Gumbeaux

by Kimberly Vargas

Where do you go when you disappear? For young heiress Mary Fait, the answer is New Orleans. After the death of her parents, she is placed in the care of her alcoholic uncle. For years, she assists her uncle in growing the family empire, all the while plotting his demise and / or her escape. A college scholarship gives her the opportunity to break free of her life to start a new one - under a new name. Follow Mary and her often hilarious misadventures in the early 1990's while attending college in a small town in Louisiana. The story reads as a series of diary entries which chronicle the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the main character during this time in her life. The novel's title refers to a cajun restaurant in which the main character works as a waitress. The colorful descriptions of the town of Bayou Bend, the college, its inhabitants and the surrounding areas paint a vivid and amusing tale of life in the South.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Mystery, Ebooks, Amazon

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2011

About the author

Kimberly Vargas has spent the last fifteen years developing instructional design content. She lives in San Diego county with her husband Michael and their three dogs. She is a stand up paddle boarding enthusiast and surfer in training. This is her first book.

Reviews

[Victoria Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three Reasons You Should Stay Far, Far Away From Gumbeaux
1. The Romance First, there's Braden. Braden brings "adventure" to Veronica's oh so bland life, including being way too obsessed with sex. He brings out the worst in Veronica, making her even more snobby towards all her friends. But alas, the relationship continues. Then there's Dr Landry, her art professor at the college she goes to. They don't date while he's her teacher, but he does promise he'll wait for her. And he does, even though she dates Braden for most of her time in college. Cool romance guys. Obviously true love...

2. The Writing This book jumps all over the place, making it so confusing! It's written in diary form, which I guess is unreliable in real life. Artistic licence gives you the right to assume she writes in it every day though. Not Veronica. Oh no, she might forget to write for months at a time, and never bothers to explain what we missed out on. Plus, there's none of that "show not tell" that we all need. It's written very "I saw my uncle. I was shocked." Sometimes, that works for effect. But when the entire book is written like that, it loses the excitement. Sometimes, really good writing can save a shoddy plot. In this case though, the plot and the writing went hand in hand...

3. The Morals Oh wait, what morals? I thought I knew what this book was going to be about; a girl trying to escape her haunting past to find happiness. But it didn't go anywhere! There were a few scenes with her uncle that showed how much Veronica had grown. By the end though, she ended up basically exactly where she started, with an awful romance, and no foreseeable future. She didn't find anything - she stayed exactly the same, as the spoiled brat she really is. When people suffer, I like to see them learn from their role models mistakes. Not this one, though. She made mistake after mistake, and DIDN'T GROW AT THE END OF IT. There was genuinely no purpose to the book, unless you like seeing what life in New Orleans is like.

[Beverly Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ode to Louisiana and a nice coming-of-age tale, "Gumbeaux" is a great story. Mary/Veronica, the main character of the tale, escapes her uncle Claude and high-pressure, privileged life in D.C. by attending college in Louisiana. She's quickly confronted with how privileged her life has been and is found the worse for wear several times due to her inexperience or ignorance. What is most compelling about her story is the total sensory and sensuality of the novel: colors, textures, tastes, and sounds are all part of our artist's journey as she learns about art, cooking, fishing, mixing drinks, shooting, love, and a host of other activities. The charm of the south is readily portrayed and if we ignore the consequence of the "yankee comes to the south and learns about the real world" trope, we're still left with a well-crafted story. The use of the diary to tell the story in places juxtaposed with 'real time' narration is interesting and compelling. The different stories revealed, between intimacy and the mundane, violence and gentleness, are paced appropriately and keep the readers engaged.

I don't think the author fleshed out the other characters enough. I wanted to know more about Claude, Dr. Landry, and Braden; what happens to Betty and how does Clarence settle into his new life? Does Braden appreciate the offer at the end? These didn't ruin the story for me, but I think it would have been even better if more character development had been provided.

Readers should be advised there are moments of violence and sexuality, but the author doesn't rely on these for the grotesque or for titillation. Mary/Veronica is being pushed, and she's reluctant to heed helpful advice at times so these 'real' consequences are part and parcel of her education. I think these moments are among the best in the book, but they can be difficult to read at times.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's see, a very respectable 4 stars. This was not the light book I was hoping to read but it was very enjoyable. It had me laughing, made me mad, and made me sad during different parts of the book.

I wasn't thrilled with the diary entry format the book was written in but after the first few entries, I didn't even notice it anymore and actually started to appreciate it towards the end. The main character in the book, Mary Veronica, was very likable and this book shows her growing up (mostly mentally) from high school to post college. A lot of what she goes through I think most people will be able to relate.

Mary has an alcoholic guardian uncle. She is the only heir to a famous artist and she wants out. She goes from DC to Louisiana to college in the back bays country to get away. Determined to make it on her own, she loses her scholarship and decides not to ask or take anything from her uncle. She ends up working in a restaurant name Gumbeaux. This story is about first love, crushes, and growing up. She makes many mistakes along the way and explores her wild side. This book made me long for my youth again and let me live vicariously through Mary's journal entries. It was an extremely fun book, one I'd definitely recommend.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3 I loved this story! <3

I was a Goodreads first reads winner. "Gumbeaux" has a little of everything and is just a really great story with characters you connect with and don't want the story to ever end. It wasn't predictable and I just had to keep reading to see what would happen to Mary, her uncle, Dr landry, and especially Braden. I also had to see what his next t-shirt would say. There are many other characters in this story that give so much extra to the story too.
The ending wasn't disappointing but I hope the author will write more with these unforgettable characters.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the Louisiana theme and descriptions. Worth reading for that alone. Easy read.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads First reads giveaways.

A fairly simple novel about a girl needing to find herself. The setting is New Orleans, where all things magical and mysterious converge.

I have never been to New Orleans but what I like about the book is the author was able to convey southern living through her words. I was easily able to visualize Veronica's "second home".

As for the protagonist Veronica, I tried to empathize with her because of her cruel uncle but I just couldn't quite get that feeling going. At one point Dr. Landy calls her out and says (in my own words) that some unfortunate individual could have used the scholarship Veronica was on, as she, a multi-millionaire, was more than able to afford her own tuition. I totally agreed with him.

Ms. Vargas created characters that were well thought out and extremely life-like, eliciting different emotions in me while I was reading the book. That's good writing for you!

Alas, I did find some grammatical errors and to my knowledge this was not an ARC.

I only gave the book 3 stars because although I did enjoy it I just found it kind of 'bland'. Veronica (nee Mary) doesn't really go through any monumental adventures (although her relationship with Branden does contain most of her highlights), just ordinary young adult high-jinks and mistakes.

[Christine Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story for heiress Mary Veronica Fait. The dazzle that drew me in was the diary format and time period beginning in the 1980's. Mary plays the submissive role of hostess and quiet partner in her family’s business. She’s hardly content and longs to be free from her oppressive and abusive surroundings. She hopes she will be allowed to go away to college, but her uncle squashes that idea. Cunningly Mary sends a letter to an art college located in Louisiana under a fictitious name; she is granted a scholarship and begins her adventure.

I liked this book in the beginning, but by the end I was rather disappointed in the character. She starts off strong and blazing her own trail and then lets others bog her down much like her uncle. It was fun reading the diary entries. It felt like I was a secret intruder peering over the shoulder of someone with a completely different life.

I would recommend this book as a good weekend read. It’s well-written and a bit meaty.

[Kailey Sitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The epistolary novel is one of my favorite forms a book may be written in. Gumbeaux did not disappoint this format by any means and the plot benefited from the one sided POV this diary format offers. Another rarity for a novel, is the main character in this bildungsroman is female. Traditionally male characters play the protagonist in this genre. It was a refreshing change. If you are a fan of art, there at many great references you will understand and enjoy. I would definitely recommend this novel to others as a simple yet fun read.

[Audrey Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!! I received this book as a giveaway from the author Kimberly Vargas and I was completely immersed in the story from the first few pages. I found myself wondering what the characters were going to do next...even when I wasn't reading the book. Very quick read because it was so good. It was an uplifting story of how love prevails, growth is a necessity and we all have a path to follow. Makes me want to visit New Orleans again.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this book was as bright and beautiful as New Orleans itself, then it sort of fell apart, like the end of a night on Bourbon Street. Some of the latter journal entries were not very well thought out and could have been more meaningful. For example, some had way too much detail for a journal entry and could have been cleaner. Overall, very good book and I'm glad I read it.

[Pamela Sloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. In her debut novel, Vargas makes me feel like I'm sitting in a diner in the bayou. The characters are very real and exude N'awlins life. Written in diary form, this book is a quick read and very entertaining. I can't wait for the author's next book.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written almost as diary entry. Different, engaging. Will read more by this author.

[Mike Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing debut novel written in epistolary form (dairy entries) by the first person protagonist, Mary Fait. Mary, having lost her parents some years before, is next in the inheritance queue, after her Uncle Claude, for the prestigious Fait Gallery in D.C. In spite of her financial resources, she is desperately unhappy, mostly because of her boorish uncle who is both a drunkard and a lecher. She fantasizes killing him, but lacks the fortitude to carry out the act. So, she runs away to Bayou Bend, Louisiana, and enrolls at Audubon College under the assumed name of Veronica Fey. She also takes on a job as waitress at a local watering hole, Gumbeaux, hence the title. There she encounters a number of memorable characters and the magical setting of the bayou, city of New Orleans in particular. The author does a very good job of presenting this setting, and it becomes a major element of the work.
Except for Uncle Claude, most of the characters are those she meets in Bayou Bend and Audubon College. These include the charming (and older) Professor Landry, Bad Boy Braden, and an assortment of minor folk. The Landry and Braden characters are almost predictable stock for such a setting. Landry appeals to her pure scholastic hopes, while Braden opens up her wild side. The primary "tension" in this work is caught up in the question: which one will she pick? We'll leave that to the reader to find out.
There is no real "crisis action" in this work, rather it's presented as a series of adventures that unfold in Bayou Bend. I'm not quite sure how to place this novel, YA? The love scenes are quite muted, nothing graphic. In one of her encounters with Bad Boy Braden, she says "he threw me on the bed and we went at it for an hour." Not exactly steamy stuff.
I gave the book 4 stars because of the use of setting, and the smoothness of the narrative. It's an easy read, and as they say, easy reading comes from hard writing.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 1 out of 5]

The poor little rich girl would be the perfect description for Mary Veronica Fait. Sure, she does have her problems but that’s just part of life. Growing up on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, the family home has been turned into an art museum; Musee Fait. Her parents died in an automobile accident when she was still very young and her uncle Claude took over as a single parent. Uncle Claude develops a taste for alcohol that enunciates his worst traits, making the living with him no picnic. Mary goes away to Audubon College in Bayou Bay, Louisiana and thought that she had finally escaped from his influence but the need for his approval remained.
The character of Mary strikes me as a complainer, protester, whiner, and not particularly intelligent. Large parts of the story are relayed in the form of a diary and sounds very immature and as the missive develops the juvenile tone continues and some of her stated observations are so outlandish and naïve that a smile appears spontaneously on the reader’s lips.
All in all, I would have to say that I find the writing childish, infantile, and juvenile. I can’t, in all honestly, recommend it to other readers as I find it lacking in substance, style and literary worth, with few redeeming qualities. The ginormous length of the chapters wasn't very comfortable to read. Thank goodness the story, as a whole, was brief and not too long to choke on. The fact that I actually finished it is more a testament to my tenaciousness than the content of the missive and if a less-than-one-star-rating could be awarded, I would award it and it would be richly deserved.
Before posting this review, I scanned the reviews of other (almost exclusive feminine) readers. I can only conclude that the old platitude is true: One man’s (woman’s) trash is another’s treasure.

[Jeffrey Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's first deal with the chick lit label. I only saw one male reader in the review list although there were a few TBR's with male names. The novel seems to bridge the divide between chick and general lit, there's more here than the loves and lusts of Mary Fait. For one thing there is a very sensitive presentation of local color in suburban New Orleans. For another the main character has the determination to leave her existing life to run to a remote place in which she can craft her own version of her life. Life as art is an interesting theme.

I enjoyed the story line and the writing style. I like Vargas' use of devises like the crow as a harbinger of events. My only criticism concerns the abrupt return to her former life in D.C. after the death of her Uncle Claude and the break up of her relationship with her former professor Dr. Landry. This was a major milestone decision in both their lives and we see the sudden sturm and drang. It was so sudden it just seemed contrived. I understand the monologue about Mary's inability to form complete attachments as a result of the death of her parents and the mental stress of life with her Uncle. But that event was so sudden and such a complete return to her former life that it just didn't seem to work for me. The final denouement with Mary's return and reuniting with Braden seemed better. I liked the use of missing diary entries to give the feeling of lapsed time.

The work is sufficiently complex that a reader can approach it from different directions. I look forward to future efforts with ever more complex craft.

[Sheila Vandal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read with a little bit of everything: adventure, romance, dysfunction, travel and, of course, a happy ending. I like the format of diary entries as they make the narrative seem very personal and also make it easy to pick the story up in quick intervals. However, nothing is very deep. The snippets of life are only as intense as the character writing them and this particular character is not very engaged or in touch with her own psyche, motivations, goals etc... Likewise, the diary entries are inconsistent and leave great gaps of time unaccounted for, which makes it very easy to gloss over spans of time but feels too easy from a reader's perspective. It was a good story. Fun in parts and interesting enough to keep me engaged but it was soft, not fleshed out and had some noticeable grammatical errors, all leading to a novice writer. This is OK - excellent first novel and worth a quick read.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 on this one.

"Gumbeaux" is a novel that mixes together elements of a travel narrative, a rom-com, and a coming of age story. Our heroine, Mary, is the heiress to her family's art fortune. Her drunken and abusive uncle attempts to raise Mary (and constrict her life) until she manages to get herself accepted at a college in Louisiana, far from her DC home. In Louisiana, Mary thrives, and has to deal with her career, her relationships, and ultimately, herself.

The book was entertaining and I thought some of the dark elements in Mary's character were intriguing. (A heroine plotting murder? Sign me up!) But at times the book wandered off into Mary Sue wish fulfillment, which grated. In addition, for a book that focuses so heavily on romance, I was actively creeped out by one of the love interests, which put me off the book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to rate this book. It reads as a diary of a college age student, with short choppy sentences, slang, and grammatical errors to boot. Normally, I would hate something like this and would never have gotten past the first few pages. I sorely disliked the main character, I didn't like the things she did.... I found it absolutely unrealistic, especially since I was a sheltered, worldly-wisdom-lacking girl myself. But... but.... maybe it was my awful backache and headache that I've had the last few days and the resulting lack of sleep, but this book was exactly what I needed. It was just a steady stream of gossip, and it was great. I guess there is a book for every mood, and this one fit mine perfectly during the last few days.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of Mary Fait/ Veronica Fey was enjoyable but the historic and factual misinformation grated on my nerves. Two in particular. Mixing sasafrass(also commonly known as file) and okra in gumbo gives you stringy gumbo, one or the is used. Also the fact of inner courts being built in New Orleans homes during the Civil War by men so their women wouldn't be exposed to the street riff raff. Most people forget or don't even know that the Spanish held New Orleans at one time and inner coutyards are an Iberian way of life. During the Civil War there would not have been the materials or men to build courtyards.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was an outstanding book that captures my attention on the very first page. It is hard to describe the events of a book when it is really good so let me just write why this book was AMAZING. Basically, a girl is trying to get a good life. She has a job in a restaurant that serves gumbo. The characters seen very original. I really liked the book due to its clarity. I really liked the format of the book, where, through a set of diary entries, we see who the main character is. I really recommend reading this book.

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel good book abput a girl, Mary, wjo after years of abuse at the hands of her uncle finally has the chance to escape and live her own life. And she does, under the name Veronica. She studies and graduates University and has a good job at the restaurant Gumbeaux where she meets some lovely, lifelong friends. Eventually life catches up though and she is forced to return to her old life and take on responsibilities after her uncle passes. It was a good read amd one I'll possibly read again in the future

[Darcysmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed Gumbeaux. I love the idea of reinventing yourself and seeing what life has to offer, and that is exactly what Mary Veronica Fait did. I also love that the whole story is told through Mary Veronica's diary entries. I have always had a soft spot for epistolary novels.
Kimberly Vargas did a great job of creating a very appealing world in the small town of Bayou Bend, Louisiana. I loved the local characters - they were people I wanted to sit down and share a meal with.

[Ann Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the smart-mouthed, hard partying, gutsy college student Mary Fiat who escapes an abusive home and reinvents herself. Though she's been dealt a lot of pain, the reader applauds rather than pities her. Great plot, great characters, great voice! My only complaint--the dear-diary format that made me feel like I viewed the whole story through a keyhole. I'll have to check out Vargas' Petty Cash, written in conventional format. 4 Stars

[bex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The biggest problem I had with this book is that I never liked the main character. Yes, she had an awful childhood, but she was totally without empathy or compassion. At the end she tells us generally of her philanthropy, but she's an unreliable self-centered narrator, so who knows what that really means. She just didn't work for me. When she got money, she forgot all her friends, only contacting them when she needed them. She sure didn't learn much in her new life.

[Dot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to kill a Mockingbird

For a first book this book grabs you and your off on a wild ride through the south, and to the healing of human souls. It keeps you in mental movie as great as "Gone with the Wind" As a matter of fact the two main male characters are sort of modern day Rhett Butler and Ashley Wilkes. So, get yourself a tall glass of sweet tea, and hang on for one wild Gumbo.

[Robin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written, surprise of a book. It is written in journal form, but the author uses it very well to give amazing detail in the big moments, but doesn't bother with the mundane. Told from Mary Fait (Veronica Fey)s point of view. She just wants a new life, so she assumes a new identity beyond her rich, yet troubled life in Washington, D.C. and starts over in Louisiana. Great read.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading, I really couldn't remember why I ordered this book or what it was to be about. A few entries in, I wasn't sure it was a book I would make it to the end. Slowly I picked it up here and there. Then about 1/3 in I started getting the, "What's gonna happen next" feeling. Beyond the halfway point, I didn't want to put down. It is a slow start, but keep reading. I think you will find it an entertaining read.

[Rhi G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I won this book on Goodreads giveaway.

Gumbeaux is a fairly simple novel about a girl needing to find herself. The setting is New Orleans, where all things are mysterious and magical.

Vargas created characters that were well thought out and extremely realistic.I just feel like I could have connected with Veronica a bit more.

[Christin Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book to begin the summer. The book was written like a diary and was easy to read. The ending was a bit predictable, but the story getting to the end had some twists. Some parts were never really developed, but I attribute that to the diary type organization of the book. There were some thoughtful lines I highlighted.

[Irene Marie Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor little rich girl.

Raised by a controlling uncle when orphaned at a young age Mary changes her name to attend college and escape his cruel alcohol filled ways. In Louisiana she begins to find herself and learn how to be self reliant.the relationships she forms continue to grow as she becomes sole caretaker of the family legacy.