I kinda got off my normal routine of fiction, non-fiction (and a classic when I can) rotation on this one. But, I am in serious need of reading up all of my borrowed book club books and I've noticed that most of the books in rotation tend to be fiction...hmmmm...interesting. Regardless, I finished this book recently and l-o-v-e-d it.
CeeCee Honeycutt is the preteen daughter of a traveling salesman and a certifiably crazy former beauty queen. Tragedy strikes at the beginning of this book, where CeeCee's mom dies. Because her father doesn't really "know" CeeCee and because he's overwhelmed in his own life (crazy wife, alcoholic, etc.), he doesn't know what to do with a young daughter. Throw in his wife/her mother dying and he's really thrown for a loop.
Luckily for CeeCee, her great-aunt Tallulah (lovingly nicknamed Tootie) shows up to whisk her off her feet. Tootie offers to take CeeCee in...not that CeeCee has much choice once her father gladly agrees. The bulk of this story involves the hilarious southern characters that surround Tootie's (and now CeeCee's) life. After growing up in a household where CeeCee was unable to act like a normal child because she was too busy trying to take care of her mother since her father was constantly absent, she is now coveted and spoiled as the child she was all along.
This book makes you feel an entire gamut of emotions. You will want to cry in sympathy and then laugh out loud two pages later. Let me just say, there is a hilarious scene regarding slugs, a pancake flipper and lingerie that had me cracking up out loud. Priceless, let me tell you. And I'm not even going to go there regarding the bra photography scenes. Got your interest yet?
Even though the storyline is very different from these, I would compare the style it's written in to Fried Green Tomatoes, The Help and Steel Magnolias. You see what I mean about laughing and crying? Each of those does it to me every time.
I highly recommend this book...and the best part? It's super short! I think I read it in all of 36 hours. Go pick it up, you won't regret it!
I'm so glad you liked it. And I agree...it is very Fried Green Tomato'esque. Just such a sweet, touching story.
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal, what a wonderful surprise. I'm delighted that you enjoyed reading my novel and really appreciate your kind words!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smile you've given me today.
And Becky ... thank you, too, for the lovely comment!
Beth Hoffman