Where The Heart Is (unabridged)

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Summary: Where the Heart Is
Review: Billie Lett's novel, Where the Heart Is, begins with a pregnant 17 year-old girl, Novalee Nation, on the road to California. In the driver's seat is her vertically-challenged, callous boyfriend, Willy Jack, who dreams of becoming a musician. He's told Novalee that there's a good job opportunity in Bakersfield, California. After hearing his cousin's "success story," he's been very eager to get there and begin working. This strikes Novalee as odd, since Willy Jack has never been very enthusiastic about work. She isn't aware of Willy Jack's true motivation for heading to California and starting work. As the two drive along the road, Novalee lifts Willy Jack's hand onto her belly and asks him if he feels anything, referring to the baby. When he says no, she places his hand lower, "Feel right there," she whispers, "that's where the heart is." He jerks his hand away indifferently. "Couldn't prove it by me," he says, reaching for a cigarette. Little does he know, that one little lie will end up haunting him in the future. Her whole life, Novalee has had bad luck with 7's. On her 7th birthday, her mother ran away with an umpire. In 7th grade, her only friend got sent to the Tennessee State School for Girls in Tullahoma, for stealing an ice cream truck for her boyfriend. Her latest "unlucky 7" occurrence happened at Red's, a restaurant where she used to be employed. One night, a coworker went crazy, and slashed Novalee with a steak knife, cutting her from wrist to elbow. The ER doctor took seventy-seven stitches to patch her up. But lately, she's been able to keep away from 7's. On their trip, out in the middle of nowhere, Novalee has an urgent need to use the bathroom. Irritated, Willy Jack stops at a Wal-Mart, and disgustedly hands her a ten-dollar bill to buy house slipper; her shoes fell through the rust hole in the car floor. She goes to the bathroom and goes off to the shoe department to find herself some slippers. Finally deciding on flip-flops, she goes to the check-out, gives the cashier the ten, and gets caught up in a tabloid's headline. The cashier hands her the change, "Seven dollars and seventy-seven cents." Shocked, Novalee jerks her hand back. But too late, the coins have dropped into her palm. "No!" She screams, flinging the money down. She knows something terrible has happened. After running outside to the parking lot, her eyes confirm the horrible truth her heart felt, the moment the seven dollars and seventy-seven cents fell into her palm. This book is about the human spirit triumphing, even when pitted against overwhelming odds. It's also about love: it's lies, confessions, and truths. If you want a heart-warming book, then I would say Where the Heart Is is the book for you.

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Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: i think that everyone that likes to relate to the books they read should read this book. it's full of real life things, is's full of irony, and it's funny. i loved it, and i will read it again and again in years to come. i recommend it to anyone.

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Summary: reader
Review: This book was GREAT! You wondered how this woman would survive. I adored her independence and at times wished she would seek help from the government or the town. She survives with her own strength and perseverance--admirable!

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Summary: Wonderfully refreshing!
Review: What an absolutely wonderful and refreshing book! I was drawn in to the cast of characters. Letts uses a play on words with the character names and each one couldn't be better described. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun simple read!

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Summary: Funny, sad, touching...
Review: This book takes you through the range of emotions. You'll cheer, laugh, cry, get angry. It took me 4 days (quick for me, I don't have much time for reading as I work full-time, have a kid, hubby & a home)to read this book & had difficulty putting it down. You can't wait to see what happens next for Novalee, Lexie and the others -or- to see if Willy Jack gets his! This story is also inspirational, showing the reader that they can overcome diversity, 'bad luck' or lack of education. You will love it, highly recommended!

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Summary: READ THIS BOOK!
Review: Im 12 years old and I read this book. My mom didnt want me to read it at first because she thought that it wouldnt be appropriate. I begged her and begged her until she finally let me. Now, she i s really happy that I read it. It didnt really have anything inappropriate, and it was an easy read. I got through it in about a week. I would reccomend this book to absolutly anyone, especially young girls. This book had truly made me happy, and Im sure I will remeber it for my whole life. So...READ THIS BOOK!

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Summary: Where The Heart Is
Review: I think that Billie Letts title is truly what the book is about, HEART! I will never forget Novalee Nation and the courage she had when there was no where to turn. I had not read anything in a while, and this book has opened the door for me to be more interested in reading again. With this discovery, I have read even more wonderful books. Billie Letts is a talented writer and I hope more people will be interested enough to read more of her work!

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Summary: Laughing and crying go hand in hand while reading this book.
Review: A truly well written novel. I giggled and cried my way through this novel. Billie Letts creation of Novalee Nation is wonderful. I think we might all have a bit of Novalee in us, or wish we had. I caution you about reading this novel in a public place, as it pushes a full range of emotions to the surface with each turn of a page.

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Summary: Where the Heart Is
Review: This book is an excellent choice. It's about a seventeen year old girl named Novalee. She is seven months pregnant and her and her boyfriend Billy are moving. Novalee has to go to the bathroom, so she asks Billy to pull over. He fights with her about it, but finally stops at a Walmart store in a small town. While Novalee is inside, Billy takes off and leaves her there. She ends up living at the Walmart and she delivers her baby there. Novalee is all over the news. She has people coming to see her and the owner of all Walmarts,Sam Walton,offers her a job. She moves in with someone she met while staying there and gets a job at the Walmart. Novalee runs into many opsticles with her daughter Americas, but somehow she gets through it all.This book will make you cry and laugh, I highly recommend reading it.

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Summary: Wonderful, I loved it.
Review: This book got to me.It made me laugh, cry, and just about everything in between.Looking forward with great anticipation to the film.The combination of Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd should be magnificant.