Where The Heart Is (unabridged)

Rating:
Summary: Trite and Formulaic
Review: I just don't get the enthusiastic five-star reviews for this book. It was trite, formulaic, and unbelievable. What bothers me is that in the reviews of this book that I read, not one person seemed disturbed by the totally gratuitous rape scene of the young boy. This scene was just a cheap exploitive attempt at drama which did absolutely nothing to further the plot. Letts is certainly lacking in creativity if she has to rely on gratuitous child abuse to shock her readers. I'm saddened by the trend I see in books today of using child abuse as an easy means of creating a crises when it's not necessary to the story. Doesn't this bother anyone else?

Rating:
Summary: very good. hard to put down
Review: This book appealed to three generations and gives you good feeling about humanity.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Story
Review: I read this book cover-to-cover in 2 evenings...I couldn't put it down. Where the Heart Is is a charming, humorous story that is woven in such a way that you are never quite sure where you are heading, but are always pleasantly surprised. One of the best books I've read in some time.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: well worth reading. i found myself laughing out loud. the book is so rich in southern lifestyle and values. all the characters seemed like people i have known. the charaters seemed pretty nutty at times but real human. i loved that the author worked with real people, the blue collar, the everyday people.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, warm, and uplifting
Review: This book is wonderful in that every twist and turn the story takes is concluded, leaving both the characters and the reader with a sense of closure, hope, and personal fulfillment. I loved this book with its simplistic writing style, yet funny and warm spirit. I couldn't put it down!

Rating:
Summary: Super read
Review: I thought this was a wonderful story of great courage and strength. It takes a wonderful woman to do all the things that Novalee did in this wonderful novel. I commend her and her creator for all the inspiration that she has given to many others. I am definitely going to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Really great storytelling
Review: Best I've read in a long time - beautiful story - beautifully written. Thank you Ms.Letts.

Rating:
Summary: Triumphant and courageous
Review: It took me 4 days to read this book cover to cover. The star of the book is a smart and courageous young lady and mother who made a life for herself and touched other lives in the process. The story is about triumph and willpower.

Rating:
Summary: Uplifting, restoring and a treasure of the human heart.
Review: Don't pass it up. "Where the Heart Is" is a marvelous ray of hope and light for lonely and displaced persons who may hope to find family and community belonging without pretense, fame, fortune or glamour. Heartrending, heartwarming and un-put-downable.

Rating:
Summary: I rarely read fiction but this was wonderful!
Review: Something, and to this day I don't know what, possessed me to buy this book in 1996, when it was in paperback. It isn't the type of book I normally read. I rarely read fiction, but once I started this wonderful story, I couldn't put it down! This is one of very few books that I've recommended to friends and even did the stupid thing of loaning my book to a co-worker. Never got it back (don't you hate that?!) so I went to the bookstore and bought another copy. I loved the story, the characters, and the way it made me feel, as though I were a part of Novalee's life. I actually cared about what happened to her, her trials and tribulations, ups and downs. When Oprah started her book club, I immediately thought that this book would be a wonderful book for her to read. Last year, it happened! Now I'm trying to imagine who would be good in the role of Novalee and the other characters for the movie! This book has to be one of the best books of fiction that I've ever read. Be prepared to read it in a couple of sittings.