Where The Heart Is (unabridged)

Rating:
Summary: A great sumertime read.....
Review: This was one of the best books that I have ever read. The storyline draws you in from the beginning and once you are introduced to the characters, then you are really hooked. I lent the book to a friend and so many people wanted to read it, that I ended up buying myself another copy. It was just great. I want more Billie Letts!

Rating:
Summary: Tugs at your heart-strings!
Review: WOW! Could anyone possibly define heart-felt in a more . . .um . . .heart-felt way?!

Rating:
Summary: Innocent, pure, insight from a young girl forced to grow up
Review: Billie Lettes allows you to know each character and feel their pain as if it is your own. Humor and satire ending with an irony like no other is highly entertaining. Novalee Nation is real as are her experiences. Wonderful reading you won't be able to put down!

Rating:
Summary: One too many tradgedies
Review: In seven years Novalee experienced homelessness, having a baby inside a Wal-Mart, death of friends, kidnapping, rape of children, near death of her best friend by an abusive boyfriend, a tornado that made her homeless again. We thought the author had a wonderful story to tell about a sweet girl trapped by poverty and circumstances. But she was unsure of how to best convey the emotional weight of that and so she produced almost endless tragedies to tug at your heartstrings. Wal-Mart was almost saintly in this book. It came across to us, as an advertisement for a store that the author knew would sell a lot of her books.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: WOW! This was the greatest book I've ever read. I couldn't put the book down after my older sister gave it to me.

Rating:
Summary: Literary genious.Really got you in touch with the characters
Review: The book kept my attention and my eyes never strayed from the pages during the time I spent reading it because I got so wrapped up in the storyline and plot that I felt almost an attachment to the characters. I felt their pain and anguish during different events in the story.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly engrossing read!
Review: I bought this book to take along on vacation, as a way to fill in the hours between other activities. Instead I found myself glued to my deck chair, unable to let go of the story. The change from 17 year old,unwed, pregnant girl to independent, loving woman and mother was remarkable. The collection of strangers who become friends and mentors, encouraging her growth with love, compassion and without judgment are remarkable characters. I will remember this book for a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: I am a 22 year old female who has hardly ever picked up a book since I took a break from college. My current employer gave me this book to read and much to my own surprise, I read it and I loved it. Novalee is a character that you fall in love with. It's just a fun, light hearted, easy reading book and I certainly recommend it to all.

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Uplifting!
Review: This was an excellent novel, a tale that young girls around the country can relate to. I loved Novalee and her plucky spirit, and the other characters added to a colorful story. Moses reminded me of the men in my family, strong and determined, yet hiding some sadness. Sister was a hoot, the kind of fun-loving woman that you want watching your child. And the focus on Wal-Mart, an American icon, was fascinating. This was a quick read that will keep me thinking for a long time to come!

Rating:
Summary: Predictable
Review: I like any novel that has richly developed characters, and "Where The Heart Is" certainly does. They are as vivid and memorable as any of those in "Mother of Pearl" or "The Triumph and the Glory". I was not as happy with the plot however, I found it rather obvious where things were headed. Still, this is a good book for the beach or the lake, not every novel has to be a Pultizer Prize winner to be worth reading.