What do you think?
Rate this book
Delta Belles
The author of Circle of Grace hits all the right notes in this uplifting novel about the reunion of the Delta Belles, a music group that takes the country by storm in the 1960s.
The year is 1965 and the Spring Fling Talent Show is in the works at the Mississippi College for Women, a proper Southern institution. As a joke, Delta Ballou puts the names of her three best friends on the list of performers. Rising to the challenge, they agree to sing and even convince Delta to join them. Rae Dawn DuChamp plays the piano and weaves harmonies in a smoky contralto. Lacy Cantrell masters the basic guitar chords, and her twin sister, Lauren, contributes a pleasing voice. They call themselves the Delta Belles and win the talent show hands-down.
What started as a lark turns into an exciting adventure. The Delta Belles perform at protests and voter registration rallies across the country. As graduation draws near, all the Delta Belles seem poised for bright futures.
Twenty-five years later, Delta, recently widowed and angry at God, is asked to get the Belles together to perform at their college reunion. Lacy and Lauren haven’t spoken to each other in years, and Rae Dawn has been beset by overwhelming losses. Their reunion turns out to be much more than an opportunity to relive the past. As the old friends reconnect, they come to a new understanding of the meaning and value of their lives.
The year is 1965 and the Spring Fling Talent Show is in the works at the Mississippi College for Women, a proper Southern institution. As a joke, Delta Ballou puts the names of her three best friends on the list of performers. Rising to the challenge, they agree to sing and even convince Delta to join them. Rae Dawn DuChamp plays the piano and weaves harmonies in a smoky contralto. Lacy Cantrell masters the basic guitar chords, and her twin sister, Lauren, contributes a pleasing voice. They call themselves the Delta Belles and win the talent show hands-down.
What started as a lark turns into an exciting adventure. The Delta Belles perform at protests and voter registration rallies across the country. As graduation draws near, all the Delta Belles seem poised for bright futures.
Twenty-five years later, Delta, recently widowed and angry at God, is asked to get the Belles together to perform at their college reunion. Lacy and Lauren haven’t spoken to each other in years, and Rae Dawn has been beset by overwhelming losses. Their reunion turns out to be much more than an opportunity to relive the past. As the old friends reconnect, they come to a new understanding of the meaning and value of their lives.
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Penelope J. Stokes
44 books179 followersIt’s often been debated whether a person’s destiny lies in genetics or environment, but either way, I suppose I was destined to be a fiction writer. A Baby Boomer with an English teacher and a social worker for parents, I grew up being challenged to develop my imagination, and to seek out for myself the meaning and significance of life. I learned early both the magic and mystery of stories and the importance of people–their dreams, their hopes, their longings, their struggles.
From the age of four, when I first learned to read and discovered that words had incredible power, I dreamed of being a writer. But the fulfillment of that dream was a long time in coming. Ten years of university study, culminating in a Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature, led me to a career as a college professor. I loved teaching, loved the students and the challenge and the interaction, but the longing for full-time expression of my creativity never died. Finally, after twelve years of college teaching, I left the classroom and turned my energy toward my life’s passion–writing fiction.
In the process, I discovered another passion–the magnificent grandeur of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina.
I was raised in Mississippi, and as a child I remember family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I loved the undulating layers of blue and purple and green, the rushing streams coming down over the rocks, the cool glades and misty mornings. And now I live here—in the shadow of the Blue Ridge near DuPont Forest, where rare and remarkable white squirrels chatter wisdom to me from the trees outside my office window.
White squirrel in TamaracBut scenery can only take you so far. Fiction is about people. Not just what happens to them, but about what happens in them–the spiritual, emotional, and psychological passages that lead people to an understanding of their inner selves, and of one another. That’s what I like to write about: the heart, the mind, the soul. Authenticity of character and profound spiritual transformation. I want to draw my readers into a different kind of world–one marked by purpose, significance, and hope. Most importantly, hope.
Some readers have criticized me for dealing with uncomfortable subjects in my fiction–subjects which do not lend themselves to easy answers. The truth is, there are no easy answers in life. There are not even any easy questions. Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that our character is determined not so much by the certainties we cling to, but by the uncertainties we are courageous enough to face.
At the end of the day, only a few things in life really matter: Love. Insight. Growth. Grace. When we’re committed to going deeper, to following the unknown path, our journey can lead us to an understanding of our own our inner being, to a connection with a power that is both within us and beyond us. And that understanding, that connection, gives meaning and purpose to our days.
From the age of four, when I first learned to read and discovered that words had incredible power, I dreamed of being a writer. But the fulfillment of that dream was a long time in coming. Ten years of university study, culminating in a Ph.D. in Renaissance Literature, led me to a career as a college professor. I loved teaching, loved the students and the challenge and the interaction, but the longing for full-time expression of my creativity never died. Finally, after twelve years of college teaching, I left the classroom and turned my energy toward my life’s passion–writing fiction.
In the process, I discovered another passion–the magnificent grandeur of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina.
I was raised in Mississippi, and as a child I remember family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I loved the undulating layers of blue and purple and green, the rushing streams coming down over the rocks, the cool glades and misty mornings. And now I live here—in the shadow of the Blue Ridge near DuPont Forest, where rare and remarkable white squirrels chatter wisdom to me from the trees outside my office window.
White squirrel in TamaracBut scenery can only take you so far. Fiction is about people. Not just what happens to them, but about what happens in them–the spiritual, emotional, and psychological passages that lead people to an understanding of their inner selves, and of one another. That’s what I like to write about: the heart, the mind, the soul. Authenticity of character and profound spiritual transformation. I want to draw my readers into a different kind of world–one marked by purpose, significance, and hope. Most importantly, hope.
Some readers have criticized me for dealing with uncomfortable subjects in my fiction–subjects which do not lend themselves to easy answers. The truth is, there are no easy answers in life. There are not even any easy questions. Over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that our character is determined not so much by the certainties we cling to, but by the uncertainties we are courageous enough to face.
At the end of the day, only a few things in life really matter: Love. Insight. Growth. Grace. When we’re committed to going deeper, to following the unknown path, our journey can lead us to an understanding of our own our inner being, to a connection with a power that is both within us and beyond us. And that understanding, that connection, gives meaning and purpose to our days.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 10, 2016
Delta Belles surprised me with the combination of character development and deep and socially relevant narrative about issues facing women coming of age in the '60's. Yes, it is a tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption. The context of the drama includes social justice, civil rights, domestic violence, prejudice against same sex relationships as well as the complexities of sisterhood, fidelity and spiritual faith.
May 31, 2019
Novel follows the life of four women from college to middle age. Lots of life, love and loss. I enjoyed the book.
July 15, 2008
I have to admit that I was partial to this book before I read it because Ms. Stokes is a fellow alumnae of my alma mater (Mississippi University for Women) and bases this book on the campus. After that, however, I have to say that this was an awesome book with a surprise reveal regarding one of the characters' lives that had me literally in tears. It's a story about how, although people go in many different directions and sometimes lose touch, that we are forever affected by the friends that we make/have during those pivotal times such as college.
September 23, 2007
This was a really fast read. I read the book jacket before I began reading the book, and was surprised at all the plot points given in the synopsis; I thought there wasn't anything left to read about in the book. I was definitely wrong about that . . . this book gave me a glimpse into Southern culture during the 60s and 70s and touched on many themes - death and coping, love, equality. Definitely worth reading. I will be checking out other novels by this author.
September 10, 2007
Don't read this book in public, because strangers might catch you crying. Like all good women's novels this pulls at your heartstrings, but unlike a poor woman's novel it isn't purposely manipulative and doesn't assume you have the intellect of a carrot.
October 20, 2016
This book was more solemn than others of hers that I've read. I didn't enjoy it as much, and reading it left me feeling drained. Rankin's story was probably the most interesting part. That and the saga of Lacey and Lauren. I liked it better when the author was switching between the four main characters alternately, but switching back-and-forth from the 60s/70s, to 1994 so often really stressed me out. When she started devoting multiple chapters in a row to a couple of the individual stories, that made reading even more difficult. Not a lot of consistency.
October 9, 2019
Absolutely a fabulous book. I cried more than three times reading this book. Maybe because I'm more than 25 years passed my college graduation but this book resonated with in my mind. Not only did it bring tears but it brought Soulful reflection and where I was and where I am today.
December 15, 2018
Four friends from college form a singing group and grow close. Graduation comes and life got in the way. Enjoyable read.
Read
August 15, 2020Pages were missing, but still a good story.
July 19, 2016
Das Cover des Buches ist wirklich schön und sommerlich und passt auch gut zum Titel. Aufgrund des Covers erwartet man einen locker-leichten Sommerroman rund um vier Frauen.
In der Handlung treffen vier Frauenleben bei einem Absolvententreffen nach dem College wieder aufeinander. Vier Frauen, die wirklich verschiedene Leben haben, aber im College mal Freundinnen waren. 25 Lebensahre liegen zwischen den beiden Treffen und natürlich auch 25 Jahren, in denen sich wirklich viel im Leben der Vier verändert hat und natürlich gibt es mit dem Aufeinandertreffen nicht nur Freudentränen, weil auch alte Konflikte aufbrechen und man sieht, warum man danach nichts mehr von den anderen wissen wollte...
Der Schreibstil von Penelope J. Stoker ist wirklich angenehm zu lesen und man hat auch keine grossen Logiksprünge in der Handlung, das Buch liest sich gut und flüssig.
Delta, Lacy, Lauren und Rae sind wirklich tolle Charaktere, die sich im Laufe des Buches immer weiter für den Leser öffnen und die man auch wirklich gut kennenlernt. Penelope J. Stoker schafft mir ihnen 4 Frauen, die eben in ihrem Leben vieles erlebt haben und deren Charakter auch nach ihrem Leben etwas gezeichnet sind. Diese Konstellation aus Charakteren schafft einen gute Spannung in sich, da man zu Beginn nicht wirklich weiss, was in den 25 Jahren zwischen den beiden Zusammentreffen in den Leben passiert ist.
Besonders interessant war, dass Penelope J. Stoker auch viele tiefgreifende Themen anspricht, die im Buch auch wirklich wichtig sind, aber dann doch überraschend, weil das Buch eigentlich recht sommerlich leicht daher kommt, aber dann trotzdem über Religion und auch über Gott gesprochen wird. Das macht das Buch nicht mehr ganz so leicht, aber auch zum Schluss hin, wird es ziemlich traurig, weil der Schluss ziemlich bittersüss ist, aber gleichzeitig auch recht gewollt. So wirklich löst Penelope J. Stoker nicht alles auf und das lässt dann den Leser etwas unbefriedigt zurück.
Fazit:
Penelope J. Stoker schafft mit ihrem Buch eine Geschichte rund um 4 Frauenleben, die sich nach dem College aus den Augen verloren haben und nun auf dem Absolventreffen wieder aufeinander treffen, was nicht nur zu guten Momenten führt sondern auch zeigt, wie verhärtet sich Gräben zwischen ehemaligen Freunden ziehen können, zwischendurch auch wirklich erste Themen anspricht und dann leider den Schluss etwas verreist, weil sie an sich vieles im Dunklen lässt. Durch den angenehmen Schreibstil fliegt man durch die Seiten und man kann das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen.
In der Handlung treffen vier Frauenleben bei einem Absolvententreffen nach dem College wieder aufeinander. Vier Frauen, die wirklich verschiedene Leben haben, aber im College mal Freundinnen waren. 25 Lebensahre liegen zwischen den beiden Treffen und natürlich auch 25 Jahren, in denen sich wirklich viel im Leben der Vier verändert hat und natürlich gibt es mit dem Aufeinandertreffen nicht nur Freudentränen, weil auch alte Konflikte aufbrechen und man sieht, warum man danach nichts mehr von den anderen wissen wollte...
Der Schreibstil von Penelope J. Stoker ist wirklich angenehm zu lesen und man hat auch keine grossen Logiksprünge in der Handlung, das Buch liest sich gut und flüssig.
Delta, Lacy, Lauren und Rae sind wirklich tolle Charaktere, die sich im Laufe des Buches immer weiter für den Leser öffnen und die man auch wirklich gut kennenlernt. Penelope J. Stoker schafft mir ihnen 4 Frauen, die eben in ihrem Leben vieles erlebt haben und deren Charakter auch nach ihrem Leben etwas gezeichnet sind. Diese Konstellation aus Charakteren schafft einen gute Spannung in sich, da man zu Beginn nicht wirklich weiss, was in den 25 Jahren zwischen den beiden Zusammentreffen in den Leben passiert ist.
Besonders interessant war, dass Penelope J. Stoker auch viele tiefgreifende Themen anspricht, die im Buch auch wirklich wichtig sind, aber dann doch überraschend, weil das Buch eigentlich recht sommerlich leicht daher kommt, aber dann trotzdem über Religion und auch über Gott gesprochen wird. Das macht das Buch nicht mehr ganz so leicht, aber auch zum Schluss hin, wird es ziemlich traurig, weil der Schluss ziemlich bittersüss ist, aber gleichzeitig auch recht gewollt. So wirklich löst Penelope J. Stoker nicht alles auf und das lässt dann den Leser etwas unbefriedigt zurück.
Fazit:
Penelope J. Stoker schafft mit ihrem Buch eine Geschichte rund um 4 Frauenleben, die sich nach dem College aus den Augen verloren haben und nun auf dem Absolventreffen wieder aufeinander treffen, was nicht nur zu guten Momenten führt sondern auch zeigt, wie verhärtet sich Gräben zwischen ehemaligen Freunden ziehen können, zwischendurch auch wirklich erste Themen anspricht und dann leider den Schluss etwas verreist, weil sie an sich vieles im Dunklen lässt. Durch den angenehmen Schreibstil fliegt man durch die Seiten und man kann das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen.
March 7, 2009
I read this for a Reader's Advisory workshop as an example of Christian fiction, and about halfway through it occurred to to me how little Christian message was coming across. I checked the spine, and my library doesn't classify it as Christian fiction. And it's published by Doubleday, not one of the many Christian publishing houses out there. Ultimately, I was relieved to find it light on preachiness and disappointed to find it heavy on lame plot.
There were a lot of details that I found unnecessary - like why the girls had to be in a singing group versus just being friends. Why did Delta's parents have to get a divorce? It didn't have any reflection on her ability to commit or to trust. What about Lauren is redeeming to Trip in the end? All we really learn about her is that she ages more than her twin. Is that what finally made him fall in love with her, or was it because Lacy told him to? What happened to Delta's daughter? Why are there all these nicknames? Why bother calling her Deborah Fox in the first place if you really want her to be named Delta and there's no significance to her real name at all?
I guess I liked this book more before I started writing this review. I didn't hate it, I definitely rolled my eyes at some parts, but overall, I guess the concept of accepting yourself and allowing yourself to grow was pretty solid. The more thought you put into it, however, the more frivolous details you notice. This is not a book that benefits from extended study.
The book did make me grow tragically nostalgic for my college days, when every professor I met drew me into their office, asked me to spill my heart and begged me to consider majoring in their area of study. Those were the days. I found a lot of that unrealistic and while the characters weren't people I could really connect with, I didn't dislike them. Maybe that's also because I didn't really feel like I knew them all that well in the first place.
One final thing: Did it never occur to Penelope J. Stokes that Rae Dawn, when said aloud, is "radon"? That drove me NUTS.
There were a lot of details that I found unnecessary - like why the girls had to be in a singing group versus just being friends. Why did Delta's parents have to get a divorce? It didn't have any reflection on her ability to commit or to trust. What about Lauren is redeeming to Trip in the end? All we really learn about her is that she ages more than her twin. Is that what finally made him fall in love with her, or was it because Lacy told him to? What happened to Delta's daughter? Why are there all these nicknames? Why bother calling her Deborah Fox in the first place if you really want her to be named Delta and there's no significance to her real name at all?
I guess I liked this book more before I started writing this review. I didn't hate it, I definitely rolled my eyes at some parts, but overall, I guess the concept of accepting yourself and allowing yourself to grow was pretty solid. The more thought you put into it, however, the more frivolous details you notice. This is not a book that benefits from extended study.
The book did make me grow tragically nostalgic for my college days, when every professor I met drew me into their office, asked me to spill my heart and begged me to consider majoring in their area of study. Those were the days. I found a lot of that unrealistic and while the characters weren't people I could really connect with, I didn't dislike them. Maybe that's also because I didn't really feel like I knew them all that well in the first place.
One final thing: Did it never occur to Penelope J. Stokes that Rae Dawn, when said aloud, is "radon"? That drove me NUTS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2011
I was so disappointed in this book. I enjoyed the first book I read by her a lot, and I expected great things from this one. Her format is similar to The Blue Bottle Club with 4 women who develop their own talents and strength as they face the trials of life. These girls are best friends in college and as a joke for a campus talent show form a band that is quite popular. They are asked to perform again at their reunion, but the lives they had led to that point have changed them and their friendship. I gave the book 2 stars for the amazing character development and great writing, but the book focuses way too much on the one girl's gay relationship. I was surprised ad this from someone who is labeled a Christian writer. I had planned to read more of her books, but I think I will have to re-consider this.
September 13, 2011
A 25th college reunion leads four friends to reunite their college singing group and try to heal some of the frustrations and sadness in their adult lives. I thought there were a lot of anachronisms, but the characters (well, the main two) had good hearts and I was willing to watch them blunder through their lives without getting too frustrated. Even though a lot of the responses to coming-out scenes seemed a bit off to me, they were off in a positive and supportive way and I think I'm okay with that for a general-interest book.
After this last week, though, I really need to read something other than light fiction.
After this last week, though, I really need to read something other than light fiction.
August 6, 2008
Again, I do not typicaly read books listed as Christian fiction. I do not have a problem with the genre as a whole, but quite a bit can be too in your face or preachy, which I do not care for at all. This book, like the previously reviewed "Chocolate Beach", does not get in your face or get preachy. The issues of faith are related to each characters life and is not presented as a sermon or as a way to prostellize. This is a warm tale of friends and how far they have come. This is a book of friendship and how it endures.
March 16, 2008
This book was about 4 gals that had went t o college together and now have the chance to reunite at a reunion. They all have had hardships and pain since they last seen each other and none wanted to attend but because of......
Yep, you thought I was going to spill my guts didn't you?!
The story went from current time to callege days. It was a fairly easy read. It was a little different christian point of view on life styles.
Yep, you thought I was going to spill my guts didn't you?!
The story went from current time to callege days. It was a fairly easy read. It was a little different christian point of view on life styles.
January 27, 2014
I enjoyed the presentation of this title. The book did a good job of presenting issues of the sixties through the lives of four young women attending an all girls college in Mississippi. Three of the stories were very believable. However, the fourth story line which actually began the book was very real, but the solving of the issue was a little too sweet and preachy for me. If I could rate the four storylines, three would get a four and one would get a one.
February 28, 2011
I read this book for my book club selection this past month. I appreciated how all of the characters were so diverse, and how issues from their past were brought to light through the family tragedy of one of the characters. It was a very quick read and should make for some interesting discussion at the next meeting!
September 16, 2012
This book was a quick read about four women who reunite at their 25 year college reunion, and their journeys through life. I enjoyed the character development but thought the story was predictable. I did like the subplot about Delta coming to terms with being the wife of a minister and how that affected her spirituality.
March 11, 2014
Overall a great book. I always enjoy stories of redemption and reconciliation. For me personally, the "intimacy" scenes were too detailed and I did struggle a bit with my stance on some issues presented, thus 4 instead of 5 stars. Of course, a good book should challenge us in our thinking, right? Recommended read for sure.
July 26, 2007
I picked this up as a vacation read --I was going through the books I brought with me too fast --I enjoyed how lighthearted the premise was, and was touched by some of the deeper issues the book explored; equality, depression, grief.
August 25, 2009
Cute story of collegiate friends who reunite, and they find each of them have undergone a life-changing crisis. It becomes a time for healing as well as for renewing friendships. This is a story I needed to read right now.
March 2, 2010
Great story of four friends from college. They loose touch, but their reunion brings them back together. I really enjoyed all of the book except the end. The reader knows the book is winding down, but it seems to stop somewhat abruptly.
September 8, 2014
This book was SO disappointing. I have read several novels by this author in the past and loved them. Well apparently, she decided to change her writing style.
What a shame to go from being a wonderful Christian author to this filth.
What a shame to go from being a wonderful Christian author to this filth.
January 18, 2008
As usual Penelope Stokes has written a good read. I enjoy all of her writings. If you're going to start with one of her books, the best is still the Blue Bottle Club.
Want to read
February 23, 200802/23/08 rec via bookmooch
July 27, 2008
Plot is too much like the first book I read of hers, "Circle of Grace". Same theme ....4 college girls seperate and reunite years later.
August 15, 2008
This is like a nice little Chick Flick.
September 26, 2008
The first book by her that I didn't really care for, I really didn't like the characters very much.
July 24, 2009
A good beach read! Enjoyed her Circle of Grace, also, a beach read!
November 17, 2009
Fun for girls. I did like the lesbian relationship and other social issues she was able to weave in there, though.
I should say I book on CDed this :)
I should say I book on CDed this :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews