Book Review: THE FORTUNES OF INDIGO SKYE

Poised at the Edge Book Review

THE FORTUNES OF INDIGO SKYE

Deb Caletti

Life is pretty wonderful for Indigo Skye. She's an eighteen year-old waitress whose plans for college are firmly planted on the back burner. She loves her job at Carrera's café, with all the crazy regulars who share their life stories. Indigo could not be more content with her super-cute, menial laboring, long-term boyfriend. Her home life is perfectly happy: weird, but happy. Indigo does miss her father, who ran away to start a new life in Hawaii. She lives with her twin brother Severin, her younger sister Bex, and her absentminded mother. They have an obnoxious parrot named Chico, and a slightly evil cat named Freud.Indigo is a philosophical girl. She loves access her customer's psyche by what they order for breakfast. For instance one her regular customers (or irregulars as she fondly calls them) always orders oatmeal with raisins for breakfast. The most unique thing about this oatmeal eater is that he's been judged guilty of murder in the court of public opinion. A couple years prior his wife died falling down a flight of stairs. While the courts exonerated Nick Harrison of any wrong doing, people still stare and whisper. But Indigo knows better. Nick is a very gentle kind man. Besides, Indigo believes a man capable would be more likely to order something strong meaty, "fried eggs, bacon, sausage."Indigo's life changes forever when "Vespa Man" come to Carrera's for coffee. He's a stylish, mysterious, and has a faraway look in his eyes. The irregulars are buzzing with curiosity about this enigmatic character who has come in a couple times for coffee. Indigo, being Indigo, strikes up a random conversation about the meaning of life with him. This conversation is a huge turning point in the story. Unbeknownst to Indigo "Vespa Man" is very wealthy, but feels trapped in by the tyranny of his job. The conversation encourages him to ditch the life he's living, and run away to Maui.As a token of his appreciation he leaves Indigo an envelope containing two and a half million dollars. Now I know many of you readers are probably thinking okay, here's another cliché story about a waitress being given a giant tip. Never fear, this is Deb Caletti. She's such an original and intelligent author. THE FORTUNES OF INDIGO SKYE is not exactly plot-driven. It's the wildly imaginative characters, beautifully crafted dialogue, and unique voice that make this story sing. Deb Caletti does not disappoint.