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The Saints and Sinners of Okay County
In the tradition of Fannie Flagg and Lorna Landvik, The Saints and Sinners of Okay County is a heartfelt and compelling debut novel with an unforgettable heroine. It’s the story of a woman whose ability to see the futures of others leads her right back into her own troubled past.
It’s the summer of 1976, and it seems like the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America’s bicentennial. But in the small town of Okay, Aletta Honor has much more on her mind than flags and fireworks. She’s pregnant with her fourth child and hasn’t seen her husband, Jimmy, in weeks. Although she can guess where the hound dog has parked his red-white-and-blue van—in front of the local gin mill or outside the home of yet another woman for a little Yankee Doodle Diddle. Discretion is not in the man’s constitution.
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. But when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta is completely unsettled. She never touches anyone outside her family—if she does, she gets overwhelming visions of their lives and futures. It started when she was a young girl and has scared her ever since. Now Aletta immediately sees the woman in a tragic accident, and gives her a warning that will save her life. When the woman returns the next day to thank her, Aletta figures out how to save her own life.
With all the courage she can muster—figuring the townsfolk will most likely think she’s nuts—she puts a sign in the front ALETTA HONOR. PSYCHIC READER. DROP-INS WELCOME. But doing readings for people opens a door she thought she had locked long ago, as memories of a terrible event come flooding back. She may not be able to see into her future, but she realizes she must face the demons in her past if she’s going to make a new life for herself and her kids. First, though, she’ll have to tell a few fortunes. . . .
Poignant, touching, and full of the kind of wisdom that can only come straight out of the heartland, Dayna Dunbar’s The Saints and Sinners of Okay County is a wonderful novel of a woman who confronts pain in order to reclaim her belief in herself, lay her past to rest, and bring order back to a life that has veered too far off track.
It’s the summer of 1976, and it seems like the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America’s bicentennial. But in the small town of Okay, Aletta Honor has much more on her mind than flags and fireworks. She’s pregnant with her fourth child and hasn’t seen her husband, Jimmy, in weeks. Although she can guess where the hound dog has parked his red-white-and-blue van—in front of the local gin mill or outside the home of yet another woman for a little Yankee Doodle Diddle. Discretion is not in the man’s constitution.
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. But when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta is completely unsettled. She never touches anyone outside her family—if she does, she gets overwhelming visions of their lives and futures. It started when she was a young girl and has scared her ever since. Now Aletta immediately sees the woman in a tragic accident, and gives her a warning that will save her life. When the woman returns the next day to thank her, Aletta figures out how to save her own life.
With all the courage she can muster—figuring the townsfolk will most likely think she’s nuts—she puts a sign in the front ALETTA HONOR. PSYCHIC READER. DROP-INS WELCOME. But doing readings for people opens a door she thought she had locked long ago, as memories of a terrible event come flooding back. She may not be able to see into her future, but she realizes she must face the demons in her past if she’s going to make a new life for herself and her kids. First, though, she’ll have to tell a few fortunes. . . .
Poignant, touching, and full of the kind of wisdom that can only come straight out of the heartland, Dayna Dunbar’s The Saints and Sinners of Okay County is a wonderful novel of a woman who confronts pain in order to reclaim her belief in herself, lay her past to rest, and bring order back to a life that has veered too far off track.
319 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
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April 1, 2019I finished in time for book club tonight. More words in a better review after we have our discussion. I'm still undecided on the rating - somewhere between a two and a three.
February 8, 2017
It is the summer of 1976, and it seems that the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America's bicentennial. Meanwhile, in the tiny town of Okay, Aletta Honor is just barely struggling to get through each day. She hasn't seen her husband, Jimmy in weeks, she is pregnant with her fourth child and she can just imagine where her hound dog of a husband has parked his red-white-and-blue van - probably in front of the nearest gin mill or outside the home of the closest, warmest, most feminine form he can find who isn't her.
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. However, when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta becomes truly unsettled. She never touches anyone outside of her family; if she does, she is overwhelmed by visions of their lives and futures. This "gift" has been part of her life since she was a little girl, and she has always been seriously spooked by it. Aletta sees that the woman will die in a tragic accident and warns her to be careful. When the woman returns the next day to thank Aletta for saving her life, Aletta sees a way out of her current situation.
Throwing caution to the wind, expecting that the townspeople will probably believe her to be crazy, Aletta sets up a sign in the front yard advertizing her psychic gifts. But doing readings for people opens a door that Aletta thought she had locked years ago. As the memories of a terrible event come flooding back, Aletta begins to realize that she must face the demons of her past if she and her children are to have any hope of a prosperous future.
This is the first time that I've actually read this book. Mareena found it for me; stowed away on my bookshelf and almost forgotten. I had bought it from my local library's book sale in 2009 and had for some reason never read it. What a shame for me! I had almost missed reading a sweet little gem of a book that I give an A+! I have set it back on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again sometime soon.
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. However, when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta becomes truly unsettled. She never touches anyone outside of her family; if she does, she is overwhelmed by visions of their lives and futures. This "gift" has been part of her life since she was a little girl, and she has always been seriously spooked by it. Aletta sees that the woman will die in a tragic accident and warns her to be careful. When the woman returns the next day to thank Aletta for saving her life, Aletta sees a way out of her current situation.
Throwing caution to the wind, expecting that the townspeople will probably believe her to be crazy, Aletta sets up a sign in the front yard advertizing her psychic gifts. But doing readings for people opens a door that Aletta thought she had locked years ago. As the memories of a terrible event come flooding back, Aletta begins to realize that she must face the demons of her past if she and her children are to have any hope of a prosperous future.
This is the first time that I've actually read this book. Mareena found it for me; stowed away on my bookshelf and almost forgotten. I had bought it from my local library's book sale in 2009 and had for some reason never read it. What a shame for me! I had almost missed reading a sweet little gem of a book that I give an A+! I have set it back on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again sometime soon.
March 17, 2014
Easy read. Not thought provoking. Pure entertainment.
November 13, 2023
This book was one of those books with a catchy title that just kind of grabbed my attention when I was browsing the shelves at my local library. It was billed as being very similar to Fannie Flagg, and it was in that it featured a slice of small town Americana and a female protagonist who finds herself in dire circumstances and has to fight her way out. Overall, it was a good, but not great read for me. It was nice, but a bit plain. I really liked the protagonist Aletta, she was gritty and smart and resourceful. I rooted for her. I also really, really hated Jimmy. The small town ambiance was created perfectly, at least according to my experiences growing up in a small town. The plot about Aletta finding herself and standing on her own two feet was interesting. Overall, I recommend it, just not overwhelmingly so.
Aletta Honor is a woman who is scarred by a horrific incident in her childhood. This incident colors her relationship with her mom, and more importantly has for so long caused her to punish herself by staying in an abusive marriage. Aletta's husband Jimmy is a washed up high school basketball star, abusive, an alcoholic and a compulsive cheater. He is a man who is bitter with his lot in life and still living with the delusions of grandeur that his past basketball career give him. He takes out these frustrations on his wife. Having been left yet again with no means of support, Aletta is forced to find work to support herself and the children. She feels that she has been blessed with a gift for seeing people's futures. She puts a sign in the yard, and sets out to use her psychic gift for profit. As you might imagine, this stirs up quiet a ruckus in her small town, but this small step toward independence might just give Aletta the courage she needs to confront her past and her failed marriage and forge a life for herself and her children. Read the Saints and Sinners of Okay County to follow Aletta on her journey.
Aletta Honor is a woman who is scarred by a horrific incident in her childhood. This incident colors her relationship with her mom, and more importantly has for so long caused her to punish herself by staying in an abusive marriage. Aletta's husband Jimmy is a washed up high school basketball star, abusive, an alcoholic and a compulsive cheater. He is a man who is bitter with his lot in life and still living with the delusions of grandeur that his past basketball career give him. He takes out these frustrations on his wife. Having been left yet again with no means of support, Aletta is forced to find work to support herself and the children. She feels that she has been blessed with a gift for seeing people's futures. She puts a sign in the yard, and sets out to use her psychic gift for profit. As you might imagine, this stirs up quiet a ruckus in her small town, but this small step toward independence might just give Aletta the courage she needs to confront her past and her failed marriage and forge a life for herself and her children. Read the Saints and Sinners of Okay County to follow Aletta on her journey.
April 30, 2020
This is the debut novel for her. Aletta Honor lives in Okay Oklahoma. She is a psychic with 4 kids whose husband drinks and runs around on her. With her gift she is trying to make a living for herself and her kids.
Good book. Would recommend
Good book. Would recommend
January 24, 2019
A quirky, enjoy read about a woman's journey thru life.
September 4, 2019
This is written on a very low level. It reads like a high school essay. Rather disappointed.
May 3, 2025
Probably a 3.75 Stars
April 14, 2020
I enjoyed this book enough I guess. It wasn't exceptional...but not a bad read either. I guess for me it ran right down the middle. This is the story of Alleta Honor, who's raising three children (and pregnant with the fourth) and dealing with her sleaze-ball husband Jimmy, who's drinking and runnin' round are taking its toll on the family.
Now, Aletta has a special talent that she's kept secret for most of her life, whenever she touches people she sees images about their lives, whether it be their past, present or future. After unexpectedly helping a woman at the town's bicentennial parade, she realizes that she may be able to make a little money off her talent, she needs to make it somehow due to her husbands' absence and the bills piling up.
Once Aletta sticks that sign on her front lawn advertising psychic readings for $5.00, everything in the little town of Okay, Oklahoma, and the Honor household begins to change. How the townsfolk, Aletta and her family deal with things are at times funny and heartbreaking. We're given pieces of Aletta's childhood throughout the book, and learn how she came to inherit this talent, and how her family and friends dealt with it.
I don't highly recommend this book, nor do I discourage anyone from reading it. I didn't find it to be a standout book, but I liked it nonetheless. Just you're run-of-the-mill small-town southern story, with a little psychic powers thrown in. Not too bad.
Now, Aletta has a special talent that she's kept secret for most of her life, whenever she touches people she sees images about their lives, whether it be their past, present or future. After unexpectedly helping a woman at the town's bicentennial parade, she realizes that she may be able to make a little money off her talent, she needs to make it somehow due to her husbands' absence and the bills piling up.
Once Aletta sticks that sign on her front lawn advertising psychic readings for $5.00, everything in the little town of Okay, Oklahoma, and the Honor household begins to change. How the townsfolk, Aletta and her family deal with things are at times funny and heartbreaking. We're given pieces of Aletta's childhood throughout the book, and learn how she came to inherit this talent, and how her family and friends dealt with it.
I don't highly recommend this book, nor do I discourage anyone from reading it. I didn't find it to be a standout book, but I liked it nonetheless. Just you're run-of-the-mill small-town southern story, with a little psychic powers thrown in. Not too bad.
June 23, 2016
I swear I've read this before but I didn't have it in my list so I checked it out and read it again. Set in Okay County, Oklahoma in the 1976s the book setting is pretty nostalgic to me. I was 9 that year and could relate to many of the pop culture things mentioned. But---that's just the background to the story.
Aletta Honor is young and pregnant with her 4th child. She married the local basketball star young and he's been stepping out from the start of their marriage. She's at a cross roads of life and it couldn't have come at a worse time. With no job and no husband to support her, she has to do something to keep her kids fed. What she does is put up a sign for Psychic Readings in her front yard and sure enough things start happening.
This book had a lot of humor, the characters are likable and quirky and Aletta, even when at her most desperate, can find humor with herself and her children.
Aletta Honor is young and pregnant with her 4th child. She married the local basketball star young and he's been stepping out from the start of their marriage. She's at a cross roads of life and it couldn't have come at a worse time. With no job and no husband to support her, she has to do something to keep her kids fed. What she does is put up a sign for Psychic Readings in her front yard and sure enough things start happening.
This book had a lot of humor, the characters are likable and quirky and Aletta, even when at her most desperate, can find humor with herself and her children.
January 18, 2010
I ate this book up, probably mostly because I hadn't had a chance to read a book for a little while. I liked her visual descriptions and enjoyed the storyline. The resolution seemed a bit rushed though, particularly the part about her relationship with her mother. About 80 percent of the book was third-person limited through the main character's eyes. The other 20 percent was jarringly told through other characters. The shifts always caught me off guard, but I learned to just accept them. The emotions of the book came through strongly. Overall, I would say it was a good first novel but could have used a bit more tweaking.
I gave it a PG-13 because of a bit of language and some scenes of abuse.
I gave it a PG-13 because of a bit of language and some scenes of abuse.
March 17, 2014
Aletta is a mother of (eventually) 4 with a husband who can't keep it in his pants, or at home with his wife. The story starts off with Aletta wondering where this wayward husband of hers is and how she can keep up with the bills with him gone. She decides as a last resort to do what she she had been suppressing for your years...use her psychic abilities to bring in some money.
Just as things are getting good, that good for nuthin' husband comes back, removes her sign and makes them a happy family again. Being a good Christian woman, she goes back to being the dutiful wife letting Jimmy be the man of the house.
This just doesn't work out
Just as things are getting good, that good for nuthin' husband comes back, removes her sign and makes them a happy family again. Being a good Christian woman, she goes back to being the dutiful wife letting Jimmy be the man of the house.
This just doesn't work out
November 27, 2012
Realistic, complex characters in a small town. An ending that ties up all the threads but manages to feel genuine. Great descriptive writing, whether conversations between children and adults, riding on the back of a motorcycle, domestic violence, feeling forgiveness. I especially enjoyed when the seemingly powerless protagonist did gain some power. A current running through, though not exploitive or sappy, is that friends make the unbearable bearable. Historical? Not really. It stuck me as universal.
January 6, 2010
A story set in rural (and I do mean rural) OK, young housewife with three children and one on the way has a philandering, abusive husband. She also has a strained relationship with her mother, due to her psychic abilities, which her mother has decided are of the devil. It's an interesting journey where Aletta has to use her psychic abilities in order to keep food on the table, stirring up the Baptists in town but eventually getting her national recognition. Excellent storytelling.
March 7, 2014
This was an interesting novel about dealing with past hurts and present problems, about life in a small town, and about a woman with four kids who turns her psychic gift into a successful business after divorcing her alcoholic and abusive husband. I disagree that being a psychic is okay, but I found the book to be interesting and well-written despite that.
January 10, 2009
Set in the 70s in a small town in Oklahoma, this book revolves around a pregnant mother with 3 other children and a husband who has left her for an early midlife crisis. She does the best she can and enterprises on her gift of predicting the future. Great characters and a fun fast read.
April 11, 2010
An all-around good read. I enjoyed the characters, even the rotten ones. The flashbacks were sometimes a bit abrupt and I kind of wanted a little more from the ending, but I still recommend this one.
May 23, 2010
I really enjoyed this book! Interesting and thought-provoking, I thought it was well-written. It had an interesting storyline, and Aletta proved to be an honest open character that I came to adore. This was Dayna Dunbar's first novel, but I'm looking for more great things from her.
May 23, 2010
I love discovering good authors who are new to me, and this is one of those. The book is a first novel, and I'm looking forward to the next. Saints and Sinners captured small-town America with a bit of a quirky approach. It's a quick, light and fun read.
August 7, 2012
This author has a gift of bringing her character to life while developing a warm-hearted, touching, funny novel about being a strong woman that is true to herself. Good summer read - reminiscence of Billie Letts
March 21, 2013
I liked it - it was a sweet and easy read, entertaining without requiring me to think too much. The plot was a little predictable but life is like that. We all grow up, we all overcome obstacles, we all make decisions on who we are and who we want to be. Fun book to read.
did-not-finish
August 2, 2016I thought the book started off pretty well, but then the time jumps began. They were sudden jumps, one paragraph in the current time and the next one in the past, with no extra space or break line or difference in font to indicate the change. It was so distracting that I just quit reading.
January 3, 2009
Psychic in OK in 1976 has to come to terms with her natural talents, straying husband and life in general.
June 13, 2009
My wife grew up in same town with DD and is friends with her still. Reading this book provided some insight into my wife's adolescent years in her small Oklahoma town. DD can write, but good.
August 12, 2009
Really fun read. I found myself laughing often. Dubar did a nice job with this one and I'm planning to read more of her books in the future
August 23, 2009
Very similar to a Fanny Flagg style book. Interesting story and enjoyable characters.
March 13, 2010
Really enjoyed this! Just a nice easy read - funny, sad all rolled into one.
December 19, 2010
This was a fun read, I will read the second book of this series. Full of "good ole" small town Oklahoma people, many southerners we have met in our lifetimes.
July 25, 2011
A fast and entertaining read. Kind of typical modern poor southern undone family who overcomes. Kathy and Pam, you might like it.
June 7, 2012
This was a fun read; just what I needed to get myself back into making reading time a priority.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews