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Charlotte Walker has recently finished veterinary school and a doctorate on amphibians. At nearly 30, she’s been living with her well-to-do barrister mother in London her whole life. No need to waste a huge house in the city when there’s room, right? That doesn’t mean her relationship with her mother is an easy one, however. Charlotte doesn’t even know who her father is, for one thing, and just at this stage of life has she found out a potential clue.
For now, Charlotte is going on a yearlong fellowship on a tiny South Atlantic island called Tuga de Oro. She’ll have all this time to study an endangered type of tortoise. She may also be able to suss out a little more about her father’s identity; the clue has led her to believe there’s an island connection.
The year doesn’t go quite as she expected, of course. First, she develops an inconvenient crush on the island’s new doctor. The inhabitants of the isolated Tuga also are expecting her to help take care of their goats, cows, donkeys and dogs, but she has never really practiced veterinary medicine. She researches, and her focus is turtles.
The islanders are determined, however, and as time goes on Charlotte does get involved with the animals and a lot of aspects of island life. There’s plenty happening; each family has its bits of drama and things to deal with.
I heard some good things about Welcome to Glorious Tuga, and the description appealed to me. Honestly, I was astonished to learn that Tuga de Oro doesn’t exist. The author made up a whole island and associated culture. I suppose that shouldn’t be surprising; look at all the worlds authors make up in fantasy. But it still astonished me. The place’s history, its people and culture, the weather, all the little peculiarities are so vivid.
There’s a fair amount of exposition in Welcome to Glorious Tuga, and it took me a while to get into, but once it got going, I was enveloped in Tugan life. It’s truly pretty glorious, though the title comes from something a character says ironically.
I started to lose some interest toward the end again, so I’m not sure if I’ll continue reading more: apparently, Segal will be following the stories begun here in more books. (That also makes how this ends make more sense, because it’s not the end.)
Jacket copy says Welcome to Glorious Tuga “brings to life a cast of flawed, lovable people, like a contemporary James Herriot beneath the coconut palms,” and I have to agree that is largely true. If that appeals to you, get on a boat, take the plunge and get to know the island of Tuga.
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes about 5 uses of strong language, around 5 instances of moderate profanity, about 5 uses of mild language, and around 20 instances of the name of Deity in vain. There are also a few instances of British profanity. There are references to sex and infidelity but not a lot in the way of detail past kissing and being in bed together.
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