haunting and touching story of a longtime shrimp boat captain and his wife of thirty years the day he is injured at sea.

On an otherwise ordinary day, in a small shrimping village off the coast of South Carolina, a boat goes missing. The entire town rallies as all are mobilized to find the lost vessel. Throughout the course of one day, flashbacks of Bud Morrison, the captain on board, and Carolina, his wife, reveal the happier days of a once-thriving shrimping industry juxtaposed with the memories of their long term marriage.

Through her wonderfully evocative storytelling and keen insights into the human heart, Mary Alice Monroe has yet again delivered an exceptional and engaging work of fiction. Pat Conroy once said that "every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me," and Anne River Siddons wrote that "Monroe's voice is strong and true." Now, once again, Monroe brings the South to life with a lyrical and evocative story about past mistakes and second chances.

I really enjoyed this book, since I am from this area of the country. I know exactly the kind of town this book portrays. At the beach in lower North Carolina and upper South Carolina, families for years have gone to the town of Calabash. Calabash is a town with around 40 seafood restaurants, and they serve shrimp right off the boats. It is one of my favorite memories of growing up.

It is sad to see how this industry is changing. Cost of diesel fuel, dumping of shrimp on the market from overseas, the hard work involved, all these factors are leading to the end of a way of life. Monroe captured that life, and I enjoyed reading about it. Her characters rang true, and again, I've grown up with each type portrayed in the book. This is a wonderful portrayal of a slice of Southern life. It is recommended for all who love Southern fiction.

Chick with Books

New York Times bestseller Monroe tells the haunting and touching story of a longtime shrimp boat captain and his wife of thirty years the day his boat goes missing at sea. Pat Conroy once said that "every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me," and Anne River Siddons wrote that "Monroe's voice is strong and true." Now, once again, Monroe brings the South to life with a lyrical and evocative story about past mistakes and second chances.

Mary Alice Monroe writes stories about real people. In Last Light Over Carolina we meet Bud Morrison, his wife Carolina and the family & people of a small shrimping community in South Carolina. These are hard working people trying to survive living and working the life that generations of their families have. They are shrimpers. The men work long hours to provide for their families. The women support them, wait for them, cook for them. There are strong bonds in the community and a deep love for ones family. Central to the story is the story of Bud & Carolina- their love and commitment to each other after 30 years of marriage. When tragedy strikes we are taken back in flashbacks to happier times and memories of times long ago. We also see how a community pulls together in the present. Written with honesty and feeling, Last Light Over Carolina will having you feel the calling of the sea and the yearning to belong to the coastal community. From the beginning of the story you can almost smell the sea around you. You will be drawn in... A heartfelt story with characters you can empathize with. A story you will enjoy reading! I know I did! Thank you Sarah R. of Pocket Books for sharing this with me! Would you like to read an excerpt of Last Light Over Carolina? Here's the first chapter at Mary Alice Monroe's Website!

A Little About Mary Alice...

In LAST LIGHT, New York Times bestseller Monroe tells the haunting and touching story of a longtime shrimp boat captain and his wife of thirty years the day his boat goes missing at sea. Pat Conroy once said that "every book that Mary Alice Monroe has written has felt like a homecoming to me," and Anne River Siddons wrote that "Monroe's voice is strong and true." Now, once again, Monroe brings the South to life with a lyrical and evocative story about past mistakes and second chances.

Her writing has gained added purpose and depth with her move to the South Carolina Lowcountry. "Living on Isle of Palms provides a stimulating place for me to think and to write. I've always been interested in nature, but living on the island and near the wetlands has influenced my work. I draw themes for my novels from nature and the parallels with human nature. And, in my own small way, I hope that by bringing to life the beauty and mystery of this fabulously varied ecosystem and various endangered species in my stories, readers will be inspired to support efforts to protect them."

Just Jennifer Reading

After reading the description I thought this book would be a lot like The Perfect Storm. I was wrong. It was a great story and a truly touching and emotional book.

While the story's main plot revolves around Bud and the perilous situation he is in there is so much more to this one. As Bud and Carolina go through their day they recall memories from their past. Not all of them are good, but they all show how life can take it's toll on a marriage. How just loving someone may not always be enough and how the heart works in mysterious ways.

The writing was great. Mary Alice Monroe did a great job capturing the dialect and portraying it in her writing. The two main characters are very well developed and the secondary characters aren't just two dimensional. The flashbacks were done perfectly and they didn't make the story feel choppy.

Even at almost 400 pages it didn't really take me that long to read. The story keeps you connected and wanting to know more. This one was really good, I'm adding her last novel to my To Read list!

The Literate Housewife

Life is hard in McClellanville, South Carolina.  It was built on shrimping, a difficult and demanding industry that had once been good.  With the easy access to foreign shrimp and the decreasing catches over time, more and more people are leaving McClellanville behind.  Carolina and Bud Morrison have lived the shrimper's life.  They married with much passion and high hopes for the future, but they're marriage is about as vital as Bud's credit.  Bud leaves for work on his boat, the Miss Carolina in the morning without making Carolina get up to fix him breakfast.  She was up with a toothache most of the night and he wanted to allow her some more sleep. Still, they had faught the night before and he left without a kiss.  They both remember the glory of their early days together and wonder if the lethargy and lack of forgiveness that has engulfed their marriage is just part of being married for so long.  They had no idea what would happen to Bud that day on the Atlantic and how it would change their perspective on everything.

My favorite scene of the novel was the scene where Bud, his father Oz, his brother Buddy, and his cousin Pee Dee found their own secret sweet spot of shrimp and brought in the haul of their lives.  Despite the harsh lifestyle required to be a shrimper, it was easy to see why the exhilaration of that day would keep a man working in that craft for life.  It's equally easy to understand why a man looking to regain his place in his community and his stature in his family would choose to return to that spot even when the conditions were not favorable.  His marriage is rocky and the fact that he can't provide basic dental care for his wife makes him feel even worse.  He found magic in that spot of the ocean where the Morrison family stacked their claim thirty years ago.  Going back was the only logical thing he could do to save them.

This is the first novel I've read by Mary Alice Monroe. I've only heard good things about her writing and now I see why. From the beginning there was something comfortable and familiar about her prose. There was just something about this story and the way that it was written that felt like home. The simple introduction of Carolina barely awake with a toothache while Bud prepared for the day felt so lived. That passage brought to mind flashes of Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson from In the Bedroom, a movie with just the right tone and lighting for their home and their marriage. Just as in the movie, the characters are real. They don't sleep in full make-up and they are almost simply resigned to their fate.

Last Light over Carolina is a beautiful novel that tells the story of a marriage, a  family, and a struggling coastal South Carolina town.  What happens to McClellanville and the Morrison's marriage mirror each other.  They both have lost the passion that made them what they were.  From the moment I picked it up, I never wanted to put it down.  Reading this book made it so easy to understand why the life surrounding shrimp is so often romanticized.   Despite the hard work and awful hours, the world opens up in a special way only for them.  It's no wonder when you Google shrimp boat, you'll find so many oil paintings and watercolors. Just like Monroe's writing, it captures and keeps your imagination.  I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.