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Lowcountry Tales #11
Carolina Girls
'Poignant' Liane Moriarty
'A great storyteller' Adriana Trigiani
Lisa St Clair knows a thing or two about weathering storms. A dedicated nurse with a great sense of humour, she single-handedly raised her daughter Marianne after her ex walked out twenty-four years ago, sending only a lottery ticket once a year as support. Then he reappeared and persuaded their daughter to support his business venture. Now mother and daughter aren't speaking.
So when Kathy Harper, Lisa's favourite patient, loses her battle with cancer, Lisa finds herself drawn to Carrie and Suzanne, the devoted friends who were always by Kathy's side. They talk about family, and share problems but somehow their conversations always return to the enigma of Kathy. Did they really know her at all?
Gradually, as they uncover the truth about Kathy's life and unfurl plans to secure their own futures, fate steps in to show them that being single doesn't mean you are alone and that friendship is as powerful as the turning tide of the beach they walk together.
'A great storyteller' Adriana Trigiani
Lisa St Clair knows a thing or two about weathering storms. A dedicated nurse with a great sense of humour, she single-handedly raised her daughter Marianne after her ex walked out twenty-four years ago, sending only a lottery ticket once a year as support. Then he reappeared and persuaded their daughter to support his business venture. Now mother and daughter aren't speaking.
So when Kathy Harper, Lisa's favourite patient, loses her battle with cancer, Lisa finds herself drawn to Carrie and Suzanne, the devoted friends who were always by Kathy's side. They talk about family, and share problems but somehow their conversations always return to the enigma of Kathy. Did they really know her at all?
Gradually, as they uncover the truth about Kathy's life and unfurl plans to secure their own futures, fate steps in to show them that being single doesn't mean you are alone and that friendship is as powerful as the turning tide of the beach they walk together.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2015
2048 people are currently reading
8901 people want to read
About the author
Dorothea Benton Frank
64 books5,203 followersDorothea Benton Frank was a New York Times best-selling American novelist of Southern fiction. She worked in the apparel industry from 1972 until 1985 and then organized fundraisers as a volunteer, before becoming a novelist.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,269 reviews
August 21, 2015
All the Single Ladies by Dorothea Benton Frank is a 2015 William Morrow Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I must confess up front that I have not, to my knowledge, read anything by this author. Gasp! I know that won't earn me any brownie points because I hear she is very well loved with a devoted fan base, which is why I was eager to read one of her books.
Sadly, I think I may have chosen the wrong book to start with and I am hoping is a 'one off' and is not the best representation of this author's work.
I love books that are set in the south, for some reason, and because this story is set in the Carolina Lowcountry, and was supposed to be centered around three strong southern ladies who are closing in on middle age, I was very excited to get started on this one. I had visions of sweet tea, good southern food, with lots of major life issues to solve, and of course some tears, laughter and a little romance to top things off.
Well, a lot of that is here, but it fell flat on it's face, I'm afraid. Lisa, a divorced nurse, working in a nursing home, bonds with the friends of one of her long term patients, a woman named Kathy, who was dying of breast cancer. Suzanne and Claire are the two ladies who are left behind after Kathy passes away, and they discover there is no one to take care of the belongings she left behind. As they begin to sort through Kathy's personal effects, they decide to solve the mystery of who Kathy really was, what her time on this earth meant, and examine their own lives in the process.
There was nothing wrong with the set up, but,the pondering of life's mysteries and meaning never really got off the ground.
Lisa was too preachy for me. The use of medical marijuana is fine in my book, and she kind of let that idea stay in the neutral zone, but when it comes to recreational use, she was way too judgmental, especially since the person she took issue with lived in a state where it was legal.
Now, it is very important to divorce yourself from the author when a character gets up on a soapbox about an issue that's controversial. The character had strong opinions on the subject, but that doesn't necessarily mean the author feels that way.
However, if this author is using her talent as a writer to push her own agenda through characters in a book, then I take offense to that. I don't know this author well enough to know if this is out of character for her or not. So, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt this time and presume it was Lisa who had a personal problem. However, deep down, I did think the author went way overboard and the lecture got old in a hurry.
The deep emotional draw I was hoping for never materialized. Nothing these women faced were all that life altering. I never felt like cheering, nor did I feel righteous indignation, or anger. I never felt inspired, or sad, or moved in any way. The romances were nice, simply because it's rare to see middle aged women featured in any kind of romantic scenario, as though once we reach forty we no longer have romantic feelings or sex drives. So, from that standpoint, adding romance into the mix is refreshing. However, some of these romantic pairings had zero chemistry and I just couldn't see it working.
The dialogue was overblown as though the author was trying to create a certain stereotype of southern women and the southern lifestyle with the rich foods, and the hot, steamy summertime backdrop, but it had a forced feel to it. The writing is uneven and the story didn't flow well, and was awfully busy sometimes.
Overall, this book was disappointing for me since I had heard so many wonderful things about this author. I was expecting a little something more, I suppose. However, I am not adverse to reading one of her older titles at some point and giving her work another try someday. 2 stars
I must confess up front that I have not, to my knowledge, read anything by this author. Gasp! I know that won't earn me any brownie points because I hear she is very well loved with a devoted fan base, which is why I was eager to read one of her books.
Sadly, I think I may have chosen the wrong book to start with and I am hoping is a 'one off' and is not the best representation of this author's work.
I love books that are set in the south, for some reason, and because this story is set in the Carolina Lowcountry, and was supposed to be centered around three strong southern ladies who are closing in on middle age, I was very excited to get started on this one. I had visions of sweet tea, good southern food, with lots of major life issues to solve, and of course some tears, laughter and a little romance to top things off.
Well, a lot of that is here, but it fell flat on it's face, I'm afraid. Lisa, a divorced nurse, working in a nursing home, bonds with the friends of one of her long term patients, a woman named Kathy, who was dying of breast cancer. Suzanne and Claire are the two ladies who are left behind after Kathy passes away, and they discover there is no one to take care of the belongings she left behind. As they begin to sort through Kathy's personal effects, they decide to solve the mystery of who Kathy really was, what her time on this earth meant, and examine their own lives in the process.
There was nothing wrong with the set up, but,the pondering of life's mysteries and meaning never really got off the ground.
Lisa was too preachy for me. The use of medical marijuana is fine in my book, and she kind of let that idea stay in the neutral zone, but when it comes to recreational use, she was way too judgmental, especially since the person she took issue with lived in a state where it was legal.
Now, it is very important to divorce yourself from the author when a character gets up on a soapbox about an issue that's controversial. The character had strong opinions on the subject, but that doesn't necessarily mean the author feels that way.
However, if this author is using her talent as a writer to push her own agenda through characters in a book, then I take offense to that. I don't know this author well enough to know if this is out of character for her or not. So, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt this time and presume it was Lisa who had a personal problem. However, deep down, I did think the author went way overboard and the lecture got old in a hurry.
The deep emotional draw I was hoping for never materialized. Nothing these women faced were all that life altering. I never felt like cheering, nor did I feel righteous indignation, or anger. I never felt inspired, or sad, or moved in any way. The romances were nice, simply because it's rare to see middle aged women featured in any kind of romantic scenario, as though once we reach forty we no longer have romantic feelings or sex drives. So, from that standpoint, adding romance into the mix is refreshing. However, some of these romantic pairings had zero chemistry and I just couldn't see it working.
The dialogue was overblown as though the author was trying to create a certain stereotype of southern women and the southern lifestyle with the rich foods, and the hot, steamy summertime backdrop, but it had a forced feel to it. The writing is uneven and the story didn't flow well, and was awfully busy sometimes.
Overall, this book was disappointing for me since I had heard so many wonderful things about this author. I was expecting a little something more, I suppose. However, I am not adverse to reading one of her older titles at some point and giving her work another try someday. 2 stars
June 18, 2015
This book had such a great premise but it didn't work. The editing was hit and miss, there were places where sentences made no sense and characters were talking who weren't even in the conversation. Some of the dialogue was really dumb, especially when Lisa was talking about sexual attraction. And all the giggling - really? Couldn't they just laugh or guffaw or use one of the many other words to denote finding humor in the situation? And finally, all the self-righteous prattle about marijuana - that was unnecessary and boring after the first time. I don't read a novel to be preached to, I read for entertainment. If I wanted a sermon or lecture on marijuana or any other topic I would go to a non-fiction source. While it was a quick read the book was a disappointment. Makes me wonder if I'm going to read the next book DBF writes.
July 24, 2015
I'm sorry to say I can't recommend this one. I have enjoyed many of the author's other books, but I just couldn't stand the constant commentary on the evils of recreational marijuana. I hope that dancing on that soapbox was worth ruining your book, Dorothea. We get it. You don't smoke pot. Neither do I, and you still annoyed me.
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August 5, 2016I'm not completely on board with DBF but I have to give the authoress credit outstandingly describing the surroundings of South Carolina. From delicious food, warm people, humidity so thick you can slice it with a knife, turncoat weather, stifling heat and of course the hospitality and mannerisms, you feel as if you've stepped knee high into it all. Extremely atmospheric.
I wasn't of the mindset of the three female protagonists by any means. Lisa was way too preachy on her marijuana bandwagon, became stale after a while. Carrie's dire financial situation provoking her to hunt for a husband to take care and support her, utter madness, her actions certainly didn't gain her points with this reader. Her behavior was unflattering. Suzanne experienced an unhealthy relationship long ago and therefore swears off men. I had absolutely nothing in common with these women, as a feminist I cringed. I will say the attempt to confiscate the items was ludicrous.
A contrived narrative of justice, love and friendship, perfect for the beach or airplane.
For this and other reviews visit http://ravenhairedgirl.com
I wasn't of the mindset of the three female protagonists by any means. Lisa was way too preachy on her marijuana bandwagon, became stale after a while. Carrie's dire financial situation provoking her to hunt for a husband to take care and support her, utter madness, her actions certainly didn't gain her points with this reader. Her behavior was unflattering. Suzanne experienced an unhealthy relationship long ago and therefore swears off men. I had absolutely nothing in common with these women, as a feminist I cringed. I will say the attempt to confiscate the items was ludicrous.
A contrived narrative of justice, love and friendship, perfect for the beach or airplane.
For this and other reviews visit http://ravenhairedgirl.com
July 9, 2015
Having grown up in SC, I read Dottie Frank's new beach novel every year. Some are better than others. This one was so-so. I have lived in Colorado for over 20 years now and can assure readers that the cannabis industry is not the evil industry she portrays. It is a well-regulated, fast growing (no pun intended) industry whose tax revenues help improve our schools.
The story was superficial and the characters were too goody-goody and judgemental, the romances too quick, the ending too tidy, and for heaven's sake, who can move all their belongings into a new residence in one hour?
The story was superficial and the characters were too goody-goody and judgemental, the romances too quick, the ending too tidy, and for heaven's sake, who can move all their belongings into a new residence in one hour?
June 15, 2015
I love Dorothea Benton Frank. Loved Pawley's Island, Plantation and more. Not so much this one. Is she locked into a contract that forces her to crank out books by a certain date? That's what it feels like.
May 21, 2016
Dorothea Benton Frank returns with laugh out loud entertaining, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, a sassy, witty, and hilarious Southern Carolina Lowcountry gem. Three amazing middle-aged women are bonded by one woman’s death, for a "must pack" beach bag, summer beach read! If you are a female in the 50+ range, you will relate and devour this one. I am unfortunately in this group.
As the book opens, we meet Lisa a nurse, who works in geriatrics and her favorite patient is dying of cancer. Divorced, in her early fifties, with a grown daughter, she barely makes ends meet; however, loves her job and her work. She is having all sorts of drama with her daughter, Marianne living in Colorado and involved in some things she considers rather questionable; currently estranged. Her no good ex-husband is of little help. Later she even loses the house she is living in.
Lisa develops a friendship with Carrie and Suzanne, the two devoted friends who were always by Kathy's side. When Kathy dies, the three woman develop a bond while trying to take care of Kathy’s affairs. However, when they begin to clear out her house, they suspect her landlord is stealing furniture and things from her house.
As they work together to solve the past of Kathy, they bond in so many ways as each of them have their own issues, divorced, and over 50. From financial, dating, men, illness, clothes, sex, money, kids, and most of all eating Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and eating LowCountry southern (bad/good)foods, and drinking wine. (had to laugh, as one minute they are worried about food causing cancer and the next minute they are eating sugar).
Suzanne’s ninety-nine-year-old grandmother, was a hoot and they move in with her, taking turns taking care of her. I loved all the women living together, like The Golden Girls. She was a total riot, and had lots of wisdom and fun with the ladies. Carrie's ex-stepchilre are selfish and greedy and of course, Lisa’s mom and dad always stick their nose into her business.
In the process of working on the mystery behind Kathy’s life, the women bond over clothes, food, booze, sex new relationships, and most of all friendship.
A long time fans of DBF, I listened to the audioook and Robin Miles, as always- excellent! I could listen to her all day. Dorothea Benton Frank and Robin Miles are a match made in southern heaven. I always pre-order, knowing there is much in store, and this pair never disappoints! Listening, is like talking with girlfriends, over a glass of wine or coffee, with southern sass and great one liners, keeping you entertained for hours. (You do not want it to end). Highly Recommend audiobook, in order to get the full southern "bless your heart" experience.
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES may be one of my favorites thus far. Being in this same age range, have had similar conversations with friends over some of the same topics--can relate. As divorced single women of this age as we approach social security, it is a scary thought, thinking we will be working until we are 90. Of course, better poor doing what we want, than taking care of an old man! I also loved the part about being carded at the store one day, and then, in a blink of an eye, gravity hits; the clerk is asking you if you want the senior discount? (or worse, not asking, just giving it to you).
A must read. Put this one at the top of the summer beach chick-lit reading list! (Great cover). Would make for a great Krispy Kreme Doughnut commercial.
JDCMustReadBooks
As the book opens, we meet Lisa a nurse, who works in geriatrics and her favorite patient is dying of cancer. Divorced, in her early fifties, with a grown daughter, she barely makes ends meet; however, loves her job and her work. She is having all sorts of drama with her daughter, Marianne living in Colorado and involved in some things she considers rather questionable; currently estranged. Her no good ex-husband is of little help. Later she even loses the house she is living in.
Lisa develops a friendship with Carrie and Suzanne, the two devoted friends who were always by Kathy's side. When Kathy dies, the three woman develop a bond while trying to take care of Kathy’s affairs. However, when they begin to clear out her house, they suspect her landlord is stealing furniture and things from her house.
As they work together to solve the past of Kathy, they bond in so many ways as each of them have their own issues, divorced, and over 50. From financial, dating, men, illness, clothes, sex, money, kids, and most of all eating Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and eating LowCountry southern (bad/good)foods, and drinking wine. (had to laugh, as one minute they are worried about food causing cancer and the next minute they are eating sugar).
Suzanne’s ninety-nine-year-old grandmother, was a hoot and they move in with her, taking turns taking care of her. I loved all the women living together, like The Golden Girls. She was a total riot, and had lots of wisdom and fun with the ladies. Carrie's ex-stepchilre are selfish and greedy and of course, Lisa’s mom and dad always stick their nose into her business.
In the process of working on the mystery behind Kathy’s life, the women bond over clothes, food, booze, sex new relationships, and most of all friendship.
A long time fans of DBF, I listened to the audioook and Robin Miles, as always- excellent! I could listen to her all day. Dorothea Benton Frank and Robin Miles are a match made in southern heaven. I always pre-order, knowing there is much in store, and this pair never disappoints! Listening, is like talking with girlfriends, over a glass of wine or coffee, with southern sass and great one liners, keeping you entertained for hours. (You do not want it to end). Highly Recommend audiobook, in order to get the full southern "bless your heart" experience.
ALL THE SINGLE LADIES may be one of my favorites thus far. Being in this same age range, have had similar conversations with friends over some of the same topics--can relate. As divorced single women of this age as we approach social security, it is a scary thought, thinking we will be working until we are 90. Of course, better poor doing what we want, than taking care of an old man! I also loved the part about being carded at the store one day, and then, in a blink of an eye, gravity hits; the clerk is asking you if you want the senior discount? (or worse, not asking, just giving it to you).
A must read. Put this one at the top of the summer beach chick-lit reading list! (Great cover). Would make for a great Krispy Kreme Doughnut commercial.
JDCMustReadBooks
June 23, 2015
I haven't read all of Mrs. Frank's books, only a few. Enough that I was left wondering who actually wrote this one. It reads like a first foray into writing. Seriously.
The main character is depicted as a 52 year old woman. I know lots of women in their 50's. None of them act this adolescent.
The dialogue is stilted. The descriptions come across as condescending; there's a mini-soap-box in multiple chapters. It felt like every single thing had to be defined because as readers we're too dumb to know anything.
Frankly I was just annoyed by the whole book. It actually did get marginally better toward the end, but really,there wasn't a single adult in the book that acted like an adult. And we're not talking young adults here, these women are all middle-aged.
Here's an example of the immature nature of the main character (as well as an example of the lackluster writing): "Marianne never returned my calls yesterday. My only child who carries my blood in her veins made me cry on her birthday. I thought it was so mean to deliberately hurt me when she knew I loved her so very dearly. " Sounds pretty self-centered for a 52 year old who should have plenty of life experience at this point.
I had a friend who urged me to read this author - which I did, years ago. I don't remember feeling this let down by that previous book. What has happened in the meantime?
The only way I'd recommend this book would be if someone wants to simply pass the time running their eyes over words on a page.
To give her credit, the author keeps it clean and nearly free of offensive language. That's pretty much the only recommendation.
The main character is depicted as a 52 year old woman. I know lots of women in their 50's. None of them act this adolescent.
The dialogue is stilted. The descriptions come across as condescending; there's a mini-soap-box in multiple chapters. It felt like every single thing had to be defined because as readers we're too dumb to know anything.
Frankly I was just annoyed by the whole book. It actually did get marginally better toward the end, but really,there wasn't a single adult in the book that acted like an adult. And we're not talking young adults here, these women are all middle-aged.
Here's an example of the immature nature of the main character (as well as an example of the lackluster writing): "Marianne never returned my calls yesterday. My only child who carries my blood in her veins made me cry on her birthday. I thought it was so mean to deliberately hurt me when she knew I loved her so very dearly. " Sounds pretty self-centered for a 52 year old who should have plenty of life experience at this point.
I had a friend who urged me to read this author - which I did, years ago. I don't remember feeling this let down by that previous book. What has happened in the meantime?
The only way I'd recommend this book would be if someone wants to simply pass the time running their eyes over words on a page.
To give her credit, the author keeps it clean and nearly free of offensive language. That's pretty much the only recommendation.
June 20, 2017
Lisa St. Clair is a nurse at an assisted living facility. When one of her favorite patients, Kathy dies, she hooks up with the two friends, Suzanne and Carrie, who loyally sat with Kathy throughout her ordeal. All three women are single and over fifty. As they work together to solve the mysteries of Kathy's past, they bond over wine, donuts and secrets. They all live in Suzanne's ninety nine year old grandmother Trudy's home on the Isle of Palms. Trudy is an absolute riot! With the help and encouragement of each other, the women find you are never too old to fall in love, and experience new beginnings.
A great summer beach read. Robin Miles was wonderful as the reader of the audio book.
A great summer beach read. Robin Miles was wonderful as the reader of the audio book.
June 12, 2016
If you need to recommend a book for a nun with insomnia, this is it.
June 23, 2015
Dorothea Benton Frank's books have always been favorites of mine for light reading. This one, I'm sad to report, was just too trite. The characters were not up to her usual standards. The challenges faced by these women were not particularly onerous, and yet, somehow, it seemed as if they needed men to come riding in to fix everything.
I was a little disappointed with the one before this, but now I'm just done.
I was a little disappointed with the one before this, but now I'm just done.
December 9, 2017
"All the Single Ladies" is a story about warm friendships among three middle-aged Southern women, each of whom has a special new guy in her life. There are also several older characters who are very loved--sweet Kathy and sassy Miss Trudie--who are dealing with health issues. The book is humorous, and filled with the local color of Charleston, South Carolina. Unfortunately, some parts of the story are unrealistic or predictable. It's a light beach read.
July 2, 2015
I have enjoyed this author very much in the past, however this story was truly painful to read. It doesn't come close to the calibre of her past stories. Did someone else write this? Very disappointing.
June 14, 2015
A nice beach read with likeable characters. Not the greatest writing and the editor must've been drunk, but still a sweet enough story.
June 16, 2015
One of the great things about summer is that I get to spend some time in South Carolina's Lowcountry when Dorothea Benton Frank's latest novel publishes. This year's terrific novel All The Single Ladies shows Frank in fine form with wonderful characters in a great story, topped off with Frank's signature one-liners that crack me up.
Lisa St. Clair is a divorced nurse, struggling to make do with a part-time job working at an adult home, sad that her 18-year-old daughter has moved to Colorado, where her estranged father has help set her up in her own legal marijuana tourist company.
Lisa has become close to Kathy, fifty-year-old patient who is dying of cancer, as well as the woman's two best friends, Carrie and Suzanne, who hold a constant vigil at her bedside. When Kathy passes away, Lisa, Carrie and Suzanne join forces to clean out Kathy's apartment, and they become closer.
What I liked about this book was that these are women of a certain age, who haven't been lucky in love up to this point, but they don't close themselves off to the possibilities in front of them. They support each other, and when Lisa loses her apartment, Suzanne offers her a room in her grandmother's home near the beach.
Suzanne grandmother Miss Trudie is an unforgettable character, the kind of grandma we'd all wish to have. She's 99 years-old, sassy, and full of life and advice. I fell in love with Miss Trudie.
Carrie is a thrice-widowed woman, and she is always on the lookout for husband number four. Suzanne owns her floral shop, but she doesn't have time or the inclination to look for a husband. Taking care of Miss Trudie and trying to keep her shop open takes all of her time.
Lisa not only has to deal with her strained relationship with her daughter, but her phone conversations with her parents are hilarious. I can almost see her banging her head against the wall as she tries to get through a call with them.
The friendship these women develop is heartwarming, they support and encourage each other in their individual endeavors. And the men that come into their lives are not stereotypical clueless guys, they feel like real men, trying to do their best for the women they care about.
One of the men even gives a great piece of advice; he tells Lisa that children don't do things to hurt their parents, they don't even consider that their actions have anything to do with their parents. Smart man.
One of the best things about reading Frank's novels is that I can add so many great restaurants to my Charleston Pinterest board. Frank helped me add close to a dozen more, and the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston should send her a big bouquet of flowers because no one encourages more people to visit (and maybe even retire) to that beautiful area.
Grab a beach chair, your best girlfriends, a couple of bottles of Pinot Grigio, and a few copies of All The Single Ladies and make a day of it. Then go to dinner and plan your girls' vacation to Charleston.
Lisa St. Clair is a divorced nurse, struggling to make do with a part-time job working at an adult home, sad that her 18-year-old daughter has moved to Colorado, where her estranged father has help set her up in her own legal marijuana tourist company.
Lisa has become close to Kathy, fifty-year-old patient who is dying of cancer, as well as the woman's two best friends, Carrie and Suzanne, who hold a constant vigil at her bedside. When Kathy passes away, Lisa, Carrie and Suzanne join forces to clean out Kathy's apartment, and they become closer.
What I liked about this book was that these are women of a certain age, who haven't been lucky in love up to this point, but they don't close themselves off to the possibilities in front of them. They support each other, and when Lisa loses her apartment, Suzanne offers her a room in her grandmother's home near the beach.
Suzanne grandmother Miss Trudie is an unforgettable character, the kind of grandma we'd all wish to have. She's 99 years-old, sassy, and full of life and advice. I fell in love with Miss Trudie.
Carrie is a thrice-widowed woman, and she is always on the lookout for husband number four. Suzanne owns her floral shop, but she doesn't have time or the inclination to look for a husband. Taking care of Miss Trudie and trying to keep her shop open takes all of her time.
Lisa not only has to deal with her strained relationship with her daughter, but her phone conversations with her parents are hilarious. I can almost see her banging her head against the wall as she tries to get through a call with them.
The friendship these women develop is heartwarming, they support and encourage each other in their individual endeavors. And the men that come into their lives are not stereotypical clueless guys, they feel like real men, trying to do their best for the women they care about.
One of the men even gives a great piece of advice; he tells Lisa that children don't do things to hurt their parents, they don't even consider that their actions have anything to do with their parents. Smart man.
One of the best things about reading Frank's novels is that I can add so many great restaurants to my Charleston Pinterest board. Frank helped me add close to a dozen more, and the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston should send her a big bouquet of flowers because no one encourages more people to visit (and maybe even retire) to that beautiful area.
Grab a beach chair, your best girlfriends, a couple of bottles of Pinot Grigio, and a few copies of All The Single Ladies and make a day of it. Then go to dinner and plan your girls' vacation to Charleston.
June 11, 2015
Your summer reading list cannot be complete unless you have a book by Dorothea Benton Frank on it. It doesn't even matter which one, but lucky for you, she must have an intense writing schedule because she always seems to have a new one out in time for summer. (Which is incredibly smart because that means her book tours must be an absolute blast!)
I absolutely am a Dorothea super fan. I have read almost all of her books (I'm working on completing them all!), I have purchased many copies of her books as gifts, and I look forward to summer every year because she always comes out with a great read to put you into the summer mindset. Another reason I love her books? They aren't heavy. They aren't depressing, they make you want to move to the Lowcountry area, you love all of the characters and it's such a great story. Always. She is always consistently great and I love it.
In All the Single Ladies, we have three women who are middle age, and trying to start over. We have Carrie, who is on the hunt for yet another husband after the last prospect dropped dead at the altar, leaving her broke. We have Suzanne, who isn't sure her latest foray into dating is going to end well. Then Lisa, who struggles with her daughter's marijuana tour business, is financially unsteady and unlucky in love, meets Carrie and Suzanne after their friend Kathy dies. The three of them end up living together and getting sage advice from Miss Trudie, Suzanne's elderly grandmother. (And let's be honest here- I kind of want a Miss Trudie of my very own.) All three women navigate the waters or dating, all while trying to prove that Kathy's landlord is an absolute thief and stealing from Kathy's estate which ends in a kind of hilarious conclusion. Just picturing it in my head made me chuckle.
This was such a fast and fun read, I highly recommend adding this to your summer reading! It's light, it's fun, and it'll be a great afternoon well spent soaking up the sun while reading this gem.
I absolutely am a Dorothea super fan. I have read almost all of her books (I'm working on completing them all!), I have purchased many copies of her books as gifts, and I look forward to summer every year because she always comes out with a great read to put you into the summer mindset. Another reason I love her books? They aren't heavy. They aren't depressing, they make you want to move to the Lowcountry area, you love all of the characters and it's such a great story. Always. She is always consistently great and I love it.
In All the Single Ladies, we have three women who are middle age, and trying to start over. We have Carrie, who is on the hunt for yet another husband after the last prospect dropped dead at the altar, leaving her broke. We have Suzanne, who isn't sure her latest foray into dating is going to end well. Then Lisa, who struggles with her daughter's marijuana tour business, is financially unsteady and unlucky in love, meets Carrie and Suzanne after their friend Kathy dies. The three of them end up living together and getting sage advice from Miss Trudie, Suzanne's elderly grandmother. (And let's be honest here- I kind of want a Miss Trudie of my very own.) All three women navigate the waters or dating, all while trying to prove that Kathy's landlord is an absolute thief and stealing from Kathy's estate which ends in a kind of hilarious conclusion. Just picturing it in my head made me chuckle.
This was such a fast and fun read, I highly recommend adding this to your summer reading! It's light, it's fun, and it'll be a great afternoon well spent soaking up the sun while reading this gem.
July 5, 2016
Lisa St. Claire is a divorced nurse who works in a nursing home named Pallmetto House. The book starts with the death of one of Lisa’s favorite patient, Kathy Harper. After the death of Kathy, Lisa becomes good friends with Kathy’s friends Suzanne and Carrie and the three take on the job of cleaning out the old lady’s apartment. In the process, the three middle-aged ladies embark on a mission of discovery and friendship.
I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. I felt that most of the dialogues were choppy and that the story did not flow well. As for character development, apart from Miss Trudie (Suzanne’s grandmother) who was a darling, I had a hard time connecting with the three ladies. Overall, this book is an easy read with some really funny parts and a sweet story about friendship, aging, and learning to accept life’s hurdles. However, I didn’t feel this book was as good as her other novels.
I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. I felt that most of the dialogues were choppy and that the story did not flow well. As for character development, apart from Miss Trudie (Suzanne’s grandmother) who was a darling, I had a hard time connecting with the three ladies. Overall, this book is an easy read with some really funny parts and a sweet story about friendship, aging, and learning to accept life’s hurdles. However, I didn’t feel this book was as good as her other novels.
December 15, 2015
I used to love Dorothea Benton Frank's books. I still have five of her first books on my shelves at home and I don't know how her books about the lowcountry that I used to absolutely adored just turned into what most of her books are now to me, which is just a really boring way to pass the time. I am so mad that I bought this book in hardcover too. A little voice was like, no Blue, don't do it. Just wait and see the reviews. But shiny cover and the fact that I was fondly remembering past books and not the latest ones which I have found more difficult to read made me buy this book.
At one point I was outside on my patio, sipping a cup of tea and watching my cat do her headbutt thing into the screen door and I said out loud, yeah me watching the cat do that for hours is more enjoyable than this book.
Apologies now, because me trying to sum up the characters and plots/side plots may make you wonder if I hit my head or something. I assure you that I did not.
We follow three characters in this book. Lisa, Carrie, and Suzanne.
Lisa works at a nursing/adult home and finds herself getting close to her patients. It's not said, but it seems like Lisa does this because she is divorced, lonely, and estranged from her only daughter.
Carrie has been widowed three times and is looking for husband number four...yeah I remember thinking what sane man would marry her.
Suzanne is concerned about trying to date and find love.
What ties all three of this women together is the character of Kathy who is at the nursing home and is dying of cancer. Carrie and Suzanne are best friends with Kathy, and Lisa feels slightly jealous of the threesome's friendship. Once Kathy passes away, the three women who set up a vigil around Kathy, are reluctant to part from one another so an unlikely friendship springs up between Lisa with Carrie and Suzanne. And I say unlikely because I can't imagine that many people running around with their now dead friend's nurse and then just telling them all of your business.
The character of Lisa was aggravating. She was self righteous to the point that I was hoping she would get her comeuppance, but nothing doing. Lisa is estranged from her daughter, because her daughter sought out and became friends with her father (Lisa's ex husband) and now the two of them are in partnership growing marijuana in Colorado. We have to keep hearing Lisa shrieking about how awful and disgusting it is what her daughter is doing. And even though it's legal she still keeps going on and on about it. I was kind of fascinated by the thought someone was legally growing marijuana and appeared to become rich overnight. It would have been nice to get a rational discussion about that going, but nothing doing in this book.
I really could have done with less Carrie and Suzanne. Neither character stuck out for me at all.
The love interests that emerge should have been called cardboard cutout #1, #2, and #3. I am too lazy to go and look up their names and honestly it doesn't really matter. Neither of the three men that are introduced feel like flesh and blood characters.
The characters of Lisa, Carrie, and Suzanne trying to figure out Kathy's past really didn't ring true to me at all. And I hate to say it, but the character of Kathy's big reveal didn't make a lot of sense to me at all. I wished that the character was around to explain the decisions that she made and why, but she wasn't, so you had to just go with it in the book.
The character of Kathy's former landlady was awful, and I absolutely hated how this was a big thing in the first half of the book that was largely forgotten until the very end with a deux ex machina being dropped right in to reveal all. I think I rolled my eyes so hard for a minute they got stuck.
The writing was not that great. The whole book felt like a mish-mash of some of her first few lowcountry books and I was seriously bored. And the southernisms in the book if you can call them that, were bad.
The flow was awful from start to finish too. At one point I was just counting down the minutes til I got to the end of the book. I don't think if this book figured out if it wanted to be a romance, a mystery, or a chick lit type frothy book. Either way it failed at all three genres.
The setting of the lowcountry has always been one that I adored in prior books and I felt really sad that for the most part that was not even enough to save this book for me. There was nothing that drew me in like there was in the first book I read by Ms. Frank, Sullivan's Island (Lowcountry Tales #1).
The ending was a hot mess. Seriously. I think we are supposed to say oh what a happy ending. I said to myself, well that happened.
At one point I was outside on my patio, sipping a cup of tea and watching my cat do her headbutt thing into the screen door and I said out loud, yeah me watching the cat do that for hours is more enjoyable than this book.
Apologies now, because me trying to sum up the characters and plots/side plots may make you wonder if I hit my head or something. I assure you that I did not.
We follow three characters in this book. Lisa, Carrie, and Suzanne.
Lisa works at a nursing/adult home and finds herself getting close to her patients. It's not said, but it seems like Lisa does this because she is divorced, lonely, and estranged from her only daughter.
Carrie has been widowed three times and is looking for husband number four...yeah I remember thinking what sane man would marry her.
Suzanne is concerned about trying to date and find love.
What ties all three of this women together is the character of Kathy who is at the nursing home and is dying of cancer. Carrie and Suzanne are best friends with Kathy, and Lisa feels slightly jealous of the threesome's friendship. Once Kathy passes away, the three women who set up a vigil around Kathy, are reluctant to part from one another so an unlikely friendship springs up between Lisa with Carrie and Suzanne. And I say unlikely because I can't imagine that many people running around with their now dead friend's nurse and then just telling them all of your business.
The character of Lisa was aggravating. She was self righteous to the point that I was hoping she would get her comeuppance, but nothing doing. Lisa is estranged from her daughter, because her daughter sought out and became friends with her father (Lisa's ex husband) and now the two of them are in partnership growing marijuana in Colorado. We have to keep hearing Lisa shrieking about how awful and disgusting it is what her daughter is doing. And even though it's legal she still keeps going on and on about it. I was kind of fascinated by the thought someone was legally growing marijuana and appeared to become rich overnight. It would have been nice to get a rational discussion about that going, but nothing doing in this book.
I really could have done with less Carrie and Suzanne. Neither character stuck out for me at all.
The love interests that emerge should have been called cardboard cutout #1, #2, and #3. I am too lazy to go and look up their names and honestly it doesn't really matter. Neither of the three men that are introduced feel like flesh and blood characters.
The characters of Lisa, Carrie, and Suzanne trying to figure out Kathy's past really didn't ring true to me at all. And I hate to say it, but the character of Kathy's big reveal didn't make a lot of sense to me at all. I wished that the character was around to explain the decisions that she made and why, but she wasn't, so you had to just go with it in the book.
The character of Kathy's former landlady was awful, and I absolutely hated how this was a big thing in the first half of the book that was largely forgotten until the very end with a deux ex machina being dropped right in to reveal all. I think I rolled my eyes so hard for a minute they got stuck.
The writing was not that great. The whole book felt like a mish-mash of some of her first few lowcountry books and I was seriously bored. And the southernisms in the book if you can call them that, were bad.
The flow was awful from start to finish too. At one point I was just counting down the minutes til I got to the end of the book. I don't think if this book figured out if it wanted to be a romance, a mystery, or a chick lit type frothy book. Either way it failed at all three genres.
The setting of the lowcountry has always been one that I adored in prior books and I felt really sad that for the most part that was not even enough to save this book for me. There was nothing that drew me in like there was in the first book I read by Ms. Frank, Sullivan's Island (Lowcountry Tales #1).
The ending was a hot mess. Seriously. I think we are supposed to say oh what a happy ending. I said to myself, well that happened.
June 15, 2015
I can honestly say that I really enjoyed All the Single Ladies. I was sucked right into the magic of the Lowcountry and didn't stop until the story was complete. The story is told from Lisa's point of view. She is a geriatric nurse who works part time and lives alone with her dog. When one of her favorite patients, Kathy, dies from cancer, she ends up forming friendships with Kathy's best friends, Carrie and Suzanne. Together, they try to piece together parts of Kathy's life that they didn't know in an effort to right an injustice.
The thing about this book that makes it so enjoyable are the characters. They are all vibrant and just people you would love to meet. Lisa is a great nurse with a big heart. Middle age finds her alone with her dog. She isn't even speaking to her daughter whom she raised alone. Barely making ends meet, she is just looking for home and love. I loved watching her friendships with Carrie and Suzanne blossom, as well as her relationship with Paul. I was really rooting for her to get a HEA.
There are a lot of themes running through this story. Finding happiness later in life, learning to accept your adult child's choices, and how we can honor someone after they have passed are just a few to choose from. Whatever you hope to get out of this book, I can guarantee a feel good story that will leave you with a smile in the end!
The thing about this book that makes it so enjoyable are the characters. They are all vibrant and just people you would love to meet. Lisa is a great nurse with a big heart. Middle age finds her alone with her dog. She isn't even speaking to her daughter whom she raised alone. Barely making ends meet, she is just looking for home and love. I loved watching her friendships with Carrie and Suzanne blossom, as well as her relationship with Paul. I was really rooting for her to get a HEA.
There are a lot of themes running through this story. Finding happiness later in life, learning to accept your adult child's choices, and how we can honor someone after they have passed are just a few to choose from. Whatever you hope to get out of this book, I can guarantee a feel good story that will leave you with a smile in the end!
July 30, 2015
Yikes. As judgmental as the protagonist was of her daughter, and of so many other people, I had a hard time liking this book. Every time anyone expressed an opinion that differed from her own, it seemed to demonize that person. Whenever things got too ugly, Frank seems to throw in a description of food. There are a LOT of descriptions of food.
Additionally, I'm not sure whether or not to take offense at the life preserver on the cover. I am a single lady myself, and not a one of these ladies ended up staying single, unless they were dead.
Additionally, I'm not sure whether or not to take offense at the life preserver on the cover. I am a single lady myself, and not a one of these ladies ended up staying single, unless they were dead.
July 8, 2023
A light, refreshing story about 3 women of a certain age who are facing uncertain futures.
Lisa, Suzanne and Carrie meet through Kathy Harper, a patient at the nursing home where Lisa works and a good friend of Suzanne and Carrie. After Kathy dies, the three women become close friends and resolve to learn more about Kathy’s hidden past. Along the way, the women navigate relationships with new men and Lisa grapples with repairing her relationship with her adult daughter.
The women remind me of the characters in The Golden Girls TV show: Lisa is Rose, Carrie is Blanche, Suzanne is Dorothy and Miss Trudie, Suzanne’s 99 year old grandmother is Sophia. The women are all very likable and are true to themselves. The male characters are more vaguely portrayed but are interesting in their own right.
There is a lot of Southern charm in this book and it is fairly predictable, in a good way.
I started listening to this book on a long road trip and finished it as an ebook when I got home. The narrator of the audiobook book was terrific and made the story come alive. Now that I’ve finished this book, I will miss these ladies.
A definite recommend as a fun, light read.
Lisa, Suzanne and Carrie meet through Kathy Harper, a patient at the nursing home where Lisa works and a good friend of Suzanne and Carrie. After Kathy dies, the three women become close friends and resolve to learn more about Kathy’s hidden past. Along the way, the women navigate relationships with new men and Lisa grapples with repairing her relationship with her adult daughter.
The women remind me of the characters in The Golden Girls TV show: Lisa is Rose, Carrie is Blanche, Suzanne is Dorothy and Miss Trudie, Suzanne’s 99 year old grandmother is Sophia. The women are all very likable and are true to themselves. The male characters are more vaguely portrayed but are interesting in their own right.
There is a lot of Southern charm in this book and it is fairly predictable, in a good way.
I started listening to this book on a long road trip and finished it as an ebook when I got home. The narrator of the audiobook book was terrific and made the story come alive. Now that I’ve finished this book, I will miss these ladies.
A definite recommend as a fun, light read.
November 30, 2015
All three of these friends are a bit older and it is awesome to see that they aren't giving up on finding happiness. This is my third novel by Dorothea Benton Frank that I have read and I have loved them all. I'm on a quest to read all the others because I love that the stories are not really depressing or too heavy. They are the perfect way to spend the day. I want to move to the Low Country and find friends just like Lisa, Carrie, and Suzanne. I can't forget Suzanne's grandmother, Trudie! She is 99 and always says exactly what is on her mind and it is hysterical. While these friends try and solve the mysteries that surround Kathy's life they bond over Krispy Kremes! What could be better than that? ALL THE SINGLE LADIES is filled with friendship, challenges, and mystery. Being single doesn't mean you have to be alone! I can't wait to read more of Dorothea Benton Frank's novels.
ARC received from Edelweiss for an honest review.
ARC received from Edelweiss for an honest review.
Want to read
May 16, 2015Excited that I won this Book on Goodreads!
July 28, 2020
This book was one I read for my experiment about "place" and whether the setting of a book was sufficient to carry it. My answer to that question for this book was "no."
Although I did like the descriptions of the low country—its foliage, its beasties, its unique and delicious-sounding food—and also enjoyed the southern lingo and expressions employed by the characters (reminded me of my own mama, a Virginian), the plot itself was muddled and a bit facile, not to mention improbable. First of all, there is an initial mystery posed about a character who dies: Her landlady is claiming that some of her possessions actually belong/revert to the landlady, and though the other women are 99 percent sure this isn't so, they haven't yet found a way to prove it. So we have this set-up in the beginning and we think this will be a thread throughout the book (one of the women is the executor), but instead it crops up once and then is subsumed in all the other life details until about the last 25 pages. Not good.
Second, the book is pretty insulting to women of a certain age and, being one of those, I took appropriate umbrage. All three of the main characters are hurting for cash—one lost everything when her boyfriend died (her ex's kids kept the cash despite their intention to marry after living together for seven years), one has brought up and schooled her daughter single-handedly without aid from her ex, leaving her living on the edge from paycheck to paycheck, and the third had a traumatic experience that derailed her initial career and landed her as a dependent on her grandmother, whose house on the beach is the center of this piece. So, what is their solution? Do they start a side hustle, come up with a clever investment, think of some creative way to get them out of their fix? No. One looks for a fourth (!) husband whose wealth will solve her problems. One whines a lot about her daughter's poor (to her) life choices, to the point where it becomes apparent that the author herself has created this soap box and placed her character carefully atop it to preach. And the third sits helplessly in Grandma's house waiting for the hammer to fall, because she assumes that upon the death of "Miss Trudie" she will have to move out, sell the house, and split the proceeds three ways with her two ungrateful and unhelpful sisters, all the while admitting that she charges her customers far too little in her florist business. Um, honey? Charge more.
Added to all of this is the unlikely (I said improbable but I would say verging on impossible) fact that all three women (these are women in their 50s and 60s) manage to discover single, relatively undamaged, enthusiastic, attractive men who want to be with them, and all of them pair off tidily. Sorry, that's a little bit of a spoiler, but since that goal is set by one of them in the beginning and is practically the theme of the whole book, I'm going to say a giant Who cares?
There are occasional moments when you fall into what should be the central spirit of the book (and would have been if the dating details had been dropped in favor of other solutions), which is the camaraderie between the friends. This shows more between Lisa and Suzanne than it does between either of them and Carrie (the one fixated on finding a hubby), and is mostly illustrated in fun times over food and drink. But it's just not enough when weighed down by everything else. The best character in the whole book is the 99-year-old grandmother, Trudie. I would much rather have heard her story.
This book gets a giant "MEH" from me.
Although I did like the descriptions of the low country—its foliage, its beasties, its unique and delicious-sounding food—and also enjoyed the southern lingo and expressions employed by the characters (reminded me of my own mama, a Virginian), the plot itself was muddled and a bit facile, not to mention improbable. First of all, there is an initial mystery posed about a character who dies: Her landlady is claiming that some of her possessions actually belong/revert to the landlady, and though the other women are 99 percent sure this isn't so, they haven't yet found a way to prove it. So we have this set-up in the beginning and we think this will be a thread throughout the book (one of the women is the executor), but instead it crops up once and then is subsumed in all the other life details until about the last 25 pages. Not good.
Second, the book is pretty insulting to women of a certain age and, being one of those, I took appropriate umbrage. All three of the main characters are hurting for cash—one lost everything when her boyfriend died (her ex's kids kept the cash despite their intention to marry after living together for seven years), one has brought up and schooled her daughter single-handedly without aid from her ex, leaving her living on the edge from paycheck to paycheck, and the third had a traumatic experience that derailed her initial career and landed her as a dependent on her grandmother, whose house on the beach is the center of this piece. So, what is their solution? Do they start a side hustle, come up with a clever investment, think of some creative way to get them out of their fix? No. One looks for a fourth (!) husband whose wealth will solve her problems. One whines a lot about her daughter's poor (to her) life choices, to the point where it becomes apparent that the author herself has created this soap box and placed her character carefully atop it to preach. And the third sits helplessly in Grandma's house waiting for the hammer to fall, because she assumes that upon the death of "Miss Trudie" she will have to move out, sell the house, and split the proceeds three ways with her two ungrateful and unhelpful sisters, all the while admitting that she charges her customers far too little in her florist business. Um, honey? Charge more.
Added to all of this is the unlikely (I said improbable but I would say verging on impossible) fact that all three women (these are women in their 50s and 60s) manage to discover single, relatively undamaged, enthusiastic, attractive men who want to be with them, and all of them pair off tidily. Sorry, that's a little bit of a spoiler, but since that goal is set by one of them in the beginning and is practically the theme of the whole book, I'm going to say a giant Who cares?
There are occasional moments when you fall into what should be the central spirit of the book (and would have been if the dating details had been dropped in favor of other solutions), which is the camaraderie between the friends. This shows more between Lisa and Suzanne than it does between either of them and Carrie (the one fixated on finding a hubby), and is mostly illustrated in fun times over food and drink. But it's just not enough when weighed down by everything else. The best character in the whole book is the 99-year-old grandmother, Trudie. I would much rather have heard her story.
This book gets a giant "MEH" from me.
June 7, 2015
I have been curious about this author and was pleased to win this book through a goodreads.com contest. In the spirit of the giveaway, I read it through to the end. About 100 pgs. into the story, I really didn't care what happened to any of the characters and was so tired of Pickles, the dog, and her life and feelings. I stumbled upon this: "for the first time in at least ten years I felt a powerful twitch south of the Mason-Dixon Line in my personal Lowcountry." What the story line lacked in imagination, the author continually made up for in sophomoric sex talk. There was also much discussion about how randy nursing home patients were, including a story about hiding a ducky during a joint shower...There were enough middle-aged, accomplished men (without baggage) to go around and no doubt many readers would love to find that town. I will admit, my daughter and I are still laughing over some of the phrases, so this will certainly appeal to many readers. Personally, though, I am thankful that I didn't pay for this book.
May 11, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
“I had a terrible thought. What if one of my parents died and the surviving one wanted to live with me? Oh! God! No! I sort of said a blasphemous prayer, petitioning the Lord for my mother to go first because I could tolerate my father's company without every moment feeling like I was having a deep scaling in the dentist's chair."
"John's only been dead for ten minutes! And you sound like Amanda from The Glass Menagerie waiting on a gentleman caller."
"He was grinning from ear to ear like big cats do when they've got the little mouse cornered. He was going to taunt me and run me around before he ate my soul."
"... remembering the days when checkout personnel would ask to see some ID to prove I was old enough to buy booze. Now they wanted to give me the senior discount at the Bi-Lo. Maybe I needed a better moisturizer and a neck cream."
"He was a living heart donor. A great doctor, mind you, but freezing cold."
"If you want to find out which of your relatives are crazy, have a funeral."
My Review:
All The Single Ladies brought me an entertaining and amusing read with an interesting and varied grouping of three tenacious middle-aged ladies who have easily established a pleasant new friendship and find themselves living together during a trying summer of upheaval. Despite their personal difficulties and disappointments, they combine their efforts in solving a vexing mystery while also evolving into a shared supportive bond and better than family relationships. I adored the amusing observations and insightful narrative of the book, which appeared part conspiratorial and sardonically humorous confessions and part inner musings. The writing contained many nostalgia-inducing Southern maxims often used by my father, and was thoroughly and lovingly detailed with lush descriptions of each scene and meal, I could practically smell the bacon and taste the Krispy Kremes. I reveled in the slower pace of the story and the compassion and kindness the women shared while I also found myself feeling more than a bit envious of their camaraderie. I frequently smirked at her amusing accounts of the antics occurring between the residents at the senior living center, finally - someone has given me something to look forward to during the aging process.
“I had a terrible thought. What if one of my parents died and the surviving one wanted to live with me? Oh! God! No! I sort of said a blasphemous prayer, petitioning the Lord for my mother to go first because I could tolerate my father's company without every moment feeling like I was having a deep scaling in the dentist's chair."
"John's only been dead for ten minutes! And you sound like Amanda from The Glass Menagerie waiting on a gentleman caller."
"He was grinning from ear to ear like big cats do when they've got the little mouse cornered. He was going to taunt me and run me around before he ate my soul."
"... remembering the days when checkout personnel would ask to see some ID to prove I was old enough to buy booze. Now they wanted to give me the senior discount at the Bi-Lo. Maybe I needed a better moisturizer and a neck cream."
"He was a living heart donor. A great doctor, mind you, but freezing cold."
"If you want to find out which of your relatives are crazy, have a funeral."
My Review:
All The Single Ladies brought me an entertaining and amusing read with an interesting and varied grouping of three tenacious middle-aged ladies who have easily established a pleasant new friendship and find themselves living together during a trying summer of upheaval. Despite their personal difficulties and disappointments, they combine their efforts in solving a vexing mystery while also evolving into a shared supportive bond and better than family relationships. I adored the amusing observations and insightful narrative of the book, which appeared part conspiratorial and sardonically humorous confessions and part inner musings. The writing contained many nostalgia-inducing Southern maxims often used by my father, and was thoroughly and lovingly detailed with lush descriptions of each scene and meal, I could practically smell the bacon and taste the Krispy Kremes. I reveled in the slower pace of the story and the compassion and kindness the women shared while I also found myself feeling more than a bit envious of their camaraderie. I frequently smirked at her amusing accounts of the antics occurring between the residents at the senior living center, finally - someone has given me something to look forward to during the aging process.
July 6, 2015
On the one hand, I wanted to read something where things turn out relatively well--the way one could feel good about reading Laurie Colwin. In that sense the novel doesn't disappoint. Clearly, the author has got the formula for a best seller down.
On the other hand, the writing just isn't good enough. Frank often uses 7 words when one will do. Ex, in one confrontation with an overzealous landlady wielding a gun: "We cowered in the foyer." Sure. Fine. But must the writer then add, "I'll admit it, we cowered, but for good reason. We were honestly frightened."
I like reading about female friendships forming in mid life. It's hard to make new old friends. The setting is Charleston, SC, one of my favorites. Observations about elder care and hospice appear because the narrator is a part time nurse at a graduated care facility. Rich territory. Money is short. Grown daughter is gone. All she's got is her cute Westie. Named Pickle. Oh, dear. Too cute a name. Turnip or Okra might be swallowed more easily.
It was disturbing to watch the narrator, living free in the house of a family friend, be disgruntled when the owner's daughter turns up, a victim of domestic abuse, thus ending her free ride. Not one whit of sympathy for the person. Oh! And the next door neighbors who walk Pickle three times a day when the narrator is working, and who love the dog, don't even get a thank you and good bye explanation when she leaves. Instead, we get way more than enough of Pickle running free at the beach on Isle of Palms, where friends offer free room and board. A few of the extra words in this book could have been used for the narrator to seem less self absorbed.
Still, on a porch swing on a very warm July day, it's not hard to relax into the story until things get sorted out nicely.
On the other hand, the writing just isn't good enough. Frank often uses 7 words when one will do. Ex, in one confrontation with an overzealous landlady wielding a gun: "We cowered in the foyer." Sure. Fine. But must the writer then add, "I'll admit it, we cowered, but for good reason. We were honestly frightened."
I like reading about female friendships forming in mid life. It's hard to make new old friends. The setting is Charleston, SC, one of my favorites. Observations about elder care and hospice appear because the narrator is a part time nurse at a graduated care facility. Rich territory. Money is short. Grown daughter is gone. All she's got is her cute Westie. Named Pickle. Oh, dear. Too cute a name. Turnip or Okra might be swallowed more easily.
It was disturbing to watch the narrator, living free in the house of a family friend, be disgruntled when the owner's daughter turns up, a victim of domestic abuse, thus ending her free ride. Not one whit of sympathy for the person. Oh! And the next door neighbors who walk Pickle three times a day when the narrator is working, and who love the dog, don't even get a thank you and good bye explanation when she leaves. Instead, we get way more than enough of Pickle running free at the beach on Isle of Palms, where friends offer free room and board. A few of the extra words in this book could have been used for the narrator to seem less self absorbed.
Still, on a porch swing on a very warm July day, it's not hard to relax into the story until things get sorted out nicely.
August 16, 2015
So, I'm a HUGE fan of her earlier books. The Hurricane Sister and this one is just not to that caliber. I agree with earlier reviews, that it appears she is rushed to produce her books by a deadline or her writing style has changed from a Great southern novelist which I often described her as a female Pat Conroy to a plain writer. She would submerge the reader in her visuals of the low country. She would transport you from whatever location you were in to the low country where you can be so engrossed in her book that you could almost feel the sea breeze and hear the waves crashing in the background. This work is very simplistic at best. If you want me to feel the supernatural pull of the low country, then you need it in your novel and not some open piano lid quick mention toward the end. I want to feel like The Christmas Pearl or Full of Grace which were, in my opinion, some of the best she's done. The others are great as well, but those two made me love her Southern Grace! The last two books are at best, get for free from the library books, and not something I would pay for. I want more visuals. I want to be so engrossed in my characters that I can feel their emotions. I felt nothing but regret for my $20 purchase which is sad, because she and Pat Conroy are the only authors I actually will go out of my way to purchase hardcovers for. I give it two stars because I actually finished it and reserve one star for books I refuse to finish. Unlike her earlier books, I could never put them down and would stay up late to read... this one, is at best, pick it up and read every couple of days book and only because I dropped $20 for the hardcover edition. It's just not there. Go back to your roots Dorothea and let the lowcountry girl work her magic back into her books because right now, it's a lost yankee tourist trying to use trip advisor to teach me about Southern life.
July 19, 2015
Dorothea Benton Frank is one of those authors that I would call a guilty pleasure if I believed in guilty pleasures.
Her books are either really good or really not so good.
All The Single Ladies (Yeah, now I have the Beyonce song stuck in my head) is one of those really good ones.
It deviates from her normal style. Lisa is not married to a rich guy who cheats on her and wants a divorce. No, she's a nurse at a personal care home, and one of her patients dies and she befriends that patients friends.
Something about the story reminded me of Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. Maybe because a lot of the subject matter was a bit of a downer,but there was a lot of humor in this story as well.
I loved Kathy's friends Carrie and Suzanne and Suzanne's grandmother Miss Trudie. Lisa and her new friends work to solve a mystery involving, Kathy's belongings. I loved how their friendship evolved as they all found their own relationships.
I also was totally amused by the sticky situation Lisa had with her daughter Marianne, who has a rather dubious business in Colorado involving pot.
There are some spots that make me go hmmm. I couldn't quite understand how a nurse couldn't find full time work, and how she was so totally irresponsible regarding Miss Trudie's health. I found that totally unbelievable, especially when she starts taking a lot of falls.
This was the best book I've read in ages by Dorothea Benton Frank, even though there are some questionable things going on with Lisa. A must read for your summer reading pile!
Her books are either really good or really not so good.
All The Single Ladies (Yeah, now I have the Beyonce song stuck in my head) is one of those really good ones.
It deviates from her normal style. Lisa is not married to a rich guy who cheats on her and wants a divorce. No, she's a nurse at a personal care home, and one of her patients dies and she befriends that patients friends.
Something about the story reminded me of Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. Maybe because a lot of the subject matter was a bit of a downer,but there was a lot of humor in this story as well.
I loved Kathy's friends Carrie and Suzanne and Suzanne's grandmother Miss Trudie. Lisa and her new friends work to solve a mystery involving, Kathy's belongings. I loved how their friendship evolved as they all found their own relationships.
I also was totally amused by the sticky situation Lisa had with her daughter Marianne, who has a rather dubious business in Colorado involving pot.
There are some spots that make me go hmmm. I couldn't quite understand how a nurse couldn't find full time work, and how she was so totally irresponsible regarding Miss Trudie's health. I found that totally unbelievable, especially when she starts taking a lot of falls.
This was the best book I've read in ages by Dorothea Benton Frank, even though there are some questionable things going on with Lisa. A must read for your summer reading pile!
July 15, 2016
Complete rubbish.
Main character is a judgmental, man-dependent ditz. Are we really to believe that a woman smart enough to be a nurse is okay with getting kicked out of her home with no warning or eviction notice? And when she finds herself homeless, she has time to go out to dinner with her friends before working out a plan for moving and finding a place to live? And what's up with her internal drama over the decisions of her "independent" (proves otherwise later) and "brilliant" (also proves otherwise) daughter? Then she bravely encourages her friends to charge into their friend's old landlady's home and confront her about stolen items but then quietly hides behind their skirt tails instead of... I dunno... Confronting?
Anyway, it's late and I could punch holes in this one for hours but I need to sleep now.
Main character is a judgmental, man-dependent ditz. Are we really to believe that a woman smart enough to be a nurse is okay with getting kicked out of her home with no warning or eviction notice? And when she finds herself homeless, she has time to go out to dinner with her friends before working out a plan for moving and finding a place to live? And what's up with her internal drama over the decisions of her "independent" (proves otherwise later) and "brilliant" (also proves otherwise) daughter? Then she bravely encourages her friends to charge into their friend's old landlady's home and confront her about stolen items but then quietly hides behind their skirt tails instead of... I dunno... Confronting?
Anyway, it's late and I could punch holes in this one for hours but I need to sleep now.
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