Crazy Ladies

by Michael Lee West

Three generations of unforgettable female characters--mothers and daughters whose story spans from the 1930s to the 1970s--experience birth, weddings, divorces, and death

Genres: Fiction, Southern, Chick Lit, Book Club, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Humor

335 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Michael Lee West grew up on the Gulf Coast with a wild tribe of Southern cooks. She lives on a farm near Nashville with her family. Michael is the author of Crazy Ladies, Mad Girls in Love, She Flew the Coop, American Pie, Mad Girls in Love, Mermaids in the Basement, Consuming Passions, and Gone With a Handsomer Man. Her new novel, A Teeny Bit of Trouble, is the second installment in the Teeny Templeton series and will be published on April 10, 2012.

Reviews

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this one last night and I am already missing the characters! I really loved this book! It reminded me so much of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik, one of my favorite authors. This is southern version with a little more dramatic kick. As crazy and "unlovable" as she was, Dorothy was one of my favorite characters. She needed to be loved so badly but just went about it in all the wrong ways. Oh Dorothy, if only I could have seen you for counseling and a homeopathic remedy!

[Magpie67]

I just can't give any stars for this title. While the author hit upon many historic moments in time... none of the characters, in my opinion, were part of the history being discussed. They were not really a part of the time periods even though they were living in the moments. The biggest movement was the hippie/Vietnam era and even that was downplayed as characters just moved leisurely through the pages. Even the racism, as awful as it was to hear Dorothy say the N word, it was just that... her trash talk of the coloreds. The book is depicted in Tennessee, a southern state that very much was for segregation within schools let alone all the other areas such as water fountains.

The characters fell flat, didn't interact very well with each other thus each chapter was stilted... as we moved from one storyline to the next. This book shouldn't have been written as individuals telling a story. Each chapter should have grown with time and introduced the characters and possibly been a longer book. The death at the beginning should have had more meaning as the title progressed. The title doesn't fit the contents.

The statement before the death, how the rape would look, how the victim would not be believed, how the intruder would not be charged because who he was and who his parent's were on the social status... That, of course, is a timeless situation... as we are a nation facing abuse still and are trying to squash it, no matter who you are in 2018. This gave me pause to think, as did the sudden crib death and the depth of depression and grief. But none of the characters made me care or see them as real people dealing with these subjects.

The characters were self absorb, uncaring, dysfunctional, lost souls... Dorothy wanted love, and thought status through her husband, his store, her bridge club, her house and her son would bring the love she longed for from her mother, Her mother couldn't give the love to the oldest whether the almost rape incident caused it, the colicky baby or the era of the depression. It's unclear where the mother and child lost touch with each other in the six years they had together before the second child was born and the maid was hired. The author jumps ahead that far in time with no real explanations. One dimensional views of each person with faults, but no causes for the faults. These three women go forward causing pain in their offspring's lives with no clear motivation to the reader how they will continue living or why we would care to see the rest of their lives. The drama was mundane, their daily lives moved at a snail's pace even though months and years rolled by. One minute Violet is a baby and the next chapter or two she is 12 or 13.

Violet , Bitsy and Mack were the real victims and yet they were minor characters floating in the background. The glooming abyss.

[Mich · Rating 5 out of 5]

chick lit. michael lee west writes the BEST books! this one is the 'first' book about miss gussie and her antics as she grows up and raises a family. super good read with a southern twist

[Heather Gay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can always go back to this book for light-hearted laugh out loud fun. Michael Lee West tells the same story from different perspectives, (think Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible), and the voices are so consistent, so genuine and SO Hilarious. I thought HE was a genius author that could really capture the female voice until I found out that He, Michael Lee West, WAS a woman!! Less impressed once I found that out, but the book is still great. Similar style to Fried Green Tomatoes, etc.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just not big on stories of dysfunctional women who make stupid choices their whole lives. "Crazy Ladies" was an apt title. Both the characters and the story lacked depth. In some ways this felt like a Cliff Notes version of a book even though it was almost 400 pages long. I forced myself to finish thinking somehow it would redeem itself. It didn't. There are too many good books out there to waste your time on this one.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delight--funny, thought-provoking, sad and also inspirational. The characters are interesting and well-drawn. Hard to put down and one that I read again and again.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t familiar with this author until reading Diana Gabaldon’s book, The Outlandish Companion, where she said that Michael Lee West is “one of the best ‘character’ writers around”. So I had to check her out. I finished the first chapter of this book and thought holy crap (or words to that effect). Good southern fiction.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally do not like fiction, but I really couldn't put this book down. I grew up the crazy tales and trouble-making characters and I feel like this is a grown up version. The book starts in the earlier part of the 20th century and ends in the 70s, a journey through the secrets and lives of three generations of southern women. I really like the way that the author tells each chapter in a different character's voice. The author has a great way of weaving the characters stories together. The author has a way with words that makes the situation and characters' thoughts come alive. The stories are not only saucy and humorous, but they are also real. I loved some of the twangy choice of similies like when one character walks in on another fooling around... describing them as "wrapped around eachother like stripes on a candy cane." I was slightly disappointed with the ending. I don't know what I expected, but was built up for something more. I was so excited to find out "Mad Girls in Love" picks up right where "Crazy Ladies" ends. I have found a new favorite author (!) and can't wait to read more of her stuff.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a find!!! This book came from a hunt for Southern, fun beach reads for a recent trip. Chosen simply for it's title and cover photo, once again, I am reminded that sometimes you can pick a book, just for it's cover.
The 6 women in this book ARE crazy, and thoughtful and caught in the roles assigned to them by the family and their community. All of this is wrapped up in a family whose history is irrevocably changed by one incident.
Add this to your summer reading - you will be glad you did!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes place over 40 years, from 1932 to 1972, in the southern United States. It centers around women in a family (5 women plus their maid). The chapters are written in their different voices. The book was a wonderful read, very easy to lose yourself in it for a couple hours. It's especially good if you like southern stories or stories that take place "back in the day", as I do.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The only thing that bothered me was some of the language used, but due to the time setting of this book it made sense I suppose.

I thought it was interesting seeing the story through all of the different characters.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My aunt gave me this to read. I'm finally on the last chapter today. It has been such a great read that I'm disappointed that it will be over after this last chapter.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was diappointed with this book and can't even remember if I finished it or not. It just couldn't hold my attention and the characters weren't very relatable.

[Erika Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. If you ever wanted to read a book about every terrible thing that could happen to a collective group of women...look no further! Admittedly, I was not in the mood nor the correct headspace to take in a tale of such tragic proportions when I read this, but it is a downer nonetheless. I enjoyed the author's style and the slightly dark, if not a bit self-indulgent humor that peppered these pages. I also enjoyed the backdrop of major historical events and cultural norms/attitudes. Seeing the characters live through the Vietnam War, and hippie age...some of them completely unable to let go of racial prejudices and old ideals was interesting. This was also an interesting look at how "coming home" provides solace for the soul no matter where life takes you. This was not my favorite read, but I would not be opposed to trying out something else by this author.

[Star Forbis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I paid attention to small things, and sometimes my memory would be larger than the thing itself."

'"You need a different name," she said. "Clancy's old-fashioned. What about Star? That's a lovely name. It really suits you."' ;)

"I learned something form an ex-rabbi, who was now a sort of guru: Absence does not make the heart grow fonder; it creates clear, white spaces."

"It was hard to believe that I couldn't pick up the phone and call her, that I would never again hear her voice. A piece of my gravity was gone, and to keep from floating, I had to fill my pockets with rocks."

"But it comes to me that two wrongs don't make another wrong."

[Megan Bennett Cohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book!!! I had never read anything by this author and I will for sure being reading more of her!! I love books set in the South and this for sure makes you feel like you are right there! I laughed out loud several times!

[Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, there’s not much to say about it honestly. It was a very simple concept but the characters made it extremely engaging. Love the changes of narration.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each character was unique and fun to read from their perspective, but many times characters never really get to know each other, and were never really connected to each other at all. They never came together, felt like six train tracks going in all different directions. Quick read, and somewhat entertaining.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second West book within a month and even though I only checked it out because the book I wanted wasn't around and I couldn't think of anything else to get, I'm glad I did. This is the kind of book you read while somebody else drives and you have 10 minutes in the car. You have five minutes in a checkout line, so you read some of it. Thirty minutes before bed is plenty of time to learn more and more about the Crazy Ladies of Crystal Falls, Tennessee. A paragraph here, a chapter there. The point of view style was frustratingly wonderful. I became a little upset at how closely I identified with Dorothy for awhile. I read this book during family holiday gatherings when I should have been spending time with loved ones, or minding children, or both. Great book, great author. I'll read everything else she's written.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Sometimes books with Appalachian settings are very heavy. Sometimes they are so simple they make southerns look silly or ignorant. I found this book had a very good blend. It tackled some tough issues but it was complemented by humor to lighten it up a bit. The characters were varied as well. The book covered forty years so as the reader, I saw them grow. None of the characters were completely good nor bad. Like real people I know, I found qualities to admire and to dislike. I think that is what I liked best about the book - the cast of believable characters that I came to appreciate if not admire.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crazy Ladies is an apt title for this book. Not only were they mental, they were whiners (especially Dorothy). I was overjoyed when she was finally removed from the narrative; I don't think I could have stood another page of her poor me, everyone hates me dialogue. Half of their problems were self-inflicted, which made this story so unbelievable. While the characters were fairly well developed, the writing sounded like it was done by a middle schooler. I once had a copy of a children's book, "That Awful Cinderella", told from the viewpoint of one of the stepsisters. This was just like that, only 400 pages of it. I can't believe I finished it!

[Sj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read. I like books that are from different characters perspectives. The one thing I really didn't like about the book is that the character of Dorothy is so extreme. I felt she was written in a way that was so unlikable and it was hard to find anything really to like about her. And then finally when she was getting the help that she needed (towards the end of the book), she was sort of just written off as a nuisance. It was too bad.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was on my "To Read" list for years, and I'm so glad that I finally got around to finding it. With multiple narrators and a fifty-year span, this book covers several generations of southern women and takes us from shortly before WWII through the Vietnam era. I thought it was striking to see both how much things change over time and how much things stay the same.

[Nancy Chrisman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the multi-generational novel about eccentric southern women. This one was more soap-operesque trash about truly dysfunctional and crazy women and unfaithful men. Its one you keep reading to find out how it ends even though you can see it as a Lifetime made for tv movie. And I read the next in the series and it was more of the same.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mother and favored daughter characters reminded me too much of my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, so it was a little disappointing and I don't particulary like books that have a lot of infidelity in them, but most books seem to have that anymore.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book several times before. It's a mix between a simple Southern novel and historical fiction. I love all the women's characters and the fact that the story is told from each of their points of view.

[Joiseyshore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have actually read this book quite a few times. It follows the lives of several (quite colorful) southern women through some troubled times but keeps you laughing.

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Crazy southern ladies. :) Reminded me of my family..I always swear that Jerry Springer has a warrant out on my family.

[Lorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i picked this book up at a yard sale and i am sooo glad i did. i just purchased the sequel to it from b&n. loved it!

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it!! Crazy is the right word for these ladies although not the only right one. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of them!!
And learned a lot also!