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Tammy Out of Time
Tammy is a 17-year-old girl who lives in a house boat in the swamp in the Mississippi Delta between Louisiana and Mississippi, where she runs around barefoot making friends with the animals in the swamp. A businessman flying his own airplane crash lands in the swamp and Tammy finds him unconscious in the river, so she brings him back to the houseboat where she lives with her elderly grandfather and nurses him back to health.
First published January 1, 1948
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 20, 2019
I read this series back when I was a teen. I still enjoyed it.
July 13, 2013
I needed something sweet after reading a couple of serious books, so I pulled this book out of the TBR box. I first became aware of this book when I rewatched Tammy and the Bachelor a while back and noticed that it was based on a book. This book, to be specific. So I tracked it down.
The movie hews fairly closely to the book, so there were no great narrative surprises. A few scenes were moved around in the movie to create more drama, and almost all of the darker or more serious subplots didn't make the film. The most notable difference is that the Peter of the book is recently returned from WWII, and is very much feeling lost in his return to his family and American society. This was a timely topic when the book was published, and it's one that sadly remains relevant today.
In summary, it's a sweet story with surprising depth.
The movie hews fairly closely to the book, so there were no great narrative surprises. A few scenes were moved around in the movie to create more drama, and almost all of the darker or more serious subplots didn't make the film. The most notable difference is that the Peter of the book is recently returned from WWII, and is very much feeling lost in his return to his family and American society. This was a timely topic when the book was published, and it's one that sadly remains relevant today.
In summary, it's a sweet story with surprising depth.
September 23, 2016
I found this book (an old 1948 copy) at a Book Sale and was absolutely delighted!!!! It's the story that all the Tammy movies are based on (Debbie Reynolds and Sandra Dee) --- the book is 100% better than any of the movies and just a heartwarming lovely story! It was fun to find and read such an old treasured book! Anyone enjoying any of the Tammy movies: Tammy and the Bachelor, Tammy Tell me True, Tammy and the Doctor and Tammy and the Millionaire has to just adore this book!
June 6, 2021
I picked this up because I've seen the 1957 movie, with Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Nielsen. And somewhere I have "Tammy Goes to Rome" in my pending pile, so I thought I had better read this first.
"Out of Time" is a sweet story, about a young girl brought up by her moonshine-brewing, preacher grandfather on a Mississippi river house boat. Never exposed to modern conveniences or teaching (in spite of the setting being post World War II), but having been taught to read, memorized the Bible and Shakespeare, and full of the practical knowledge that comes from being on the river, Tammy represents a living anachronism.
When her grandfather rescues a crashed airplane pilot from the river, Tammy nurses him back to health. When amongst his family, her biblical pronouncements and practical assessments of the trappings of wealth and worries of modern living - especially amongst his family - ultimately help several realize where they've put a foot or two wrong along the road. But not before Tammy makes a few missteps herself in the modern world.
Cid Ricketts Sumner, formally known as Bertha Louis Ricketts Sumner, was an English teacher who wrote some 10 other novels, as well as short stories and travel narratives. One of her books was "Quality" - which became the controversial movie "Pinky" - about a light-skinned woman who passed for white. Although the "Tammy" story was predictable to this reader (and not just because I had seen the movie), I still found the book enjoyable.
"Out of Time" is a sweet story, about a young girl brought up by her moonshine-brewing, preacher grandfather on a Mississippi river house boat. Never exposed to modern conveniences or teaching (in spite of the setting being post World War II), but having been taught to read, memorized the Bible and Shakespeare, and full of the practical knowledge that comes from being on the river, Tammy represents a living anachronism.
When her grandfather rescues a crashed airplane pilot from the river, Tammy nurses him back to health. When amongst his family, her biblical pronouncements and practical assessments of the trappings of wealth and worries of modern living - especially amongst his family - ultimately help several realize where they've put a foot or two wrong along the road. But not before Tammy makes a few missteps herself in the modern world.
Cid Ricketts Sumner, formally known as Bertha Louis Ricketts Sumner, was an English teacher who wrote some 10 other novels, as well as short stories and travel narratives. One of her books was "Quality" - which became the controversial movie "Pinky" - about a light-skinned woman who passed for white. Although the "Tammy" story was predictable to this reader (and not just because I had seen the movie), I still found the book enjoyable.
May 8, 2022
Tammy Out of Time is the heartwarming tale of a girl raised on the Mississippi River who comes to stay with friends while her grandfather is in jail (for making and selling corn liquor). If you know the 1957 movie version Tammy and the Bachelor, the book has the same openhearted sincerity, but it's willing to engage with issues around class and race, particularly, that the film skirts around (unsurprising, given Hollywood's concerns at the time about alienating white Southern audiences). It isn't perfect, but I appreciate that it's complicated and makes you think. The style and story will not be for everyone, but this book provides a thoughtful look at Southern life in the aftermath of the Civil War and of World War II. The prose, too, is lilting and poetic but not overwritten, filled with a sincere wonder for the world.
August 8, 2019
I can't say enough good things about this wonderful little book. What a lovely summer read!
November 30, 2022
A quaint and humorous story. I only gave it two stars due to my not caring for how Sumner wrapped up the story and a few other minor things.
July 25, 2024
A very delightful read.
February 11, 2025
I wasn’t crazy about the writing style but the storyline was good.
May 5, 2025
fun, clean and sweet
The book is always better than the movie. Character development is excellent. Worth the read. I promise you won’t be sorry
The book is always better than the movie. Character development is excellent. Worth the read. I promise you won’t be sorry
September 14, 2023
Tammy is a 17 year old girl, who grew up living on a shanty boat with her Grandfather in the South on the Mississippi River. She doesn’t know much about modern ways. Her grandfather is a preacher of sorts that also sells corn liquor. One day Tammy and her grandfather stumble upon a man lying still on a log that is floating in the river. They bring him, Pete, back to the shanty boat and nurse him back to health. Before leaving, Pete tells them that if anything happened to Grandpa, Tammy can come to his family home. Well Grandpa gets arrested and taken to jail and Tammy heads to Brenton Hall. These people talk and act different than her. They are all “proper” and “modern” where she is “not.” Anyway, Tammy very quickly becomes in love with Pete, who is very kind to her. However, Pete is after Barbara. Soon she wins over the family with her strange ways, but will she win Pete’s heart?
If you love the movie “Tammy and the Bachelor” starring Debbie Reynolds you will love the book. The writing in this book is very well done. I loved the book better than the movie, which is usually the case. I loved all the characters and liked that Ernie had more of a role than in the movie. The only issue I had was there is a lot of swearing. However this book is not labeled as clean so I can’t knock it for that. Other than the swearing it is very clean though. If you don’t mind swearing, it’s a great read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content: lots of uses of the “d**n and h*ll words.
If you love the movie “Tammy and the Bachelor” starring Debbie Reynolds you will love the book. The writing in this book is very well done. I loved the book better than the movie, which is usually the case. I loved all the characters and liked that Ernie had more of a role than in the movie. The only issue I had was there is a lot of swearing. However this book is not labeled as clean so I can’t knock it for that. Other than the swearing it is very clean though. If you don’t mind swearing, it’s a great read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content: lots of uses of the “d**n and h*ll words.
June 23, 2008
Charming book about a naive girl raised by Grandpa on a riverboat, and her introduction into society.
November 26, 2020
A blast from the past.
Very good romance and I enjoy the premise of an unvarnished young woman with an ability to study life about her and use it to develop common sense.
Very good romance and I enjoy the premise of an unvarnished young woman with an ability to study life about her and use it to develop common sense.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews