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Southern Revivals
Cakewalk
In these dazzling stories, acclaimed author Lee Smith wants you to
Mrs. Joline B. Newhouse, who writes a "fortnightly" newspaper column called "Between the Lines."
Georgia Rose, the girl whose life is more like a soap opera than the TV serial she's addicted to.
Martha Rasnick, the young housewife in "Dear Phil Donahue" who writes all her troubles to the TV personality.
Florrie, the cake lady in "Cakewalk" who causes her prissy sister no end of embarrassment by "wearing running shoes, at her age, and wooly white athletic socks that fall in crinkles down around her ankles."
From the Paperback edition.
Mrs. Joline B. Newhouse, who writes a "fortnightly" newspaper column called "Between the Lines."
Georgia Rose, the girl whose life is more like a soap opera than the TV serial she's addicted to.
Martha Rasnick, the young housewife in "Dear Phil Donahue" who writes all her troubles to the TV personality.
Florrie, the cake lady in "Cakewalk" who causes her prissy sister no end of embarrassment by "wearing running shoes, at her age, and wooly white athletic socks that fall in crinkles down around her ankles."
From the Paperback edition.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 1981
About the author
Lee Smith
43 books1,021 followersGrowing up in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia, nine-year-old Lee Smith was already writing--and selling, for a nickel apiece--stories about her neighbors in the coal boomtown of Grundy and the nearby isolated "hollers." Since 1968, she has published eleven novels, as well as three collections of short stories, and has received many writing awards.
The sense of place infusing her novels reveals her insight into and empathy for the people and culture of Appalachia. Lee Smith was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia, a small coal-mining town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not 10 miles from the Kentucky border. The Smith home sat on Main Street, and the Levisa River ran just behind it. Her mother, Virginia, was a college graduate who had come to Grundy to teach school.
Her father, Ernest, a native of the area, operated a dime store. And it was in that store that Smith's training as a writer began. Through a peephole in the ceiling of the store, Smith would watch and listen to the shoppers, paying close attention to the details of how they talked and dressed and what they said.
"I didn't know any writers," Smith says, "[but] I grew up in the midst of people just talking and talking and talking and telling these stories. My Uncle Vern, who was in the legislature, was a famous storyteller, as were others, including my dad. It was very local. I mean, my mother could make a story out of anything; she'd go to the grocery store and come home with a story."
Smith describes herself as a "deeply weird" child. She was an insatiable reader. When she was 9 or 10, she wrote her first story, about Adlai Stevenson and Jane Russell heading out west together to become Mormons--and embodying the very same themes, Smith says, that concern her even today. "You know, religion and flight, staying in one place or not staying, containment or flight--and religion." From Lee Smith's official website.
The sense of place infusing her novels reveals her insight into and empathy for the people and culture of Appalachia. Lee Smith was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia, a small coal-mining town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not 10 miles from the Kentucky border. The Smith home sat on Main Street, and the Levisa River ran just behind it. Her mother, Virginia, was a college graduate who had come to Grundy to teach school.
Her father, Ernest, a native of the area, operated a dime store. And it was in that store that Smith's training as a writer began. Through a peephole in the ceiling of the store, Smith would watch and listen to the shoppers, paying close attention to the details of how they talked and dressed and what they said.
"I didn't know any writers," Smith says, "[but] I grew up in the midst of people just talking and talking and talking and telling these stories. My Uncle Vern, who was in the legislature, was a famous storyteller, as were others, including my dad. It was very local. I mean, my mother could make a story out of anything; she'd go to the grocery store and come home with a story."
Smith describes herself as a "deeply weird" child. She was an insatiable reader. When she was 9 or 10, she wrote her first story, about Adlai Stevenson and Jane Russell heading out west together to become Mormons--and embodying the very same themes, Smith says, that concern her even today. "You know, religion and flight, staying in one place or not staying, containment or flight--and religion." From Lee Smith's official website.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews
June 3, 2026
Lee Smith is an iconic modern author of authentic, real life southern literature. “Cakewalk” presents 14 slices of southern life. There are several that stand out for me. I knew that Smith is wonderful at characterization and that she would excel at the southern nuances. The overall theme in these stories is the eccentric lives of southern women which means there is plenty of humor throughout. She looks at different aspects of life from cheating husbands to jealous sisters. Many of her women are going through adversity like navigating being newly divorced while others are just self-centered gossips. You wind up seeing some revelations about southern life through her characters. My only criticism is that I wanted so many of the stories to be full-fledged novels. I could tell in several of the stories that the endings were just wrapped up too fast for my taste.
Here are 3 of my favorites:
“Between the Lines” - is the name of a newspaper column that Mrs. Jolene B. Newhouse who is a bit self-centered, writes about the people in her community. “I know what I know.” “I put what they do in the paper” - those 17 families that live in Salt Lick. Her focus is to uplift the readers - “I know you’ve got to give folks something to hang on to, keep them going.”
Naturally Joline becomes knowledgeable about a lot of things and provides countless self-assessments about people’s personal lives. Smith uses satire and Joline’s superiority complex to inform readers to read “between the lines” in order to recognize the reality of the gossip and tradition in a small southern community. You could say she edits reality.
“Georgia Rose” - two young girls from different backgrounds meet on a summer vacation with their families. One is shy and unassuming and the other has a secret she has to keep to herself. When it’s revealed that she can see the future, things begin to change with their friendship. Years go by and their paths cross yet, one’s life is defined as a success and the other’s not so much. Having this future connection has caused much pain and sorrow.
“All the Days of Our Lives” - suggests how life has a “soap opera” style to it, especially how life is full of new possibilities. This is what our mother of two and newly divorced must face in her new life of uncertainty.
Here are 3 of my favorites:
“Between the Lines” - is the name of a newspaper column that Mrs. Jolene B. Newhouse who is a bit self-centered, writes about the people in her community. “I know what I know.” “I put what they do in the paper” - those 17 families that live in Salt Lick. Her focus is to uplift the readers - “I know you’ve got to give folks something to hang on to, keep them going.”
Naturally Joline becomes knowledgeable about a lot of things and provides countless self-assessments about people’s personal lives. Smith uses satire and Joline’s superiority complex to inform readers to read “between the lines” in order to recognize the reality of the gossip and tradition in a small southern community. You could say she edits reality.
“Georgia Rose” - two young girls from different backgrounds meet on a summer vacation with their families. One is shy and unassuming and the other has a secret she has to keep to herself. When it’s revealed that she can see the future, things begin to change with their friendship. Years go by and their paths cross yet, one’s life is defined as a success and the other’s not so much. Having this future connection has caused much pain and sorrow.
“All the Days of Our Lives” - suggests how life has a “soap opera” style to it, especially how life is full of new possibilities. This is what our mother of two and newly divorced must face in her new life of uncertainty.
September 7, 2007
when i read the stories in this book i became an istant lee smith fan. the seven deadly sins is amazing. and when i read about someone waiting for the james h drew exposition to come to town, well, that was the one my dad took us to ever summer in the giant food store parking lot. maybe it was just me, but i loved this collection. her best short story collection by far, and, i believe, her earliest.
February 28, 2017
I am thrilled to say I won this book in a Bookreads Giveaway! I really enjoyed this collection of short stories that center around the lives of, to say the least, quirky women. And what I really enjoyed most is how I still ruminate about these women and theirblives, especially, "Dear Phil Donahue.". "Cakewalk is a great easy read, with warm, funny, thought provoking characters and I recommend it as a good book for anyone
June 4, 2013
Extremely realistic and memorable stories. Each one would lend itself to a great discussion and/or further study. Of all stories, one I could not follow, one I did not like, but all the others I really loved!
April 13, 2008
lee smith is amazing.one of my all time favorites and i am never truelly disappointed.
September 19, 2008
This is a great collection of short stories by Lee Smith. It's like having a good Southern pecan pie. Good for the soul!
March 25, 2015
Being from the south originally I absolutely loved this book!
February 16, 2019
I haven't read any Lee Smith before, and I'm not a native southerner (which means "only in the south" is something that gets said a lot in my house). That may account for why I found half of the short stories in this book enjoyable, and the other half a little off.
I loved "Between the Lines," about a woman who writes local color in a small town, and "Georgia Rose," about the life of a girl with a tormenting talent. These were great stories with which to start the book. What else did I enjoy? "Artists," about family transitions and revelations, which could have been about many families. "Mrs. Darcy" - what do with do with mother (which mother solves on her own, thank you!)? - and the titular "Cakewalk" about the generally self-imposed stress of family social status. I also loved "Not Pictured," with the rituals and secrets of adults and children.
I read, but didn't enjoy: "St. Paul," about love that could be in a small town, "Days of our Lives," about getting by, "Gulfport" about hopes and bad decisions, and "Heat Lightening" - the endings were unsatisfying (probably too true to life, when you get right down to it). And, although I found "Phil Donahue" by turns funny, fascinating, and sad, it went off the deep end and just got annoying. I very much disliked the paragraph writing contrivance used in the "Seven Deadly Sins" and "Horses."
I do love short stories; they give you a chance to get through a complete story or three in the evening. And it's a great way to be introduced to a particular author and genre. Since I'm 50:50 on Lee Smith right now, I'll be up for giving her another try.
I loved "Between the Lines," about a woman who writes local color in a small town, and "Georgia Rose," about the life of a girl with a tormenting talent. These were great stories with which to start the book. What else did I enjoy? "Artists," about family transitions and revelations, which could have been about many families. "Mrs. Darcy" - what do with do with mother (which mother solves on her own, thank you!)? - and the titular "Cakewalk" about the generally self-imposed stress of family social status. I also loved "Not Pictured," with the rituals and secrets of adults and children.
I read, but didn't enjoy: "St. Paul," about love that could be in a small town, "Days of our Lives," about getting by, "Gulfport" about hopes and bad decisions, and "Heat Lightening" - the endings were unsatisfying (probably too true to life, when you get right down to it). And, although I found "Phil Donahue" by turns funny, fascinating, and sad, it went off the deep end and just got annoying. I very much disliked the paragraph writing contrivance used in the "Seven Deadly Sins" and "Horses."
I do love short stories; they give you a chance to get through a complete story or three in the evening. And it's a great way to be introduced to a particular author and genre. Since I'm 50:50 on Lee Smith right now, I'll be up for giving her another try.
March 25, 2026
A collection of short stories that take place in the South, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s.
My favorite was "Gulfport," about Debbie and Bobby, who go down to Gulfport to spend some time. They've got a motel right there on the beach, and Debbie meets a lady at the pier. Bobby has a job at the aquarium, and he makes a big deal out of it but in actuality he is just a ticket-taker. When Bobby is at work one day, Debbie takes the opportunity to take a ferry out to Ship Island off the coast. He blames her for spending a lot of money. They are staying at the motel, and there are other characters about, including other potential sex partners. It's the 1980s, so there are no casinos and you can live in a beachfront motel for not much cash and hang out with the other drifters.
"All the Days of Our Lives" is also good, about a single mother who may have made a mistake by making a trip to Daytona Beach with her lover and leaving her spouse behind. Now her lover is long gone and she is by herself with shared custody of the kids and back in North Carolina. Life is hard and living with the choices of yourself as a young person is also difficult, but one can't know how the situation would have turned out otherwise, and maybe it is all for the best.
The women in these stories are strong, but they are not heroes; they're just ordinary folks trying to get along in a world before cell phones or the internet.
My favorite was "Gulfport," about Debbie and Bobby, who go down to Gulfport to spend some time. They've got a motel right there on the beach, and Debbie meets a lady at the pier. Bobby has a job at the aquarium, and he makes a big deal out of it but in actuality he is just a ticket-taker. When Bobby is at work one day, Debbie takes the opportunity to take a ferry out to Ship Island off the coast. He blames her for spending a lot of money. They are staying at the motel, and there are other characters about, including other potential sex partners. It's the 1980s, so there are no casinos and you can live in a beachfront motel for not much cash and hang out with the other drifters.
"All the Days of Our Lives" is also good, about a single mother who may have made a mistake by making a trip to Daytona Beach with her lover and leaving her spouse behind. Now her lover is long gone and she is by herself with shared custody of the kids and back in North Carolina. Life is hard and living with the choices of yourself as a young person is also difficult, but one can't know how the situation would have turned out otherwise, and maybe it is all for the best.
The women in these stories are strong, but they are not heroes; they're just ordinary folks trying to get along in a world before cell phones or the internet.
September 1, 2023
Some of the stories were interesting but my first half of book, my patience and interest were gone
stopped. I have too many on my list to use the time for a non-interesting one.
Amazon:First published in 1982, Cakewalk was the first short story collection by iconic Southern writer Lee Smith. Comic and observant, Smith's fourteen tales in Cakewalk introduce readers to a host of memorable Southern characters. Her protagonists include aging gossips, a soap opera-hooked housewife, a runaway teenager, and divergent sisters in various combinations. Smith's gutsy Southern women don't always triumph, but, with her sympathetic portrayals, readers gain appreciation for the merits of spirited perseverance, right or wrong, in the face of modern adversity. The characters are everyday folks with everyday problems, particularly the tensions of home and family and loneliness and connection. Smith is keenly aware of the foibles that make people so maddeningly funny but also deeply sensitive to their pain and sorrow.
stopped. I have too many on my list to use the time for a non-interesting one.
Amazon:First published in 1982, Cakewalk was the first short story collection by iconic Southern writer Lee Smith. Comic and observant, Smith's fourteen tales in Cakewalk introduce readers to a host of memorable Southern characters. Her protagonists include aging gossips, a soap opera-hooked housewife, a runaway teenager, and divergent sisters in various combinations. Smith's gutsy Southern women don't always triumph, but, with her sympathetic portrayals, readers gain appreciation for the merits of spirited perseverance, right or wrong, in the face of modern adversity. The characters are everyday folks with everyday problems, particularly the tensions of home and family and loneliness and connection. Smith is keenly aware of the foibles that make people so maddeningly funny but also deeply sensitive to their pain and sorrow.
July 8, 2024
14 short stories by the author of “Fair and Tender Ladies”, “Saving Grace” and “The Christmas Letters.” Characters include a runaway teenager, a soap opera hooked housewife, and sisters in various combinations.
December 30, 2023
Short story collection by Lee Smith.
May 25, 2024
Excellent collection of short stories by this wonderful story teller.
July 9, 2024
Short stories by Lee Smith....only problem is that they're short.
April 18, 2009
Short stories written 1970 - 1981
Several of the stories are real good, and several I just don't know what they're about. Don't know whether these would be described as stream of consciousness? They are plotless, in any event.
Smith seems to do a good job with characters who have little formal education and some who also don't seem very intelligent. By good job, I mean they come across as convincing to me.
Several of the stories are real good, and several I just don't know what they're about. Don't know whether these would be described as stream of consciousness? They are plotless, in any event.
Smith seems to do a good job with characters who have little formal education and some who also don't seem very intelligent. By good job, I mean they come across as convincing to me.
Currently Reading
September 19, 2008I started this book, not once, but twice. I love Lee Smith but I just can't seem to get "into" this one. I don't think it's her fault but my own. I'm having a hard time concentrating on anything and the characters in this book are flip-flopping all over the place. I'm going to try again one last time.
September 16, 2011
I guess like most short story collections it's always about 1/2 and 1/2. There were a couple of stand out stories but I think maybe short stories aren't for me. (although I know I'll continue to read them anyway!) I need to get attached to characters and I find it almost impossible in books like these. In the scheme of these sorts of books this one is worth reading.
March 2, 2016
From the first chapter I thought I had a nice eccentric southern story...no...lots of stories. Each more depressing than the first. I made it through about half of the book waiting for it to make sense.
December 26, 2016
Lee Smith has become one of my favorite authors and this collection of short stories is one of the reasons why this is so. She so well understands the lives of women, especially southern women, and is such a fine writer that I find her work to be not just a good read, but a compelling read.
August 3, 2008
I think that Me And My Baby View The Eclipse is an overwhelmingly better collection, but there were a couple of beautiful stories in this.
Read
May 1, 2009Short stories,Fiction
April 1, 2010
Some older short stories by Lee Smith. Cake Walk was my favorite!
June 19, 2010
Some of these stories I had hard time putting the book down. With some of them I was sick of the characters after a couple pages.
June 21, 2011
Audio book. I thought the first story was out of the park. The others were a mixed bag. That's usually how it is for me with short stories.
March 9, 2013
Some of the stories were good, but overall I prefer book length rather than short stories.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 27 reviews