MoonPies and Movie Stars

by Amy Wallen

A laugh-out-loud romp across America pits a feisty Texas momma against the Hollywood machine

Ruby Kincaid is busy these days—running her late husband’s bowling alley, wrangling her pistol of a sister, and chasing after the two grandchildren her daughter abandoned. When she sees her runaway daughter Violet starring in a TV commercial, there’s only one choice and Ruby knows it—Hollywood or bust. Ruby packs a Winnebago with two friends, two unruly grandkids, and a mondo-size package of MoonPies and hightails it to California to fetch her wayward daughter. In a madcap road trip from the dusty flats of Texas to the glittering aisles of The Price Is Right, Ruby survives with a little pluck and some Texas spunk. Fans of Lorna Landvik and Billie Letts will love this tender and side-splittingly funny story of indomitable spirit and unstoppable force. BACKCOVER: Praise for Amy Wallen and MoonPies and Movie Stars:
“To read MoonPies and Movie Stars is to take a delightful and exhilarating journey, kind of like being on a tour bus guided by Eudora Welty on speed.”
—Mary Gordon, author of Pearl

“With a pitch-perfect ear for comic dialogue and a fine sense of the absurd, Amy Wallen writes herself a place on the porch swing of great Southern writing.”
—Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fits into the category of could have been so much better for me. The typecasting was sometimes painful, and while the author did some things well, there was some stiltedness that was distracting. I grew tired of shock value where plot development was needed.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super excited about this book. I now see why it was on the clearance shelf.
Every adult in this book besides Earl,Penny,and Warren are selfish. Let me start with Loralva. She acts like a bitch in heat and is only worried about the price is right. She did get on and won money and a car. Does she take the kids that are in the motel room the whole time to the beach or to disneyland? NO! I know it would have been a little off, but come on how many times is Imogene's mole talked about in this freakn book? I could have taken shots to it. I thought about going back and counting. Ruby being a good grandmother but while doing that was a doormat. There was no talk of the kids going back to their newly married father. She is the martyr that had to take care of his children. I was so annoyed with the ways she was looking for her daughter. I understand what year this is taking place but all I could think was well why not call the directory for information on her daughters name change. Honestly, I get how hot the price is right was then and how it still is but come on. Ruby is going on and on about the poor kids but doesnt take them anywhere to see anything in cal. WTF? WHAt A WASTE OF TIME!!!

[Giddy Girlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

the cover caught my eye when I was at the library over the weekend, so I picked it up. It's not a *great* story, but it's kind of fun. Very intentionally simplistic and kind of cheesy. I could see this being made into a movie -- maybe a Lifetime movie. Kind of along the lines of "Hope Floats" -- not your all time favorite, but still cutesy enough to watch when it comes on TV on Sunday afternoon.

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

They say you can't judge a book by it's cover, but let me tell you, I certainly bought this book because of it's cover! I bought this book in 2007 on a trip to New York and had it on my "to read" shelf for 14 years. It came with me from apartment to apartment! Who knew all it would take is a global pandemic and quarantine to make me finally get it to the top of the list?

Thought I wanted to LOVE this book, I ultimately ended up liking it. Amy Wallen's debut novel about one woman's mission to reconnect her broken family has a lot of heart and a lot of southern charm. Too much at times, one might say. While I very much enjoyed the central plot of this book, reading it felt like swimming through molasses at times. Too often in this book I felt like I was reading a page full of details as opposed to a page of development: You learn the names of what feels like a million and one characters who all almost entirely disappear after the first 75 pages. And while I can appreciate Wallen wanting to make sure the book was loaded with Southern charm, many of these pages are full of repetitive similes and descriptors. (Seriously, I don't ever want to read the words "skunk-haired" again in my life).

This is not to say that this is not an enjoyable read. Wallen's protagonist, Ruby Kincaid, is a lovable heroine. Her sidekick sister Loralva is also a hoot to follow as they hit the road to find Ruby's daughter, who has left their small Texas town to chase a dream of stardom in Los Angeles. I felt like the book had quite the cinematic plot (and the theatre nerd in me says that there's a Broadway musical in this story!) And, as I mentioned at the top, the story has plenty of heart and humor to keep the reader entertained. This is a great read for those looking for a fun-in-the-sun read: A fun snack of a read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really torn between whether I'd feel differently had I read the print version, rather than the audio. Narrator does a good job with the accents, inflection, etc.; however, I felt she dragged out the suspenseful scenes (near the end) such that I was thinking "Get onnnnnnnn with it!" - maybe that's just the New Yorker in me though? As for the plot itself, the first part in Texas, with all its backstory and character setup dragged a lot, but once they got on the road things improved, kind of like seeing a flower bloom over a few days. Wallen does a great job having the protagonist come into her own by the conclusion; Ruby's sister Loralva's optimistic, fun disposition serves well to counter the not-so-happy, desperate search for the missing Violet, and the messy, nasty scenes with "the skunk-headed grandmother".
Wallen left an opening for a series; I'm willing to reading a sequel.

[Kati Did · Rating 2 out of 5]

They always say don't judge a book by its cover, and this book is exactly the reason why. Fun colorful cover on a book that is just eh. I wouldn't read it again unless I was in prison.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it 'cause my good friend wrote it!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually found this book as I was wondering the aisles of the Dollar Tree. And it was actually a pretty fun read! It takes place in the 70s as a grandmother, her sister, her daughter's mother-in-law and her 2 grandchildren take off from a small Texas town to Hollywood to find her daughter. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of the "Price is Right" game show that the heroine and her sister found themselves on.

[Chriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to buy this book for everyone I know. It’s a great read and the characters are real people and fun to read about, especially Ruby’s high voltage sister Loralva (la-raul-vaw, only you have to think it with a Texas twang).

My blog has a full review, including a scan of the back cover.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a 3 1/2-star book but not bad for a first effort. A long set piece at the studio for a taping of "The Price Is Right" could be shorter. Still, a good look at the conflict between dreams and reality.

[Shrie Spangler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an entertaining and heartfelt read. It wasn't groundbreaking literature, and even lacked a little depth (and was very predictable), but it was a story of people much like my own and a story of Texas. I enjoyed it!

[Kerrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

So So

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the comedy and family drama of this book. It was easy to relate to the small town elements of it. Not the most exciting book I've read, but still enjoyable.

[Allison Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining book for sure. It has some things to say about people who live in Texas. Does everyone there really like Moon Pies???

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently purchased Amy Wallen’s memoir, When We Were Ghouls. While waiting for it to arrive in the mail, I picked up her first book, Moon Pies and Movie Stars, to re-read it. (I didn’t have a Good Reads account the first time I read it, when it was first published, so never reviewed it.) I remember this book as being funny, supremely entertaining, and filled with memorable characters. So in re-reading it 14 years later, I was wondering how it holds it. Reader, it does! Just as charming and mad-cap as I remember. What a fun read.

[Kylah Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much potential seemed wasted to me in this one. The characters were mostly annoying including the confusing main characters fluctuating personality. She would have a surge of gumption lost behind fear of circumstances or people that was inconsistent and frustrating. What could have been endearing and fun turned into disappointment in a lack of development or redemption from any of the characters. Bright moments were hindered by the mess of the interactions and distractions of the entire story. I would have a hard time recommending this book.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. I thought it would be fun but it was too dark. Major flaw in the editing. They go to Cali and sister Loralva gets on The Price Is Right. Overbids on the showcase yet wins. Everyone knows that's not how it works. Seems like that's a pretty good description of the plot: close but not quite right.

[Mackenzie Turrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was just what I was looking for...a heart-warning, light, entertaining read. The characters were endearing and more like caricatures...which I enjoyed. I looked forward to reading it every day and was glad I took a chance on a whimsical book cover.

[MKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story! I would have loved to learn more. What happens next? Maybe a book 2??

[Carrie Danielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic characterization

I loved this book. It was full of humor and heart. The characters are marvelous and lovable. The description of the Price Is Right is hilarious.

[Chase Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny, a little slow at times though.

[Laura Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, well written and entertaining. Each character's personality shines through.

[Juli Hirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Silly easy read it was entertaining

[Karin Zirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hysterically funny, wild ride with one of a kind characters.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read.

[Jjean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say the "cover" is the reason I purchased this book...... the story had some good points and some humor but overall, just didn't offer much....slow read for me..

[NK · Rating 1 out of 5]

Committed to finish, to give an honest review, with no interest in the characters or story.

[Nicole Estes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first 100+ pages and ended up skimming through. I really really wanted to like this book. I liked the idea of the characters, but then this serious heavy back story, I don't know. I thought there were some funny parts, the mesh of the silly character antics chasing this "mother" who left her little kids didn't jive for me.

[Cherrish]

This book was nothing I thought it would be. It has some good points...and some bad. It was a tough read once the charaters got on the road. Ruby was a super charater and her sister Loralva. Ruby was a widow who ran a bowling alley and her sister worked at the bar in the bowling alley. They lived in South Texas. They take a trip to California to find Violet, Ruby's daughter after seeing her on tv. The mother-in-law tags along thinking her long lost daughter-in-law is newly rich. Ruby brings along Violet's children. The young boy is the one that is disturbing in the book. The author's detail on the boy taking apart a dead armidillo was pretty gross and turned my stomach. Plus there is another scene in the book with a coyote she could have left out. The parts in California are pretty funny and pretty good. The ending left me in a wonder. It's a pretty good read...but low on my shelf because it dragged and the gross description of what the young boy did.

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I really did. The author spoke at a meeting of my writers club and she was so engaging I immediately bought the book. I slogged through it to a very disappointing ending. It was overwritten to make the southern characters extreme stereotypes, and descriptions and emotions were repeated, and repeated......The premise is a search for Violet,the adopted daughter of Ruby Kincaid. who abandoned her husband and two children four years earlier for reasons unknown. Ruby runs a bowling alley in Texas and when she sees her daughter on a TV commercial, she decides to head to Hollywood to find her. Accompanying her are Violet's annoying mother-in-law, Ruby's sister Loralva, and the two grandchildren. There are many adventures along the way but they're boring, and so is this family. I won't give away the ending in case someone still wants to read this book, but I'd select it only if there's nothing else around.