Ladies In Low Places

by Mary Ann Henry

"Henry serves up a healthy dose of Southern humor and style with 18 lively stories that cleverly turn conventional ideas about Southern womanhood on their heads. Here are heroines who aren't always graceful, polite or hyper feminine. Instead they're flawed and misunderstood yet always hopeful. Tales told with a fresh, sensitive voice and likely to appeal to readers who appreciate Southern culture in all its myriad forms." - Kirkus

Set in the mythic, South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry, each story in this unforgettable collection captures the moments in women's lives when they must confront some aspect of their authentic selves. Whether they're seventeen or seventy-nine, the characters bring to life the 'grit, wit, and it' of the southern female psyche as they search for home, family, and love - often finding that rock bottom may be the best foundation from which to move forward. For those readers seeking strong, southern, female voices, Ladies in Low Places delivers.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2014

Reviews

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW OF “LADIES IN LOW PLACES” ‘STORIES’ by MARY ANN HENRY
Mary Ann Henry, author of “Ladies in Low Places” has written a delightful, charming and entertaining novel with different stories. I really enjoyed this book and every story and would highly recommend it.
To quote Kirkus reviews, Ladies in Low Places ….(A) healthy dose of Southern humor and style…told with a fresh sensitive voice likely to appeal to readers who appreciate Southern culture in all its myriad forms.” I am a Northern and I can say that I appreciate Mary Ann Henry’s scenic descriptions set in the”coastal lands of the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry”. I would love to visit these destinations.
The genres for these stories are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The author describes her characters as charming, witty, some complicated and complex, polite, and of various ages. I love that the author has stories about girls, young ladies and women, from extremely young to those that are more seasoned and senior.
Usually I find it difficult to review a book with stories, but the author has an amazing way of describing her characters and plots in each story, and I found myself captivated by each one.
I appreciate that the author is sensitive to writing about important issues about women. The author discusses family, friends, occupations, aging, loneliness, sexuality, self-worth, confidence, love and hope. She writes about the ups and downs and twists and turns in life and how different women of different ages cope with them. I had to chuckle and found many parts very witty. I received a copy of this book for my honest review. I am sure that you will enjoy these stories. I look forward to reading more of Mary Ann Henry’s novels. Happy Reading!

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories! Humorous and heartfelt!!

[Gail Hecky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not to be missed, this little book is full of surprise endings and delightfully amusing, interesting characters. Henry is able to paint her colorful characters in clear detail with abundant doses of dry wit and charm. Ample dialogue moves each tale along quickly and believably. All eighteen short stories offer unique flavors of southern living, preferences and habits, creating a spicy mix of tales I found myself compelled to consume more than once. I loved the unusual perspectives and real-life characters Mary Ann pulls from her pen. Tales are brilliantly imbedded with thought-provoking topics, and sometimes disturbing images, as real life meets supposedly fictional personae. As an additional treat, at the end of the book the author offers questions for many of the stories to invite discussion and sharing. This collection would be fun to use in a classroom, as well as a book club.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on goodreads giveaway for a honest review. I normally dont read short stories however I am glad I read this one. It is set in Low County SC. As I was reading about these southern women I felt I was personally getting to know them they felt so real. You may even know them yourself! I found myself laughing at their quirkiness ..this book has some humourous moments as well as sad ones. What made the characters even more believable was the fact they had flaws like real women which made it feel as if I was reading a nonfiction. Yes I would recommend this book. And btw when are you writing another one? Thanks for the autographed copy of Low County ;)

[Lauren G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting and narrative in Ladies In Low Places are delicious, funny, witty, frank, and whimsical. I love reading about the different Lowcountry settings in each story - from trailer park to high society. The short story format is very digestible, so it's perfect for me to dive into a great story before bed and be able to complete in one sitting. I love that there is a little bit of darkness in each story, but you never come away with a feeling of melancholy or sadness. Each character has a strength and grit that makes you want to cheer, or at least have a glass of wine with them.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies in Low Places captures the essence of Southern charm. These short stories depict the picturesque setting of the low country. Mary Ann Henry's descriptions of time and place make you feel as though you're breathing the humid air of the salt marshes and walking amongst the trees draped in Spanish moss. I enjoyed the quirky yet fiercely strong characters and how they each had their own personal struggles. Struggles which parallel our own lives in some way whether young, old, North or South of the Mason Dixon line!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads.com. This is a wonderful collection of short stories about women who live in the South. It's about women who have a "backbone" while still remaining a lady. It's about women who do the "right thing". I absolutely LOVED these stories and if you love Southern Belles, you will love this book too!!

[Barb Hollis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book through a GOODREADS drawing.

Really enjoyed this collection of stories about southern women. Each one had a message which was thoughtful, some serious, some funny. Would recommend this delightful book to anyone who would like to try to figure out the workings of a woman s mind.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I got the chance to read this after winning it in a goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed getting to know different women going through various experiences from all walks of life. The writing was very beautiful and honest, charming and heartwarming. It was highly enjoyable and everything I would want from a short story collection.

[Emily Moberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies in Low Places is a must read, I was so inspired by every short story. Within each story, there was charm and humor. I absolutely enjoyed reading this selection of short stories and would recommend it to any bookworm who loves great southern stories.

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a collection of quick reads that was reflective of the ladies from the South.

The characters were varied and flawed which I find attractive as a reader.


This book was a Goodreads win in exchange for an honest review.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of short stories very much. The characters were interesting and the stories were well told. I look forward to the next volume.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Stories.

[Leslie Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ladies in Low Places is a collection of short stories by women for women. Reading this book was a wonderful refresher. The stories inside of the collection are short, I believe the longest story was around six or so pages. That for me was the biggest pro regarding this book. Sometimes when reading a regular fictional book it becomes monotonous, but with this book the short chapters was a nice touch. Each story was told, kept to the point, and beginning each story was like opening a small treasure box. Though it portrays a view of only positive stories I did find a few that weren't positive, they were grey in a world of black and white. I found that to be a positive attribute because let's face reality it's not all rainbows and unicorns. I would recommend this book to someone who needs an uplift and are burnt out on regular fictional stories. If I were to come across this author again I would more than likely read another book she has written.

[Therese Wiese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, so this sat on my TBR shelf longer than it should have, as it was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I finally decided to pick it up, and I am so glad I did. The author provided a wonderful array of quirky characters that were a delight to read. My favorite three were Hill Hole Swamp Queen, Pie Eyed Bride, and List of Lasts. Nouveau Southern Floozy was so timely for the recent Ford/Kavanaugh thing, even though the story was written in 2014!


Even if you don't normally read short stories, I definitely recommend this book.

[Patricia V. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of Delightful, with a capital "D" shirt stories of women in challenging situations. In other words, women living their lives. And they all happen to live in the 'low country.' The author's voice is charming and soothing, and the the stories have remarkable depth. The foreword of the book explains it all- how the term "lady" in the south, to a southern woman, is irony. Meaning that these women, with their perfect manners, have a lot more to them than meets the eye. I also enjoy the descriptions of place, truly felt as though I were there. Lovely collection

[Trish Heald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and often funny stories of women managing life and love in the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry. The women protagonists in this collection are flawed and relatable, sometimes quirky. I liked when the women were changed or helped from unlikely sources of comfort -- a sweet-grass basket-maker's run down chair, an emaciated hound dog with patches of fur missing. And who can resist characters with names like "Plumley" and "Pooter"? A great collection to keep by your bedside, or the bedside in your guestroom, or near a rocking chair on a wraparound porch.

[Kathryn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Ann Henry's stories are an insightful and honest portrayal of the southern woman in the contemporary world. Her characters are real, raw, raucous, and remarkable. The challenges they face -and overcome - are challenges faced not just by southern women, but by all women. If you happen to live in the south - especially in the Charleston, SC area - you will recognize not only the places but the people on these pages. But wherever you live, you will admire the strength and resolve of women who you may want to befriend and model yourself after.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun taste of the south

I normally am not a fan of short stories, but I fell in love with every story in this book. Each story is set somewhere in the South and each story touches your heart. I love the South and if you are a fan of the South as I am, you will absolutely love this book. If you do not know much about the South, then this book will show you how wonderful the people are.

[Karen Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Ladies in Low Places and cannot wait for Mary Ann Henry's next book! I was contemplating relocating to South Carolina when this book caught my eye at the library. I think it was the first book of short stories that I've read from cover to cover! I bought a copy for my own library as it is a book that I will read again and again. It's filled with love, laughter and life!

[Terri Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

These short stories were fantastic! Each one as fascinating as the next! Mary Ann Henry is a gifted author! I look forward to her next book!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable short stories. I will add her writings to my TBR list. I would rate this 4/5 but goodreads will not allow my rating to be entered.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

a group of short stories about women in the area of Charleston South Carolina.these books are show how these women.

[John A Wilson]

Ladies in Low Places!

Lovely stories, such a delightful read! insightful and thought provoking. I very highly recommend- add this collection to your summer reading.

[Carrie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling stories

Engaging, compelling stories about women and the strength they possess to battle life's struggles and headaches, and overcome their toughest adversity.

[Danielle Mercer · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book filled with 18 short stories about the Lowcountry and I didn’t like a single one.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story collections are things that I love, but somewhat hard for me to review. Obviously, reviewing something with several distinct stories can be tricky but the bigger problem for me is that I usually read short story collections over a long period of time. For example, it took me 53 days to read this 263-page book.

The fact that it took me so long to read this book is not a commentary on the quality. I just like to go slowly through short story collections, reading no more than one story a day. I like to have a little "space" between each story so that I can enjoy each one on their individual merits. Unfortunately, the fact that it takes so long for me to read books like this means it can be harder for me to keep the earlier stories fresh in my mind.

So, I'm going to address this book with an overall eye. For this book, this works well because Henry's style is fairly uniform throughout the book. This isn't to say that this book is monotone. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Henry does an admirable job of including stories of women from all walks and stages in life. You can, however, tell that every story was written by the same author, which isn't a bad thing at all. I actually loved Henry's voice and it even sounded Southern in my head as I read it.

Henry is an expert at creating the world of the Lowcountry here. I've never been there (the closest I've been was when I went to college in the Tidewater region of Virginia) but I could clearly see it in my mind's eye and, yes, I would really love to visit now. The fact that she was able to pull this off is what really holds this collection together.

This is a very readable collection and I would recommend it to readers new to short story collections, as well as to fans of Southern fiction from a female viewpoint.

I won a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I was encouraged, but not required, to write an honest review. I received no compensation for this post.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies in Low Places takes you deep into the sultry South and the life of some Southern women with all the nuances of the Lowcountry from the yearning for love to a racist past.

Henry's descriptions of the Lowcountry puts you there smack dab in the middle of the muck. You can smell the stink of the pluff mud, feel the pull of the moon on your toes at ocean's high tide, lick the salt from your lips after a walk along the beach, see the divide – the separation of blacks and whites and the confederate flag that still flies high, hear the weaving of sweet grass by the hands of the Geechee women at the market.

The stories are sassy and much more than satisfying. The collection starts off strong with the story, "The Seduction of Miss Sestina." The title itself has you seduced with the sound of "s" before you read the first page. Henry's collection is full of quirkiness from the “Hell Hole Swamp Queen” to “The Housewives of Charleston.” Only Henry could ever think of ending her book with such irreverence as Miss Sweetie "passing gas" at her own Blue Blood socialite luncheon in the Holy City. It's enough to make you want to say Holy Shit and laugh out loud. Yet, it is her daughter’s memories of racism that quickly bring you to somberness.

Ladies in Low Places will make you laugh, but more importantly it will make you think and it is in that moment this collection is so much more than a “fun beach read.”

[Dolly Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is superb. These are stories about women who live in the South Carolina / Georgia Lowcounty, and I fell in love reading about them. Some of these women made me laugh out loud and at times I felt like yelling 'You go girl!' I would love for Mary Ann Henry to travel throughout the United States, and write stories about the many types of women she encounters. I didn't read the stories in order that they were presented in the book, but randomly based upon how much time I had to devote at the moment. I preferred a few of the stories further in, much more then the ones she started with. The first two stories, I felt were not the best, but keep reading and you will delight in the characterization of these women.

I received this book through the Good Reads first reads program, and although I prefer novels to short stories, after reading these I look forward to reading many more books featuring short stories.

[Catherine Stickann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this book as I was traveling. It was a joy to read with fresh stories that provoked this reader to really think about the stories. Unfortunately I left in a cab that I was in a hurry to get out of. I hope reader picked up this book and enjoyed as much as I did. My notes were lost with the book, so I must leave this abbreviated review. Mary Ann Henry I want to read more of your stories. I won this book on Goodreads through the First Reads Giveaway Program; I do not know the author.